SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-136.01 PHASE 3-D LAUNCH STATUS UPDATE AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 136.01 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, MAY 16, 1999 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-136.01 ANS is pleased to report on a new development concerning the launch of AMSAT's most ambitious project to date - Phase 3-D. Keith Baker, KB1SF, AMSAT-NA President, released a letter dated May 14, 1999 from Dr. Karl Meinzer, DJ4ZC, AMSAT-DL President and Phase 3-D Project Leader. The letter -addressed to Dayton Hamvention attendees- sheds new light on the current launch status of the Phase 3-D International Satellite. Dr. Meinzer wrote: Greetings! May 14, 1999 As you well know, I very much have been looking forward to joining you for the 1999 Dayton Hamvention. Unfortunately, recent developments regarding our launch situation for Phase 3-D have now made it necessary that I remain here in Germany during the Hamvention event. As many of you know, AMSAT-DL is the principal agency responsible for securing a safe and affordable launch for Phase 3-D. Since this project began, we had secured such a launch opportunity on one of the Ariane-5 test flights, which were conducted under the control of the European Space Agency (ESA). Unfortunately, this launch agreement for P3-D with ESA did not work out, essentially due to the failure of the first Ariane-5 flight and the resulting aftermath. Since ESA is not conducting such flights anymore, my team and I have been working very hard over the past year or so to find a replacement launch. We have been patiently negotiating with a number of different launch agencies and it looks now that this work is starting to pay off as it is beginning to yield results. I am pleased to report to you that we are currently in the final phase of working out the details of an agreement for the launch of Phase 3-D with one of these launch agencies. At this point, I am very optimistic and I believe this launch agency is genuinely working very hard toward providing us a launch for P3-D. I am also very hopeful that in the following weeks a launch contract can be closed which contains conditions we can meet. The agency has now identified some launches over the next year or so which have enough performance margin to allow the inclusion of P3-D in addition to the main payload. The launcher business these days has become extremely competitive and it is has become nearly impossible for launch agencies to fix their launch-plan for more than half a year ahead. Thus, even after our contract is closed, we will remain a stand-by passenger. However, judging from the presently known plans, they could - and I emphasize the word could - lead to a launch of our satellite as early as of October 1999. Of course, this all assumes that the remaining open details of our interface with their launch vehicle can be successfully worked out and that we do not run into some last-minute problems with our contract. Needless to say, I am delighted with this turn of events. My only remaining wish is that I could be there in Dayton to share them with you in person. Please accept my sincere best wishes for a productive AMSAT Forum at Hamvention and my thanks for your continued patience and strong support of our efforts. 73, --signed-- Dr. Karl Meinzer, DJ4ZC AMSAT-DL President and Phase 3-D Project Leader Stay tuned to ANS for further details of the Phase-3D launch as they become available. For more information about AMSAT and Phase 3-D, visit the AMSAT-NA web site at the following URL: http://www.amsat.org [ANS thanks Keith Baker, KB1SF, AMSAT-NA President, and Dr. Karl Meinzer, DJ4ZC, AMSAT-DL President and Phase 3-D Project Leader for this information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-136.02 ARISS READIES HAM ANTENNAS FOR SPACE AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 136.02 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, MAY 16, 1999 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-136.02 In addition to the wonderful news concerning Phase 3-D, there has also been recent forward progress in activities to establish a permanent amateur radio presence in space aboard the International Space Station. Training models have been prepared of the antennas that eventually will be deployed on ISS, and pattern testing is under way on some antenna systems. Four flight antenna systems are being developed to support operation on 20, 15, 10, and 2-meters, plus 70-cm, L-band and S-band. "The ARISS international team has made tremendous progress on the design, development and flight qualification of an antenna system," AMSAT-NA Vice President for Human Spaceflight and ARISS Administrative Chairman Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, said this week. The antenna system being developed for ISS includes a dualband VHF/UHF antenna, a multiband microwave antenna and a diplexer mounted on a plate that attaches to an extra vehicular activity (EVA) handrail clamping device. These four antenna systems will attach to four bulkhead Service Module feedthroughs, made available to the ARISS international team through the efforts of Sergei Sambourov, RV3DR. The four antenna systems being developed for flight will be installed around the perimeter of the Russian developed Service Module, which will serve as an orbiting outpost for the ISS crew. All amateur radio initial station hardware is slated for launch on the STS-101 mission. [ANS thanks the ARRL and AMSAT-NA Vice President for Human Spaceflight and ARISS Administrative Chairman Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, for this information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-136.03 ARRL CELEBRATES 85 YEARS AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 136.03 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, MAY 16, 1999 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-136.03 The ARRL celebrates its 85th anniversary May 18, 1999! The American Radio Relay League was founded in 1914 by Hiram Percy Maxim, later 1AW, and Clarence Tuska, later 1AY. It was Maxim's desire to send an inquiry about a hard-to-get receiving tube from Hartford, Connecticut, to Springfield, Massachusetts, that served as the catalyst for the League's birth in 1914. After conditions prevented him from working Springfield directly, he arranged with a station between the two cities to relay his message. Maxim's vision for the League became reality in May of that year. The first edition of QST (16 pages in all) appeared in December 1915. ''Our celebration of the League's 85th anniversary would please our founders in two ways,'' said ARRL Executive Vice President David Sumner, K1ZZ. ''First, we are celebrating with on-the-air activity -- the organization, promotion, and protection of which was why they went to the trouble of creating the League in the first place. Second, just as they did in the exciting early years, we are looking forward by emphasizing new methods of radio communication.'' To mark the event, Maxim Memorial Station W1AW will operate as special event station W1AW/85 during the week of May 17-23rd, with plans calling for W1AW/85 to operate 160-10 meters plus 6 and 2 meters and 70-cm. SSB, CW, RTTY, PSK31, SSTV, and activity on several of the current analog and digital satellites as well as the Novice bands will be featured. [ANS congratulates the ARRL on this wonderful achievement!] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-136.04 ANS IN BRIEF HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 136.04 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, MAY 16, 1999 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-136.04 ANS news in brief this week includes the following: ** The May/June AMSAT Journal will feature a complete copy of the Dayton Hamvention Phase 3-D launch release by DJ4ZC. ANS reminds amateurs that an AMSAT-NA membership includes the AMSAT Journal. The May/June issue will be in the mail shortly. -ANS ** The ANS 'hint of the week': Bruce, KK5DO, has been a regular on the ARRL Audio News, mainly with satellite reports and status. Check out the League's web site and listen to KK5DO's reports via Real Audio. ARRL Audio News is available at 860-594-0384 or on the web at http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/. -ANS ** Rich, W2VU, provided ANS with more information about Don Stoner, W6TNS, the idea man behind Project OSCAR. Stoner outlined his concepts for an Amateur Radio space program in the February 1961 issue of QST. W2VU tells ANS that Stoner planted the seed for the amateur satellite program with the April, 1959 'Semiconductors' column in CQ magazine --describing a transistorized 2-meter transmitter he'd designed, whose (very) low power signal was heard more than 100 miles away. Stoner thought about signals traveling 100 miles straight up, and asked, "does anyone have a spare rocket for orbiting purposes?" That column led to the development of Project OSCAR, and the launch in 1961 of OSCAR-1, the first ham radio satellite and the first non-governmental satellite ever put into orbit. -Rich, W2VU ** The ARRL, in lieu of a legal name change, may emphasize the abbreviation 'ARRL' in conjunction with the tag line 'The National Association for Amateur Radio'. The action came at an Executive Committee meeting in Irving, Texas. The move, if accepted by the full Board, would not actually change the name of the organization, but the ARRL moniker and tag line would appear on all League correspondence and publications instead of the full name. -ARRL Letter ** Monday, May 17th marks the start of Astronomy Week, which winds up on at weeks end with Astronomy Day. The celebration is traditionally on the Saturday in April or May closest to the first-quarter Moon. -Sky and Telescope ** IARU Secretary David Sumner, K1ZZ, has conveyed World Telecommunication Day "greetings and congratulations" to the International Telecommunication Union, on behalf of the world's nearly 3 million radio amateurs. World Telecommunication Day is May 17th. -ARRL Letter ** The JARL Tohoku Division will operate special event station 8J7ITU (from Sendai/QM08KG) on all amateur HF bands in commemoration of World Telecommunication Day 1999. Operation will take place starting May 15th. 8J7ITU will also be QRV on AO-27 and RS-13, with a possibility of FO-20/29 and AO-10. -Masato, JA7JZS ** Kevin, AC5DK, has added information about RS-12/13 to his web site. It contains a simple explanation on how to operate on the satellite. In addition, he has started a forum for operators to exchange information, pose questions or even set up skeds via the satellite. AC5DK's RS-12/13 satellite operators page can be found at the following URL: http://www.qsl.net/ac5dk/rs1213/rs1213.html. -Kevin, AC5DK ** The next Space Amateur Radio EXperiment shuttle flight has again been delayed. The flight will carry the Chandra X-ray Observatory. NASA has decided to postpone mating the observatory with its inertial upper stage pending additional progress in the investigation of recent launch problems with several defense satellites. The launch had been set for July. The STS-93 mission is the only SAREX opportunity scheduled for 1999. -NASA, ARRL /EX --ANS BULLETIN END--- SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-136.05 WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 1 AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 136.05 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, MAY 16, 1999 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-136.05 MIR SAFEX II 70-cm Repeater Uplink 435.750 MHz FM w/subaudible tone 141.3 Hz Downlink 437.950 MHz FM Seldom-operational. No operation in 1999 has been observed. MIR SAFEX II 70-cm QSO Mode Uplink 435.725 MHz FM w/subaudible tone 151.4 Hz Downlink 437.925 MHz FM Seldom-operational. No operation in 1999 has been observed. MIR PERSONAL MESSAGE SYSTEM (PMS) Uplink/Downlink 145.985 MHz FM 1200 baud AFSK Semi-operational. The PBBS is running a Kantronics KPC-9612+ V 8.1 TNC. The commands are similar to most PBBS and BBS systems. AMSAT-France announced that Air Force General Jean-Pierre Haignere has been given a personal amateur radio callsign to use aboard the Mir space station - FX0STB. The QSL manager for FX0STB is: Radio Club F5KAM QSL manager MIR 22 rue Bansac 63000 Clermont Ferrand France Scott, WA6LIE, has a set of instructions on how to work the Mir space station. Copies are available from Scott by e-mail at: wa6lie@juno.com (or by packet) wa6lie@wa6lie.#wcca.ca.usa.noam [ANS thanks Scott Avery, WA6LIE, and the MIREX team for Mir status information] RADIO SPORT RS-12 Uplink 21.210 to 21.250 MHz CW/SSB Uplink 145.910 to 145.950 MHz CW/SSB Downlink 29.410 to 29.450 MHz CW/SSB Downlink 145.910 to 145.950 MHz CW/SSB Beacon 29.408 MHz Robot Uplink 21.129 MHz Robot Downlink 29.454 MHz Last reported to be semi-operational, beacon only. RADIO SPORT RS-13 Uplink 21.260 to 21.300 MHz CW/SSB Uplink 145.960 to 146.000 MHz CW/SSB Downlink 29.460 to 29.500 MHz CW/SSB Downlink 145.960 to 146.000 MHz CW/SSB Beacon 29.458 MHz Robot Uplink 145.840 MHz Robot Downlink 29.504 MHz Operational. Last reported in mode KA with a 10-meter downlink and a 15-meter and 2-meter uplink. Jon, N0JK, is planning to be active on RS-13 from HC8/Galapagos Islands, before and after the CQ WPX CW contest. Look for N0JK between May 27-June 1. RS-15 and AO-10 may be other possibilities. Jon will post updated times and just what satellites he will be using - both to ANS and the AMSAT-BB. Kevin, AC5DK, has information about RS-12/13 that contains a simple explanation on how to operate on the satellite, including a forum for operators to exchange information, pose questions or even set up skeds via RS-12/13. AC5DK's RS-12/13 Satellite Operators Page: http://www.qsl.net/ac5dk/rs1213/rs1213.html AC5DK's RS-12/13 Satellite Forum: http://www.hotboards.com/powerforum/pwrforum.exe?who=rs1213 RS-12/13 command is now in the hands of Alex Papkov, in Kaluga City, Russia. RADIO SPORT RS-15 Uplink 145.858 to 145.898 MHz CW/SSB Downlink 29.354 to 29.394 MHz CW/SSB Beacon 29.352 MHz (intermittent) SSB meeting frequency 29.380 MHz (unofficial) Semi-operational, mode A, using a 2-meter uplink and a 10-meter downlink. Dave, WB6LLO, has operating information for both RS-15 and RS-13 on his personal web site. In addition to satellite data, antenna information and AMSAT-NA Jewelry Contest information is also featured. The WB6LLO web site URL is: http://home.san.rr.com/doguimont/uploads OSCAR 10 AO-10 Uplink 435.030 to 435.180 MHz CW/LSB Downlink 145.975 to 145.825 MHz CW/USB Beacon 145.810 MHz (unmodulated carrier) Semi-operational, mode B. AO-10 has been locked into a 70-cm uplink and a 2-meter downlink for several years. Al, XE2YVW, (a regular on AO-27 and RS-12/13), recently made his first CW contact on AO-10 by 'keying' a 30 watt FM rig on the uplink and using a pair of K5OE designed 'Potato Mashers'. The contact was with Tom, N7HXP. Jerry, K5OE, recently worked HB9JOI and FG5GI, and notes that a great AO-10 orientation for North America/Asia contacts will take place the weekend of June 12th, he will be looking for satellite operators in Asia during that window. Masa, JN1GKZ, reports his web page shows the current AO-10 spin period and spin rate (by measuring the beacon with FFTDSP software). The JN1GKZ web site can be found at the following URL: http://www.din.or.jp/~m-arai/ao10/beacone.htm 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] AMRAD AO-27 Uplink 145.850 MHz FM Downlink 436.795 MHz FM Operational, mode J. AO-27 has again been seeing very heavy use especially during the weekends. Jerry, KK5YY, was active from the Dayton Hamvention. Jon, N0JK, is planning to be active on AO-27 from HC8/Galapagos Islands, before and after the CQ WPX CW contest. Look for N0JK on the following passes: May 27 - 15:15 UTC May 28 - 16:30 UTC May 31 - 15:07 UTC The TEPR (Timed Eclipse Power Regulation) states on AO-27 currently are: TEPR 4 is 34 and TEPR 5 is 70. [ANS thanks Chuck Wyrick, KM4NZ, and Michael Wyrick, N4USI, for AO-27 information] JAS-1b FO-20 Uplink 145.900 to 146.000 MHz CW/LSB Downlink 435.800 to 435.900 MHz CW/USB Operational. FO-20 is in mode JA continuously. Bruce, KK5DO, has posted pictures of JARL Headquarters and the FO-20/29 Command Station on his web site. They were taken during a recent visit. Visit the site using the following URL: http://www.amsatnet.com/jarl.html [ANS thanks Kazu Sakamoto, JJ1WTK, for the FO-20 status reports] JAS-2 FO-29 Voice/CW Mode JA Uplink 145.900 to 146.000 MHz CW/LSB Downlink 435.800 to 435.900 MHz CW/USB Semi-operational, rotated with digital mode and digi-talker. Digital Mode JD Uplink 145.850 145.870 145.910 MHz FM Downlink 435.910 MHz FM 9600 baud BPSK Digitalker 435.910 MHz Semi-operational, rotated with analog mode and digi-talker. Mike, KF4FDJ, confirms FO-29 is in analog mode. Mike reports that "since it was last toggled into analog mode from the digitalker, the polarity must be switched about every 40 seconds. The bird appears to have an 80 second rotational period, give or take a second or two". KF4FDJ's theory is that only half the turnstile is functioning. As the signal fades with one polarity, there is a deep null, then a switch of polarity brings the signal back up to S-8 or better. Mike says "if you have the ability to change polarity on your uplink and downlink, the bird is working quite well." Kazu, JJ1WTK, reported to ANS that the new operational schedule announced by the JARL is as follows: May 10 - May 17 JA May 17 - May 24 JD1200 May 24 - May 31 JA [ANS thanks Kazu Sakamoto, JJ1WTK, for the FO-29 status reports] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-136.06 WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 2 AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 136.06 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, MAY 16, 1999 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-136.06 KITSAT KO-25 Uplink 145.980 MHz FM 9600 baud FSK Downlink 436.500 MHz FM Operational. Jim, AA7KC, reports KO-25 is performing well with good downlink efficiency. [ANS thanks Jim Weisenberger, AA7KC, for KO-25 status information] UOSAT UO-22 Uplink 145.900 or 145.975 MHz FM 9600 baud FSK Downlink 435.120 MHz FM Operational. Carol, W9HGI, reports UO-22 is performing within acceptable limits. W9HGI operates the West Coast Packet Satellite Gateway (WSPG) for the Worldwide Packet Network (WPN). More information on the satellite is available at the following URL: http://www.ee.surrey.ac.uk/EE/CSER/UOSAT/ [ANS thanks Carol Byers, W9HGI and Chris Jackson, G7UPN/ZL2TPO, for UO-22 status information] OSCAR-11 Downlink 145.825 MHz FM, 1200 baud AFSK Mode-S Beacon 2401.500 MHz Operational. Listeners to OSCAR-11 may be interested in visiting the G3CWV web site. The site contains details of the hardware and some software for capturing OSCAR-11 data and decoding ASCII telemetry and WOD. There is also an archive of raw data (mainly WOD) for analysis, which is continually expanded as new data is captured. Audio files are also included with examples of each type of data transmitted by the satellite (each one plays for about ten seconds). Examples of mode-S reception can also be found at the site. All the audio files are zipped so that they can be played off-line. The URL is: http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/clivew/ [ANS thanks Clive Wallis, G3CWV, for OSCAR-11 status information] PACSAT AO-16 Uplink 145.90 145.92 145.94 145.86 MHz FM using 1200 baud Manchester FSK Downlink 437.0513 MHz SSB RC-BPSK 1200 baud PSK Mode-S Beacon 2401.1428 MHz Operating normally with the exception of the mode-S beacon, which is currently off. Telemetry is as follows: Time is Sat May 15 21:32:02 1999 uptime is 1700/15:53:30 +X (RX) Temp -13.919 D RX Temp -1.817 D Bat 1 Temp 1.209 D Bat 2 Temp 3.024 D Baseplt Temp 1.209 D RC PSK BP Temp -1.817 D RC PSK HPA Tmp -2.422 D +Y Array Temp -15.734 D PSK TX HPA Tmp -3.027 D +Z Array Temp -19.365 D RC PSK TX Out 0.274 W Total Array C= 0.144 Bat Ch Cur=-0.019 Ifb= 0.024 I+10V= 0.143 TX:0109 BCR:67 PWRC:59E BT: A WC:25 EDAC:8B General information and telemetry WOD files can be found at: http://www.ctv.es/USERS/ea1bcu A complete collection of WOD graphics corresponding to the year of 1998 can be found at: http://www.ctv.es/USERS/ea1bcu/wod1998.zip [ANS thanks Miguel Menendez, EA1BCU, for AO-16 status information] LUSAT LO-19 Uplink 145.84 145.86 145.88 145.90 MHz FM using 1200 baud Manchester FSK Downlink 437.125 MHz SSB RC-BPSK 1200 baud PSK Currently semi-operational. No BBS service - EA1BCU and ANS have not received any updated information for several months. The digipeater is active. Telemetry is as follows: Time is Sat May 15 22:33:09 1999 uptime is 288/08:58:31 +10V Bus 10.566 V RC PSK TX Out 0.520 W +X (RX) Temp -11.087 D RX Temp 0.131 D Total Array C= 0.008 Bat Ch Cur=-0.258 Ifb= 0.122 I+10V= 0.143 TX:012 BCR:1E PWRC:62D BT:3C WC: 0 General information and telemetry samples can be found at: http://www.ctv.es/USERS/ea1bcu/lo19.htm [ANS thanks Miguel Menendez, EA1BCU, for LO-19 status information] TMSAT-1 TO-31 Uplink 145.925 MHz 9600 baud FSK Downlink 436.925 MHz 9600 baud FSK Operational. ProcMail V2.00G has been released by G7UPN. This software permits the processing of image files from TO-31. It has been posted to the AMSAT-NA FTP site at the following URL: http://www.amsat.org/amsat/software/win32/wisp [ANS thanks Chris Jackson, G7UPN/ZL2TPO, for TO-31 status information] PANSAT PO-34 Uplink/downlink frequencies have not been established. The satellite is not currently available for general uplink transmissions. PanSat, developed by the Naval Postgraduate School, was launched from the shuttle Discovery during STS-95. PanSat spread-spectrum digital transponders will be available to amateur radio operators in the near future along with software to utilize this technology. Dan Sakoda, KD6DRA, PanSat Project Manager recommends 'The ARRL Spread Spectrum Sourcebook' as a good place to start in understanding the spread-spectrum scheme. For more information, visit the official PanSat web site at: http://www.sp.nps.navy.mil/pansat/ [ANS thanks Dan Sakoda, KD6DRA, for this information] SUNSAT SO-35 Uplink/downlink frequencies have not been established. The satellite is not currently available for general uplink transmissions. Hans, ZS5AKV, reports that SunSat is still in the initial test stages and the command team will provide more information as it becomes available. General amateur radio service is planned for the near future. SunSat was launched February 23, 1999 aboard a Delta II rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. SunSat stands for Stellenbosch University Satellite and takes it name from the South African university whose students constructed the payload. The SunSat package includes 1200 and 9600 baud digital store-and-forward capability and a voice 'parrot' repeater system that will be used primarily for educational demonstrations. The satellite has two VHF and two UHF transmit-receive systems. For more information on SunSat, visit the following URL: http://sunsat.ee.sun.ac.za Ground control stations have received images from the PAL-TV imager on SunSat. The imager is a commercial grade TV camera connected to the S-band transmitter. [ANS thanks Garth Milne ZR1AFH, for this information] UoSAT-12 UO-36 Uplink/downlink frequencies have not been established. The satellite is not currently available for general uplink transmissions. UO-36 has been transmitting 9600-baud FSK telemetry framed in a VLSI format using a downlink frequency of 437.400 MHz. UoSAT-12 was successfully launched on April 21, 1999 from the Russian Baikonur Cosmodrome. UO-36 carries a number of imaging payloads, digital store-and-forward communications and mode L/S transponders. Further information is available from: http://www.sstl.co.uk/ G7UPN reports UO-36 commissioning is proceeding well. During the past week spacecraft operators have concentrated on checking out advanced attitude determination sensors, including the two CCD Star-Field Cameras. Ground operators are also continuing the calibration of UO-36's satellite's Earth imaging systems. Recent CCD images from UO-36 are available at: http://www.sstl.co.uk/primages/UO12-Star-Camera.jpg The magnetic torquers, magnetometers, sun-angle sensors, horizon sensor and rate gyro have also been checked and are performing as expected. The remaining reaction wheel and cold-gas thruster systems will be checked in coming weeks. Kazu, JJ1WTK, reports receiving TLMS data from UO-36. [ANS thanks Chris G7UPN / ZL2TPO, and the University of Surrey, for this information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-136.07 WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 3 AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 136.07 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, MAY 16, 1999 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-136.07 THE FOLLOWING SATELLITES ARE IN ORBIT BUT ARE NON-OPERATIONAL AT THIS TIME: RS-16 The 435 MHz beacon (only) is operational. Attempts to command the mode A transponder 'on' have been unsuccessful to date. No additional information is available at this time. DOVE DO-17 Downlink 145.825 MHz FM 1200 baud AFSK 2401.220 MHz Non-operational. DOVE stopped transmitting in March 1998. The 145.825 MHz and 2401.220 MHz downlinks are off the air and the satellite has not responded to ground station control. No additional information is available at this time. WEBERSAT WO-18 Downlink 437.104 MHz SSB 1200 baud PSK AX.25 Non-operational. WO-18 is reported to be in MBL mode after a software crash. No additional information is available at this time. ITAMSAT IO-26 Uplink 145.875 145.900 145.925 145.950 MHz FM 1200 baud Downlink 435.822 MHz SSB Unknown status. ANS has not received any recent updates concerning the status of IO-26. No additional information is available at this time. TECHSAT-1B GO-32 Downlink 435.225 MHz using HDLC telemetry framed so that a TNC in KISS mode will decode it Unknown status. ANS has not received any recent updates concerning the current status of GO-32. The TechSat-1B micro-satellite was successfully launched from the Russian Baikonur Cosmodrome on July 10, 1998. Last reported, the satellite does not have a continuos beacon, but does transmit a 9600-baud burst every 30 seconds (for a continuous 3 seconds in length), on 435.225 MHz. The TechSat team has constructed a home page about TechSat. To view the site, point your web browser to: http://techsat.internet-zahav.net/ No additional information is available at this time. SEDSAT-1 SO-33 Downlink 437.910 MHz FM 9600 baud FSK The satellite is not currently available for uplink transmissions. Recovery efforts have been unsuccessful. SedSat-1, signifying Students for the Exploration and Development of Space Satellite number one, was successfully launched and placed in orbit on Saturday, October 24, 1998. For more information on SedSat-1 visit the satellite web site at the following URL: http://www.seds.org/sedsat No additional information is available at this time. KITSAT KO-23 Uplink 145.900 MHz FM 9600 baud FSK Downlink 435.175 MHz FM Not operational. The downlink transmitter has not been operational for any normal communication for several months. ANS has learned (from HL0ENJ) that satellite downlink telemetry shows one of KO-23's battery cells to be very unstable. [ANS thanks Jim Weisenberger, AA7KC, and KyungHee Kim, HL0ENJ, for KO-23 status information] /EX