SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-109.S1 WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 1 AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 109.S1 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, April 18,2004 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-109.S1 ARISS - INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION Catalog number: 25544 Launch date: November 20, 1998 Worldwide packet uplink: 145.990 MHz FM Region 1 voice uplink: 145.200 MHz FM Region 2/3 voice uplink: 144.490 MHz FM Worldwide downlink: 145.800 MHz FM Sponsors: AMSAT, ARRL, ARISS Status: Operational since September, 2000. Digipeater: Active The current Expedition 8 crew is: Commnader Mike Foale, KB5UAC Flight Engineer Alexander Kaleri, U8MIR The ISS daily crew schedule can be found at: http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/station/timelines/ Remember that the crew operates on UTC time. Also, all of the time line is NOT translated from Russian and posted. Russian callsigns RS0ISS, RZ3DZR USA callsign NA1SS Packet station mailbox callsign RS0ISS-11 Packet station keyboard callsign RS0ISS-3 Digipeater callsign ARISS More information is available at: http://www.rac.ca/ariss http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/station/reference/radio/ http://www.marexmg.org/fileshtml/unprotopage.html http://www.issfanclub.com http://www.rac.ca/ariss [ANS wishes to thank Kennith Ransom, N5VHO for this weeks update][03212004] ===== AO-7 AMSAT OSCAR 7 Catalog number: 07530 Launch Date: November 15, 1974 Return to active status: June 21,2002 Uplink: 145.850 to 145.950 MHz CW/USB Mode A 432.125 to 432.175 MHz CW/LSB Mode B Downlink: 29.400 to 29.500 MHz CW/USB Mode A 145.975 to 145.925 MHz CW/USB Mode B Beacon: 29.502 MHz, 145.972 MHz, 435.1 MHz, 2304.1 MHz Status: Semi-operational in sunlight. Emily, W0EEC has created a website to allow the users of AO-7 to record contacts, observations and use of the satellite more effectively at http://www.experthams.net/ao7 This includes the ability to log contacts. Tim, K3TZ has written a program to decode AO-07 telemetry. The program can be downloaded at: http://www.qsl.net/k3tz/files/K3TZ_AO-07_Telemetry_Decoder_0.5.zip For more AO-7 info: http://www.amsat.org/amsat/sats/n7hpr/ao7.html ===== FO-20 JAS-1b Catalog number: 20480 Launch Date: February 07, 1990 Uplink: 145.90 to 146.00 MHz CW/LSB Downlink: 435.80 to 435.90 MHz CW/USB Beacon: 435.795 Status: Semi-Operational. FO-20 is in mode JA continuously. ===== AO-27 AMRAD Catalog number: 22825 Launched: September 26, 1993 Uplink: 145.850 MHz FM Downlink: 436.795 MHz FM Status: Operational The latest information on AO-27 from control operator Michael Wyrick, N3UC (former N4USI), can be found at: http://www.ao27.org An AO-27 question-and-answer page is available on the AMSAT-NA web site, with updates by Ray, W2RS. The URL is: http://www.amsat.org/amsat/intro/ao27faq.html [ANS thanks Micheal, N3UC and AMRAD for AO-27 information] [02082004] ===== FO-29 JAS-2 Catalog number: 24278 Launch Date: August 17, 1996 Voice/CW Mode JA Uplink: 145.90 to 146.00 MHz CW/LSB Downlink: 435.80 to 435.90 MHz CW/USB Beacon: 435.795 MHz Digital Mode JD Uplink: 145.850 145.870 145.910 MHz FM Downlink: 435.910 MHz 1200-baud BPSK or 9600-baud FSK Callsign: 8J1JCS Digitalker: 435.910 MHz Status: Currently off This in from Masa, JN1GKZ [04132004]: I got a mail form JARL FO-29 command station. The JARL FO-29 command station has already known the telemetry shut down problem. The command station will try to recondition the batteries.JTA will be off from 14th Apr. for some days. Please don't get panicky if the FO-29 signal dose not hear. Analog operation will be back soon. Mineo, JE9PEL, has an FO-29 satellite telemetry analysis program that will automatically analyze all digital telemetry from the satellite (such as current, voltage and temperature). FO29CWTE is available at: http://www.ne.jp/asahi/hamradio/je9pel/ [ANS thanks Masa, JN1GKZ for FO-29 information] [04182004] ===== SO-41 SAUDISAT-1A Catalog number: 26545 Launch Date: September 26, 2000 Uplink: 145.850 MHz Downlink: 436.775 MHz Broadcast Callsign: SASAT1-11 BBS: SASAT1-12 Status: Operational Further information is available at: http://www.amsat.org/amsat/sats/n7hpr/so41.html ===== SO-50 SAUDISAT-1C Catalog number: 27607 Launched: December 20, 2002 Uplink: 145.850 MHz (67.0 Hz PL tone) Downlink: 436.795 MHz Status: Operational. SO-50 carries several experiments, including a mode J FM amateur repeater experiment operating on 145.850 MHz uplink and 436.795 MHz downlink. The repeater is available to amateurs worldwide as power permits, using a 67.0 Hertz tone on the uplink, for on-demand activation. [ANS thanks Turki Al-Saud for this information] NNNN /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-109.S2 WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 2 AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 109.S2 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, April 18,2004, TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-109.S2 UO-11 OSCAR-11 Catalog number: 14781 Launched: March 1, 1984 Downlink: 145.826 MHz FM (1200-baud AFSK) Mode-S Beacon: 2401.500 MHz OSCAR-11 REPORT 14 April 2004 OSCAR-11 celebrated its 20th birthday on 01 March. After 20 years in orbit, it is still transmitting useful data. To commemorate this event, AMSAT-UK issued a special QSL for reports of reception, during March. 320 reports from 37 different countries were received, 122 for reception on 01 March. 57 reports were for mode-S reception. For full details of the reports received, visit the AMSAT-UK website at http://www.uk.amsat.org/ Many thanks Jim G3WGM, Secretary of AMSAT-UK, who organised this event, Martin G3YJO and his UoSAT team for their support, and all those who sent reception reports. During the period 08 March to 14 April 2004 the 145.826 MHz. beacon has been heard transmitting continuous ASCII telemetry from 09 to 19 March, and from 30 March to 09 April. Ground control turned the beacon ON during 09 March, to minimise the OFF time during March. It now operates under control of the watchdog timer, approximately 10 days ON followed by 10 days OFF. If the current 20 day cycle continues, the beacon should switch OFF on around 19 March. During this period good signals have been received. The internal temperatures have decreased by about 2C. They are now 12.0C, 9.6C and 15.6C for battery, telemetry electronics and command decoder, respectively. Solar eclipse predictions indicate that temperatures are now expected to decrease, from the peak reached in March, towards a trough in June/July and then increasing until the end of September, when the satellite will encounter continuous sunlight for the remainder of the year. Higher temperatures and greater temperature changes are expected this year, compared to 2003. The battery voltage observed during daylight passes has decreased, during the second ON period. Observations have varied between 13.2 and 13.7 volts, with an average value of 13.5 volts for 09 March to 19 March. From 29 March to 09 April the voltage varied from 13.3 to 13.6 with an average value of 13.4 volts. Spin periods of 390 to 626 seconds have been measured from the magnetometer telemetry. The rotational speed has decreased steadily during the reporting period, but recovered at the end. The direction of rotation is normal. Users of OSCAR-11 should note that the date in the telemetry is now advanced by FOUR days. The time is advanced by 19.6 minutes, and this error is increasing by about one minute per year. OSCAR-11 now operates in a default mode, controlled by the watch-dog timer. The satellite transmits continuous ASCII telemetry for about 10 days on 145.826 MHz., followed by about 10 days of silence. This regular sequence might be interrupted by ground control, at any time. The mode-S beacon is ON continuously, even when the VHF beacon is OFF, nominally transmitting an unmodulated carrier on 2401.5 MHz. There is however a VERY low level of AFSK modulation, (now a constant audio tone), which has been detected on strong signals. Telemetry indicates that the beacon has partially failed, and is delivering half power. This beacon is a useful test source for those testing mode-S converters, as an alternative to OSCAR-40. However the signals are very weak, and there is a lot of Doppler. Users should also note that the polarisation of OSCAR-11 is LHC. Even if you can't hear OSCAR-11, your equipment may still be OK for OSCAR-40. Any reports of reception on 2401.5 MHz. would be most welcome. Please e-mail g3cwv@amsat.org. The 435.025 MHz. beacon is normally OFF. It can only be heard on the very rare occassions when the satellite is being commanded by ground control, ie. within range of Guildford, UK. When the 435 MHz beacon is transmitting, the 145 MHz beacon is normally OFF. The data transmitted is mainly binary. Listeners to OSCAR-11 may be interested in visiting my web site. The web site contains details about using a soundcard for data capture, and also details about using hardware demodulators. There is software for capturing data, and decoding ASCII telemetry. There is an archive of raw data for analysis, which is continually being expanded, as new data is captured. Originally this was for WOD, but it is now being expanded to include ASCII telemetry. At the present time the telemetry covers 1996 to April 2003. I will add other years as time permits. In parallel there is a news archive which provides an overview of the state of the satellite, at the times when the telemetry was captured. If anyone out there can provide any data, particularly for the 1984 to 1993 years, this would be most appreciated. Please e-mail me with details. However please DO NOT SEND ANY FILES, before futher discussion. Also included are some audio files, examples of each type of data transmitted by OSCAR-11, each one plays for about ten seconds. There are also examples of mode-S reception. All the audio files are zipped, so that they can be played off-line. These should help listeners identify the various types of data, and give an indication of the signal quality required for successful decoding. The URL is - http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/clivew/ If you place this bulletin on a terrestrial packet network, please use the bulletin identifier $BID:U2RPT96.CWV, to prevent duplication. 73 Clive G3CWV g3cwv@amsat.org Status: Semi-operational. ===== AO-16 PACSAT Catalog number: 20439 Launch Date: January 22, 1990 Uplink: 145.90 145.92 145.94 145.96 MHz FM (using 1200-baud Manchester FSK) Downlink: 437.026 MHz SSB (1200-baud PSK) Mode-S Beacon: 2401.1428 MHz Broadcast Callsign: PACSAT-11 BBS: PACSAT-12 Status: Semi-operational, the digipeater command is on and open for APRS users. A WOD collection of current graphics along with general information and telemetry samples can be found at: http://www.telecable.es/personales/ea1bcu [ANS thanks Miguel Menendez, EA1BCU, for AO-16 status information] ===== UO-22 UOSAT Catalog number: 21575 Launched: July 17, 1991 Uplink: 145.900 FM 9600-baud FSK Downlink: 435.120 MHz FM Broadcast Callsign: UOSAT5-11 BBS: UOSAT5-12 Status: Operational. More information on the satellite is available at the following URL: http://www.sstl.co.uk/ ===== IO-26 ITAMSAT Catalog number: 22826 Launch Date: September 26, 1993 Uplink: 145.875 145.900 145.925 145.950 MHz FM (1200-baud) Downlink: 435.812 MHz SSB Broadcast Callsign: ITMSAT-11 BBS: ITMSAT-12 Status: No uplinks currently This from Alberto E. Zagni - I2KBD on November 26,2003: I can confirm that IO-26 is still in Safe Mode (MBL telemetry). We have some problems to uplink the full IHT software, probably due to an unfavourable attitude of the spacecraft. Until the IHT (high level code) is reloaded, NO digipeat will be possible, since it is part of the IHT multitasking code. All the best Alberto E. Zagni - I2KBD [ANS thanks for Alberto E. Zagni, I2KBD and Don Woodward, KD4APP this information] ===== AO-16 PACSAT Catalog number: 20439 Launch Date: January 22, 1990Uplink: 145.90 145.92 145.94 145.96 MHz FM (using 1200-baud Manchester FSK)Downlink: 437.026 MHz SSB (1200-baud PSK)Mode-S Beacon: 2401.1428 MHzBroadcast Callsign: PACSAT-11BBS: PACSAT-12 Status: Semi-operational, the digipeater command is on and open forAPRS users.A WOD collection of current graphics along with general informationand telemetry samples can be found at: http://www.telecable.es/personales/ea1bcu [ANS thanks Miguel Menendez, EA1BCU, for AO-16 status information] ===== UO-22 UOSAT Catalog number: 21575 Launched: July 17, 1991 Uplink: 145.900 FM 9600-baud FSK Downlink: 435.120 MHz FM Broadcast Callsign: UOSAT5-11 BBS: UOSAT5-12 Status: Operational. More information on the satellite is available at the following URL: http://www.sstl.co.uk/ ===== IO-26 ITAMSAT Catalog number: 22826 Launch Date: September 26, 1993 Uplink: 145.875 145.900 145.925 145.950 MHz FM (1200-baud) Downlink: 435.812 MHz SSB Broadcast Callsign: ITMSAT-11 BBS: ITMSAT-12 Status: No uplinks currently This from Alberto E. Zagni - I2KBD on November 26,2003: I can confirm that IO-26 is still in Safe Mode (MBL telemetry). We have some problems to uplink the full IHT software, probably due to an unfavourable attitude of the spacecraft. Until the IHT (high level code) is reloaded, NO digipeat will be possible, since it is part of the IHT multitasking code. All the best Alberto E. Zagni - I2KBD [ANS thanks for Alberto E. Zagni, I2KBD and Don Woodward, KD4APP this information] ===== GO-32 TECHSAT -1B Catalog number: 25397 Launch Date: September 30, 2001 Uplink/downlink: 145.827 MHz 1200 baud AX.25 AFSK via W3ADO-1 Aux/Uplink: 435.250 MHz 9600 baud via PCSAT-2 (off) APRS Downlink: 144.390 MHz (Region 2) Status: Semi-Operational. ===== NO-44 PCSAT Catalog number: 26931 Launch Date: September 30, 2001 Uplink/downlink: 145.827 MHz 1200 baud AX.25 AFSK via W3ADO-1 Aux/Uplink: 435.250 MHz 9600 baud via PCSAT-2 (off) APRS Downlink: 144.390 MHz (Region 2) Status: Semi-Operational. PCSat is a 1200-baud APRS digipeater designed for use by stations using hand-held or mobile transceivers. Downlinks feed a central web site at: http://pcsat.aprs.org The APRS-equipped PCSat was built by midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy under the guidance of Bob Bruninga, WB4APR. For more information, visit the PCSat web site at: http://web.usna.navy.mil/~bruninga/pcsat.html [ANS thanks Bob Bruninga, WB4APR, for PCSat information][02082004] ===== NO-45 SAPPHIRE Catalog number: 26932 Launch Date: September 30, 2001 Downlink: 437.095 MHz 1200 baud AX-25 AFSK Uplink: 145.945 MHz UI Digipeater Digi Callsign: KE6QMD Status: Operational. The NO-45 digipeater remains on. User are requested NOT to use the Bulletin Board. When the Bulletin Board is used it effectively "locks out" ground access to the spacecraft CPU. Everyone is welcome to use the digipeating/APRS features of Sapphire, callsign KE6QMD, as per the user service agreement located at the following URL http://web.usna.navy.mil/~bruninga/pcsat/contract.txt There will be occasional dropouts caused by the CW beacon, and Users are advised to expect extra packet chatter during West Coast (USA) passes, as some schools are using Sapphire for operations training. Student built Sapphire was launched through the U.S. Naval Academy Satellite program. Its primary missions are sensor experiments, a camera, and voice synthesizer. For more information, visit the Sapphire web site at: http://students.cec.wustl.edu/~sapphire/sapphire_overview.html [ANS thanks Mike, KE6YNJ for the above information][03212004] ===== MO-46 TIUNGSAT-1 Catalog number: 26548 Launched: September 26, 2000 Uplink: 145.850 or 145.925 MHz 9600-baud FSK Downlink: 437.325 MHz Broadcast callsign: MYSAT3-11 BBS: MYSAT3-12 Status: Operational at 38k4-baud FSK. TiungSat-1 is Malaysia's first micro-satellite and in addition to commercial land and weather imaging payloads offers FM and FSK Amateur Radio communication. TiungSat-1, named after the mynah bird of Malaysia, was developed as a collaborative effort between the Malaysian government and Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. [ANS thanks Chris Jackson, G7UPN/ZL2TPO, for this information] NNNN /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-109.S3 WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 3 AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 109.S3 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, April 18, 2004 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-109.S3 THE FOLLOWING ARE IN ORBIT BUT ARE NON-OPERATIONAL AT THIS TIME: AO-10 OSCAR 10 Catalog number: 14129 Uplink: 435.030 to 435.180 MHz CW/LSB Downlink: 145.975 to 145.825 MHz CW/USB Beacon: 145.810 MHz (unmodulated carrier) Launched: June 16, 1983 by an Ariane launcher from Kourou, French Guiana. Status: Non-operational. AO-10 has been locked into a Mode-B, 70-cm uplink and 2-meter downlink for several years. W4SM has more information about the satellite at the following URL: http://www.cstone.net/~w4sm/AO-10.html [ANS thanks Stacey Mills, W4SM, for his AO-10 status information and web site] ===== RS-12 RADIO SPORT RS-12 Catalog number: 21089 Uplink: 21.210 to 21.250 MHz CW/USB Downlink: 29.410 to 29.450 MHz CW/USB Beacon: 29.408 MHz Robot: 29.454 MHz Launched: February 5, 1991 aboard a Russian Cosmos C launcher Status: Non-operational. Hams reporting to the RS-12/13 Forum from across the US and Europe have stated that they have not been able to hear any beacons from either the RS-12 or RS-13 satellite packages since August 20, 2002. The latest information on RS-12 and RS-13 can be found on the AC5DK RS-12/13 Satellite Operators page at: http://www.qsl.net/ac5dk/rs1213/rs1213.html [ANS thanks Kevin Manzer, AC5DK, for RS-12 information] ===== RS-13 RADIO SPORT RS-13 Catalog number: 21089 Uplink: 21.260 to 21.300 MHz CW/USB Downlink: 145.860 to 145.900 MHz CW/USB Beacon: 145.860 MHz Robot: 145.908 MHz Launched: February 5, 1991 aboard a Russian Cosmos C launcher Status: Non-operational. The latest information on RS-12 and RS-13 can be found on the AC5DK RS-12/13 Satellite Operators page at: http://www.qsl.net/ac5dk/rs1213/rs1213.html [ANS thanks Kevin Manzer, AC5DK, for this information][03072004] ===== RS-15 RADIO SPORT RS-15 Catalog number: 23439 Launch Date: December 26, 1994 Uplink: 145.858 to 145.898 MHz CW/USB Downlink: 29.354 to 29.394 MHz CW/USB Beacon: 29.352 MHz (intermittent) SSB meeting frequency: 29.380 MHz (unofficial) Status: Non-operational. Dave WB6LLO, reports the following for RS-15[04022004]: I've confirmed that the signals I'm hearing from RS-15 are coming from the satellite, and not some other source by checking repeated AOS/LOS's. I have heard nothing from the transponder uplinking 100 watts to a 10 db antenna on cw. My receive antenna is an inverted "V", but if the transponder was active I should have heard something. I've had no response from a previous request to other users.The on/off tone varies from ~12/min. to 22/min. in the dozen or so passes I've observed..The the start/cessation of the tone does not appear to be a function of a keying circuit, but rather as though power was being intermittently applied to an oscillator... Howard K6IA, reports [04022004]: I also copied a very loud on and off tone at 29.352 on the 0115 UTC pass of RS-15. I could not hear a signal coming back through transponder, uplinking 100 watts CW into a 11 dBdC yagi. I can work AO-7 mode A with 25 watts or less. I wish I could of heard something coming back. The beacon was a lot stronger then I've heard on AO-7 when it's in mode A. [ANS thanks Dave WB6LLO, Keith N6ORS, Drew KO4MA, and Howard K6IA, for these reports about RS-15] [04112004] ===== KO-23 KITSAT Catalog number: 22077 Uplink: 145.900 MHz FM (9600-baud FSK) Downlink: 435.170 MHz FM Broadcast Callsign: HLO1-11 BBS: HLO1-12 Launched: August 10, 1992 by an Ariane launcher from Kourou, French Guiana. Status: Non-operational. Jim, AA7KC, reports that KO-23's downlink transmitter continues in a non-operational status. [ANS thanks Jim Weisenberger, AA7KC, and KyungHee Kim, HL0ENJ, for KO-23 status information] ===== KO-25 KITSAT Catalog number: 22828 Uplink: 145.980 MHz FM (9600-baud FSK) Downlink: 436.500 MHz FM Broadcast Callsign: HL02-11 BBS: HL02-12 Launched: September 26, 1993 by an Ariane launcher from Kourou, French Guiana. Status: Non-operational [ANS thanks Jim Weisenberger, AA7KC, and Andrew, G8TZJ for this information] ===== PO-34 PANSAT Catalog number: 25520 Uplink/downlink frequency (listed on the PanSat web site) 436.500 MHz Launched: October 30, 1998 by the Shuttle Discovery. Status: Telemetry downloads only. The satellite is not available for general uplink transmissions. The Naval Postgraduate School developed PanSat. At the time of launch, PanSat spread-spectrum digital transponders were to be available to Amateur Radio operators along with software to utilize this technology. The satellite is still operating, however, the spread spectrum packet radio portion never took place. The spacecraft is now beyond it's initial 2-year mission life, but telemetry records are still being downloaded. For more information, visit the official PanSat web site at: http://www.sp.nps.navy.mil/pansat/ PanSat was the featured cover article on the July/August 1999 issue of the AMSAT-NA Journal (the story written by KD6DRA and N7HPR). [ANS has no further information] ===== UO-36 UoSAT-12 Catalog number: 25693 Uplink: 145.960 MHz (9600-baud FSK) Downlink: 437.025 MHz 437.400 MHz Broadcast Callsign: UO121-11 BBS: UO121-12 Launched: April 21, 1999 by a Russian launcher from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. Status: Unknown. UO-36 carries a number of imaging payloads, digital store-and-forward communications and mode L/S transponders. Paul, KB2SHU, tells ANS that UO-36 has not been operational (over North America) since late July 2001. In addition, Sangat, 9M2SS, reports he has not copied UO-36 since July 30, 2001. The VK5HI viewer shareware for UO-36 is available on the AMSAT-NA web site at the following URL: ftp://ftp.amsat.org/amsat/software/win32/display/ccddsp97-119.zip Further information on UO-36 is available at: http://www.sstl.co.uk/ [ANS thanks Chris G7UPN/ZL2TPO, and the University of Surrey for UO-36 information] ===== AO-40 AMSAT OSCAR 40 Catalog number: 26609 Launch Date: November 16, 2000 Uplink V-band 145.840 - 145.990 MHz CW/LSB U-band 435.550 - 435.800 MHz CW/LSB L1-band 1269.250 - 1269.500 MHz CW/LSB L2-band 1268.325 - 1268.575 MHz CW/LSB S1-band 2400.350 - 2400.600 MHz CW/LSB Downlink: S2-band 2401.225 - 2401.475 MHz CW/USB K-band 24,048.010 - 24,048.060 MHz CW/USB Beacon: 2401.323, 24,048.035 Status: Non-Operational [ANS thanks AMSAT-DL for this information][03072004] ----- SO-42 SAUDISAT-1B Catalog number: 26549 Uplink: to be released Downlink: 437.075 MHz Broadcast Callsign: SASAT2-11 BBS: SASAT2-12 Launched: September 26, 2000 aboard a converted Soviet ballistic missile from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. Status: Unknown, ANS has received no additional information. When/if operational, SaudiSat-1B will operate as 9600-baud digital store-and-forward systems as well analog FM repeater mode capability. One of two new ham satellites from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia built by the Space Research Institute at the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology. Further information is available at: http://www.amsat.org/amsat/sats/n7hpr/so42.html [ANS thanks Turki Al-Saud for this information] ===== NO-45 SAPPHIRE Catalog number: 26932 Downlink: 437.095 MHz 1200 baud AX-25 AFSK Uplink: 145.945 MHz UI Digipeater Launched: September 30, 2001 aboard an Athena-1 rocket from the Kodiak, Alaska launch complex. Status: Non-operational. Student built Sapphire was launched through the U.S. Naval Academy Satellite program. Its primary missions are sensor experiments, a camera, and voice synthesizer. For more information, visit the Sapphire web site at: http://students.cec.wustl.edu/~sapphire/sapphire_overview.html [ANS thanks Bob Bruninga, WB4APR, for PCSat information] ----- AO-49 AATiS OSCAR-49 (SAFIR-M) Catalog number: 27605 Launch Date: December 20, 2002 Uplink 435.275 1200-baud AFSK Downlink 145.825 9600-baud FSK (optional voice message) Broadcast callsign: DP0AIS Status: Semi-operational. AO-49 (SAFIR-M) is a German amateur radio payload onboard the small German scientific satellite "RUBIN-2". AO-49 was built by the German amateur radio association "AATiS e.V." (German acronym for "Arbeitskreis Amateurfunk und Telekommunikation in der Schule", which means: 'working group for amateur radio anand telecommunications in schools'). AO-49 is designed as a "store and broadcast" system for APRS based messages, dedicated for the use of schools in combination with the existing WX-Net and planned buoy experiments in Germany. No transmissions detected since the 1st of February 2003! It appears AO-49 is not properly aligned to illuminate the solar panels. This should end soon. Due to its orbit, AO-49 will be in a phase without eclipses until 13Feb03. Martin DG8UAU has written a small software program "SAFIR-M Decoder" to allow decoding of the received DATA0 frames. It is available at http://amend.gmxhome.de in the section Aktuelles. Details on AO-49 (SAFIR-M) can be found at http://amend.gmxhome.de. Information about AATiS e.V. is available at http://www.aatis.de [ANS thanks Oliver Amend, DG6BCE for this information] NNNN /EX