SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-126.01 PHASE 3D / AMSAT OSCAR 40 UPDATE AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 126.01 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, MAY 06, 2001 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-126.01 As May begins much is happening with AO-40! First, Peter, DB2OS, reported the RUDAK system had been activated for the first time following the December incident. Command station operator W4SM reported the power budget stayed positive and everything looked normal during the first test. The RUDAK team then began uploading programming to the RUDAK CPU's. Jim, WD0E, reported the RUDAK-A processor was commanded through a series of tests. Commanding was quite reliable using the L-band uplink. Some initial software was loaded and executed, the real-time clock was set, a short text message was put in the downlink queue and some tests to measure deviation and frequencies were completed. RUDAK-A is now sending telemetry and a pass-through of the IHU downlink information - on its own downlink at 2401.72 MHz. Telemetry values look normal at first glance. James, G3RUH, reported good copy of the RUDAK beacon, which is about the same signal strength as the IHU middle beacon. Testing and commissioning plans will continue. DB2OS then broke the big news on Thursday, May 3rd - AO-40 was going live! Here is Peter's announcement: Dear All, AO-40 experimental transponder operation will start on Saturday morning, May 5th, at approximately 08:00 UTC when the U-band and L1-band uplinks will be connected to the S-2 transmitter passband downlink via the Matrix switch. If there are no problems, the transponder will be usable until MA-240. It will be turned on again in the same configuration around MA-135. Schedule changes will be announced in the telemetry beacon. Please note that this is experimental transponder operation and as such the transponders may be shut off at any time without warning and the schedule may change without prior notice. The window for transponder operation is about 10 days, before we move to try to raise perigee using the Arcjet. Also, +/- 5 kHz around the Middle Beacon (MB) must be avoided. If the beacon cannot be copied due to interference with users in the passband, the passband may be disconnected and transponder operation stopped. It is also planned to test the U-band and V-band transmitters again when squint angles allow good visibility. Needless to say, we all are very excited! 73, Peter, DB2OS, and the AO-40 Command Team (end) The uplink frequencies are 435.550-435.800 MHz and 1269.250 to 1269.500 MHz. The downlink passband is 2401.225-2401.475 MHz. The transponders are inverting, so a downward change in uplink frequency will result in an upward frequency shift in the downlink. ANS Principle Satellite Investigator N1JEZ was first to report contacts on the AMSAT bulletin board. "Things are working quite well," said Mike, "I've successfully logged a dozen contacts in the first hour of operation including two contacts using the Mode-L uplink. I also logged my first DX contact with IZ8EDE. The comment I heard most often was how weak the S-band downlink was for some stations. In these situations, the natural tendency is to increase uplink power. Without the benefit of the Leila system, I'm sure a few of us were running too much uplink power, but, it will take a bit of time to get a good feel for uplinks and downlinks. My final tally was 24-contacts including some DX. A great first day! Let's hope for many more." Ed, K9EK, echoed Mike's comments. "Wow, AO-40 was terrific on this first morning of transponder operation, said K9EK, "after almost 10 years, what a thrill! Heartfelt thanks to all those who have busted their backends for so many years. You are appreciated!" Maggie, K3XS, in all likelihood made the first YL contacts through AO-40 working KB8VAO, W5VZF, W4AD, WC0Y and N4IP. Pieter, N4IP, reported signals at 51,000 km were about S-3 above the noise at his QTH. Pieter worked I8CVS using the 70-cm uplink. Jerry, K5OE, told ANS that KB8VAO and N1JEZ were among the best sounding signals. Roger, W3SZ, reported working a number of stations including AB9V, KK2L, VE7BBG, G3WDG, K5QXJ, W7AM and others. AMSAT-NA President Robin Haighton, VE3FRH, released the following to ANS: It was with great pleasure that I worked AO-40 early in the morning of Saturday, May 5th. Signals were generally good. To satellite enthusiasts there is nothing quite as exciting as working a new bird, especially when we have all watched and waited as AO-40 went through it's troubles and (now) is returning to us as a great satellite. The very hard work that Project Leader Karl Meinzer, AMSAT-DL President Peter Guelzow and the worldwide supporting group of command stations and technical individuals - is providing us with a great satellite. Thank you all! 73, Robin, VE3FRH Robin reported working N1JEZ, WL7BQM, KB8VAO, VE3NPC, W5ACM, W3PM, W0OQC, W4AD, W4SM, K9EK, KB2WQM, KA0YOS, W3HH, AC9R and VE3BCG. Stay tuned to ANS, the official source for news and information about AMSAT OSCAR 40. [ANS thanks AMSAT-NA, AMSAT-DL and the ARRL for this information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-126.02 AMSAT-NA PRESIDENT'S LETTER AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 126.02 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, MAY 06, 2001 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-126.02 Several times each year ANS will feature information from AMSAT-NA President Robin Haighton, VE3FRH. This feature is know as the 'President's Letter'. The following is the latest installment, originally broadcast last week as ANS Special Bulletin 120.01: Dear AMSAT, Dayton is nearly here, and I look forward to being there and renewing many friendships and contacts. Certainly, one of the important things about Dayton is to meet with suppliers and manufacturers to determine the latest and greatest on the satellite scene, to learn what is coming down the road and to advise our suppliers on our thoughts about the next generation of satellites. In other words - to carry out particular communications "one-on-one". An equally important aspect is to see our members at the AMSAT booth and to discuss their needs and ideas for AMSAT. So, with this in mind, I am marking on my calendar specific times on each day at Dayton this year to be present at - or near - the booth to meet as many AMSAT members as I can and to hear your thoughts and ideas. The schedule is as follows: Friday, May 18th - 10:00-11:30 AM and 2:00-3:00 PM Saturday, May 19th - 11:00 AM-12:00 and 2:00-3:00 PM Sunday, May 20th - 10:00-11.00 AM In addition, I will be at the AMSAT Dinner at the Amber Rose Restaurant on Friday evening and at the AMSAT Forum on Saturday morning (8:30-10:00), but these are more formal occasions and not always available for detailed discussions of your thoughts. AMSAT is always looking for volunteers, people like you, who would enjoy contributing to the hobby, and if you feel that there is something within the AMSAT organization that you would enjoy doing, please let me know when we meet. AMSAT has all sorts of opportunities available, some involve aspects which are not technical, but organizational, and we have a need for those as well as the technical functions. However, whether you wish to volunteer or not I look forward to seeing you in Dayton! 73, Robin Haighton, VE3FRH President AMSAT-NA [ANS thanks AMSAT-NA President Robin Haighton, VE3FRH, for this information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-126.03 AMSAT AT DAYTON! AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 126.03 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, MAY 06, 200 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-126.03 The Dayton Hamvention is quickly approaching and AMSAT-NA's activities at Hamvention will be extensive! AMSAT will be in the same booth location as previous years - spaces 445-448. The booth theme this year is - AMSAT: Pioneering the future of Amateur Radio on the ISS. The booth will feature a variety of updated and new items, including: * A new AMSAT design with an ARISS theme that will be embroidered on a golf shirt as well as offered on a new T-shirt. An AMSAT cap with the 'Pioneering' theme will also be available. * The AMSAT Journal CD-ROM will be available in two volumes: 1995-1997 (Volumes 18-20) and 1998-2000 (Volumes 21-23). * An updated (laminated) AMSAT Frequency Guide with the latest satellite information will be available as well as the Amateur Satellite Resource Guide, Working the Easy Sats and Digital Satellite Guide publications. * The popular 'Mode-S: The Book' will also be available with plenty of new information pertaining to using Mode-S on AO-40. * Once again, AMSAT will offer the Arrow Antenna at the booth this year and will also have available a Mode-S receive converter and antenna. These items will only be available from AMSAT at Hamvention. * The latest version of WISP, NOVA and MacDoppler Pro, along with the Kansas City Tracker will be available. AMSAT also has been offered a wonderful opportunity to build our membership base during Dayton. An AMSAT benefactor has offered to cover the cost of a providing a complete Mode-S and Mode-L system for use with AO-40! This includes antennas, a Mode-S downconverter and Mode-L transverter/amplifier. The user will need to provide an appropriate SSB/CW transceiver to serve as the exciter/receiver. The drawing for the AO-40 station equipment will be done at the AMSAT booth on Sunday, May 20th. The winner does not have to be present to win and AMSAT will cover the cost of shipping the radio to the member's address as shown on the membership form. The annual AMSAT dinner will take place on May 19th at the Amber Rose Restaurant, the same location used for the past five years. A program will follow the dinner, featuring Jerry Schmitt, KK5YY, who will share his exploits of working the satellites from Alaska and assisting with the Iditarod dogsled race. AMSAT will be involved with several scheduled presentations, including; * Amateur Radio on the International Space Station * AO-40 Status Report * AO-40 Ground Station Requirements * AMSAT's Next Satellite Project See you at Dayton! [ANS thanks AMSAT-NA Vice-President of Field Operations, Barry Baines, WD4ASW, for this information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-126.04 ANS IN BRIEF AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 126.04 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, MAY 06, 2001 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-126.04 ANS news in brief this week includes the following: ** Russia may place its own new space station in orbit in three years' time, says President of the Russian Academy of Cosmonautics Vladimir Senkevich. "It is necessary to take our own station into orbit to carry out tasks that are impossible in the framework of international cooperation on the ISS," he said in an interview published recently. -SpaceDaily ** Saturday, May 5th marked the 40th anniversary of the launch of Mercury/Redstone-3, the first manned American Spaceflight. Alan Shepard experienced micro-gravity for over 5-minutes during his historic sub-orbital flight. -Spaceflight ** Lots of ham activity from ISS recently. Farrell, W8ZCF, Claude, WB4WHH, Scott, WA6LIE, Rick, N4WYK, and Bill, VE7WFG, all report ISS contacts on 2-meter FM voice this past week. -ANS ** After almost eight months of silence NASA has re-established contact with the Pioneer 10 spacecraft. NASA scientists had feared that the 29-year-old craft had stopped working, but the agency said it had received a faint signal from the probe. The faithful craft is still sending back useful data even though it is over 7 billion miles from Earth! -BBC News ** Solving a problem that has eluded scientists and engineers for more than a decade, two professors at the University of Texas at Austin College of Engineering have devised a method to make silicon shine. Their tiny, highly efficient, light-emitting spherical silicon crystals hold great promise for future applications ranging from laser technology to flat panel displays for computer monitors and TV screens. -SpaceDaily ** Upcoming ARISS school contacts are scheduled with Parkway Central High School, Chesterfield, MO; Saint Petersburg Junior Technical Center in Saint Petersburg, Russia; Moran Prairie Elementary School, Spokane, WA, and Davis County High School, Owensboro, KY. -Will, KC6ROL ** Japan's three major space agencies have taken the first tentative steps to a possible merger later this decade with an agreement to establish an initial joint program office to coordinate launch vehicle development, along with the sharing of ground facilities such as tracking stations and IT support services. -SpaceDaily ** AMSAT-UK is delighted to announce a special design competition to develop a new logo for AO-40! AMSAT-UK is looking forward to receiving lots of entries and being able to add to the funds that support the development of our amateur satellites. Selection of the winner will be by a judging panel at the AMSAT-UK Colloquium in July 2001. More information is available via e-mail from g3vzv@amsat.org, or on the web at http://www.uk.amsat.org/ao40logo.htm. -AMSAT BB ** The speed of light can't be exceeded (or so we think), yet, Cambridge University claims that there are sources of radio waves out in space that move faster than light. A team of physicists at Oxford has built a testing source based on the recent research. -SpaceDaily --ANS BULLETIN END--- /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-126.04 WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 1 AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 126.04 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, MAY 06, 2001 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-126.04 Phase 3D / AMSAT OSCAR 40 / AO-40 Launched: November 16, 2000 aboard an Ariane 5 launcher from Kourou, French Guiana. Status: S-Band transmitter is active. The RUDAK system has been activated. The RUDAK-A processor is sending telemetry and a pass-through of the IHU downlink information on its own downlink at 2401.72 MHz. AO-40 experimental transponder operation started on May 05, 2001 at approximately 08:00 UTC when the U-band and L1-band uplinks were connected to the S-2 transmitter passband downlink via the Matrix switch. This is experimental transponder operation and as such the transponders may be shut off at any time without warning and the schedule may change without prior notice. Note: +/- 5 kHz around the Middle Beacon (MB) must be avoided. If the beacon cannot be copied due to interference with users in the passband, the passband may be disconnected and transponder operation stopped. It is also planned to test the U-band and V-band transmitters again when squint angles allow good visibility. The uplink frequencies are 435.550-435.800 MHz and 1269.250 to 1269.500 MHz. The downlink passband is 2401.225-2401.475 MHz. The transponders are inverting, so a downward change in uplink frequency will result in an upward frequency shift in the downlink. [ANS thanks AMSAT-NA, AMSAT-DL and the ARRL for this information] INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION/ARISS Worldwide packet uplink: 145.990 MHz Region 1 voice uplink: 145.200 MHz Region 2/3 voice uplink: 144.490 MHz Worldwide downlink: 145.800 MHz TNC callsign NOCALL ARISS initial station launched September 2000 aboard shuttle Atlantis. ARISS is made up of delegates from major national Amateur Radio organizations, including AMSAT. Status: Operational. Voice contacts with ISS have been made recently. The ISS packet station is available for UI packets (APRS or UI QSL). The mailbox and keyboard are currently disabled. Please see the packet section of the ARISS web page before attempting to first work ISS on packet. U.S. callsign: NA1SS Russian callsigns: RS0ISS, RZ3DZR The QSL routes for W/VE stations working NA1SS aboard the International Space Station: U.S. stations: Margie Bourgoin KB1DCO Attn: ARISS Expedition-1 (or 2) QSL ARRL, 225 Main Street Newington, Connecticut 06111 Canadian stations: Radio Amateurs of Canada Attn: ARISS Expedition-1 (or 2) QSL 720 Belfast Road, Suite 217 Ottawa, Ontario K1G 0Z5 A self-addressed, stamped envelope is required to get a QSL in return. The ARISS international group has not yet finalized a QSL card design. It will be a few months before cards become available. More information about the project can be found on the ARISS web site at http://ariss.gsfc.nasa.gov. [ANS thanks ARISS team member Will Marchant, KC6ROL, for this information] RADIO SPORT RS-12 Uplink 145.910 to 145.950 MHz CW/SSB Downlink 29.410 to 29.450 MHz CW/SSB Beacon 29.408 MHz Launched: February 5, 1991 aboard a Russian Cosmos C launcher Status: RS-12 was re-activated in mode A on January 1, 2001 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] 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) Launched: December 26, 1994 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome Status: Semi-operational, mode-A, using a 2-meter uplink and a 10-meter downlink Mike, N1JEZ, reports that although RS-15 can be very frustrating, he recently heard his downlink using his 10-meter turnstile (no external preamp) and 50-watts into his VHF beam. His downlink was S-3 with some QSB. The beacon was S-5. This was a 31-degree pass over N1JEZ's QTH. Dave, WB6LLO, has operating information for both RS-15 on his web site. In addition to satellite data, antenna information for mode-A operation is also featured. The WB6LLO web site URL is: http://home.san.rr.com/doguimont/uploads [ANS thanks Dave Guimont, WB6LLO, for this information] 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) Launched: June 16, 1983 by an Ariane launcher from Kourou, French Guiana. Status: Semi-operational, mode-B. AO-10 has been locked into a 70-cm uplink and a 2-meter downlink for several years. DX continues to be heard and worked on AO-10. 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 Launched: September 26, 1993 by an Ariane launcher from Kourou, French Guiana. Status: Operational, mode J. Periodically, AO-27's analog repeater will be turned off for a few days at a time to enable ground controllers to gather Whole Orbital Data (WOD), to verify the health of the satellite. An AO-27 question-and-answer page is available on the AMSAT-NA web site. The URL is: http://www.amsat.org/amsat/intro/ao27faq.html. AO-27 uses a method called Timed Eclipse Power Regulation (TEPR) to regulate the on-board batteries. In simple terms, TEPR times how long the satellite has been in an eclipse (or in the sun) and decides what subsystems to turn on or off. TEPR states on AO-27 were reset on March 24, 2001 as follows: TEPR 4 is 38 / TEPR 5 is 78 (TEPR 5 is now 20 minutes long) The AO-27 pages on the AMSAT-NA web site include an explanation of TEPR AO-27 operations (at): http://www.amsat.org/amsat/sats/n7hpr/ao27.html [ANS thanks AMRAD for AO-27 information] UO-14 Uplink 145.975 MHz FM Downlink 435.070 MHz FM Launched: January 22, 1990 by an Ariane launcher from Kourou, French Guiana. Status: Operational, mode J Tim, KG8OC, features UO-14 information on the Michigan AMSAT web site -- point your web browser to the following URL: http://www.qsl.net/kg8oc [ANS thanks Chris Jackson, G7UPN/ZL2TPO, for UO-14 information] JAS-1b FO-20 Uplink 145.90 to 146.00 MHz CW/LSB Downlink 435.80 to 435.90 MHz CW/USB Launched: February 07, 1990 by an H1 launcher from the Tanegashima Space Center in Japan. Status: Operational. FO-20 is in mode JA continuously Tak, JA2PKI, reported FO-20 control station operators believe that the UVC (Under Voltage Controller) now is regulating the transponder. The UVC monitors battery voltage and tries to protect the batteries from over discharge. [ANS thanks Kazu Sakamoto, JJ1WTK, for the FO-20 status reports] JAS-2 FO-29 Launched: August 17, 1996, by an H-2 launcher from the Tanegashima Space Center in Japan. Status: Operational Voice/CW Mode JA Uplink 145.90 to 146.00 MHz CW/LSB Downlink 435.80 to 435.90 MHz CW/USB 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 The JARL FO-29 command station has announced the following operation schedule of FO-29: through July 2, 2001 - mode JA Mike, KF4FDJ, has put together a very informative document on FO-29, addressing the analog, digital and digi-talker modes. To obtain a copy e-mail Mike at: kf4fdj@amsat.org. Mineo, JE9PEL, has a FO-29 satellite telemetry analysis program that will automatically analyze all digital telemetry from the satellite (such as current, voltage and temperature). The JE9PEL FO-29/shareware is available at the following URL: http://www.ne.jp/asahi/hamradio/je9pel/ [ANS thanks Kazu Sakamoto, JJ1WTK, for the FO-29 status reports] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-126.05 WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 2 AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 126.05 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, MAY 06, 2001 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-126.05 TIUNGSAT-1 Uplink 145.850 or 145.925 MHz 9600 baud FSK Downlink 437.325 MHz Broadcast callsign MYSAT3-11 BBS MYSAT3-12 Launched: September 26, 2000 aboard a converted Soviet ballistic missile from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. Status: Operational at 38k4 baud FSK Chris, G7UPN, tells ANS that TiungSat-1 has been operating at a data rate of 38k4. Data recovery at 38k4 is reported to be extremely good with efficiencies near 100%. The output power is at 8-watts "which should provide a very good downlink," said Chris, adding "the downside is that with the high power transmitter operating, the power budget is negative so we can't support continuous operation." According to G7UPN, TiungSat-1 now requires the Amateur Radio Station to switch the downlink 'on' when the satellite comes into range. The way this works is for the ground station software to send a request to the spacecraft to switch the downlink on. The spacecraft receives this request and checks the battery voltage to see if it can support the operation, and if it can it will activate the downlink. 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. For more information on TiungSat-1, visit the following URL: http://www.yellowpages.com.my/tiungsat/tiung_main.htm [ANS thanks Chris Jackson, G7UPN/ZL2TPO, for this information] KITSAT KO-25 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: Operational Jim, AA7KC, reports KO-25 is operational with low traffic and low downlink efficiency. UOSAT UO-22 Uplink 145.900 or 145.975 MHz FM 9600 baud FSK Downlink 435.120 MHz FM Broadcast Callsign UOSAT5-11 BBS UOSAT5-12 Launched: July 17, 1991 by an Ariane launcher from Kourou, French Guiana. Status: Operational Jim, AA7KC, reports UO-22 is operational with heavy individual and Sat-gate traffic. Downlink efficiency is in the 80% range. More information on the satellite is available at the following URL: http://www.sstl.co.uk/ [ANS thanks Chris Jackson, G7UPN/ZL2TPO, for UO-22 information and Jim Weisenberger, AA7KC, for status information] OSCAR-11 Downlink 145.825 MHz FM (1200 baud AFSK) Mode-S Beacon 2401.500 MHz Launched: March 1, 1984 by a Delta-Thor rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. Status: Operational Clive Wallis, G3CWV, reports that he has updated his processing software for OSCAR-11, correcting a Y2K problem with Keplerian elements. The updated packages can now be downloaded from his web site. Ground control operations have now corrected the dates in ASCII status blocks, reset the magnetorquer counters and started a new WOD survey. However, users should also note that there is still a 3-day error in the hardware generated ASCII telemetry date. The time in the ASCII telemetry continues to advance and the error is now about 18 minutes. Unfortunately these errors cannot be corrected. During the period 14-March to 17-April, 2001 reliable signals have been received from the 145 MHz beacon. Battery voltage observed during daylight passes has continued to decrease. The average value observed was 13.6 with a range of 13.2 to 13.9 volts. Internal temperatures have continued to decrease by one degree. They are now 2.0C and 0.4C for battery and telemetry electronics respectively. Magnetometer calibrations have steadily changed during many years in orbit. Although the changes are small and are not noticeable on a plot of individual channels, they do have a considerable effect when the total magnetic field is calculated. The spin period has varied between 207 and 339 seconds. Ground control has now reset the magnetorquer counters. The operating schedule is as follows: ASCII status (210 seconds) ASCII bulletin (60 seconds) BINARY SEU (30 seconds) ASCII TLM (90 seconds) ASCII WOD (120 seconds) ASCII bulletin (60 seconds) BINARY ENG (30 seconds) The ASCII bulletin is currently a static message, detailing modes and frequencies of all active amateur radio satellites. More information on OSCAR-11 is available at the following URL: http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/clivew/ [ANS thanks Clive Wallis, G3CWV, for OSCAR-11 status information] PACSAT AO-16 Uplink 145.90 145.92 145.94 145.96 MHz FM (using 1200 baud Manchester FSK) Downlink 437.025 MHz SSB (RC-BPSK 1200 baud PSK) Mode-S Beacon 2401.1428 MHz Broadcast Callsign: PACSAT-11 BBS PACSAT-12 Launched: January 22, 1990 by an Ariane launcher from Kourou, French Guiana. Status: Semi-operational, the digipeater command is on. At last report telemetry was as follows: uptime is 432/17:20:00. Time is Fri Apr 20 20:57:04 2001 +X (RX) Temp -13.919 D RX Temp 0.603 D BCR Input Cur 0.314 A BCR Output Cur 0.348 A Bat 1 Temp 3.629 D Bat 2 Temp 4.839 D Baseplt Temp 4.839 D PSK TX RF Out 1.374 W RC PSK BP Temp -2.422 D RC PSK HPA Tmp -3.027 D +Y Array Temp -15.129 D PSK TX HPA Tmp -0.002 D +Z Array Temp -18.155 D Total Array C= 0.299 Bat Ch Cur= 0.005 Ifb= 0.015 I+10V= 0.329 TX:1009 BCR:74 PWRC:36D BT:1E WC:25 EDAC:AA A new WOD collection of current graphics along with general information and telemetry samples can be found at: www.telecable.es/personales/ea1bcu [ANS thanks Miguel Menendez, EA1BCU, for AO-16 status information] UoSAT-12 UO-36 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: Operational UO-36 carries a number of imaging payloads, digital store-and-forward communications and mode L/S transponders. NASA has demonstrated on UO-36 the ability to use standard Internet protocols to communicate with an orbiting spacecraft (just like any node on the Internet). NASA has been developing this project by working with the commercial payload aboard UoSAT-12. The BBS is open, although uploading and downloading may be disabled at times. 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 from: http://www.sstl.co.uk/ [ANS thanks Chris G7UPN/ZL2TPO, and the University of Surrey for this information] ITAMSAT IO-26 Uplink 145.875 145.900 145.925 145.950 MHz FM (1200 baud) Downlink 435.822 MHz SSB Broadcast Callsign ITMSAT-11 BBS ITMSAT-12 Launched: September 26, 1993 by an Ariane launcher from Kourou, French Guiana. Status: Semi-operational, the digipeater function is on and open for APRS users. [ANS thanks ITAMSAT Project Manager Alberto E. Zagni, I2KBD, for IO-26 information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-126.06 WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 3 AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 126.06 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, MAY 06, 2001 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-126.06 THE FOLLOWING ARE IN ORBIT BUT ARE NON-OPERATIONAL AT THIS TIME: TMSAT-1 TO-31 Uplink 145.925 MHz (9600 baud FSK) Downlink 436.925 MHz (9600 baud FSK) Broadcast Callsign: TMSAT1-11 BBS TMSAT1-12 Launched: July 10, 1998 by a Zenit rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. Status: Non-operational, no data downlinked since December 18, 2000. Jim, AA7KC, reported recently to ANS that TO-31 has been non-operational over North America for the past six months. Chris G7UPN, (UoSAT operations manager) reports the following to ANS: The TO-31 downlink will be off over most areas, with the exception of Europe and Thailand. This is required to allow control stations to recondition the battery with minimum power drain. 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 Many of the high-resolution color images transmitted by TMSAT are compressed using a UoSAT compression format. This format is supported by the VK5HI CCD display program. [ANS thanks Chris Jackson, G7UPN/ZL2TPO, for TO-31 status information] LUSAT LO-19 Uplink 145.84 145.86 145.88 145.90 MHz FM (using 1200 baud Manchester FSK) CW downlink 437.125 MHz Digital downlink 437.150 MHz SSB (RC-BPSK 1200 baud PSK) Broadcast Callsign LUSAT-11 BBS LUSAT-12 Launched: January 22, 1990 by an Ariane launcher from Kourou, French Guiana. Status: Beacon only. The CW beacon is sending eight telemetry channels and one status channel on 437.126 MHz. No BBS service is available. The digipeater is not active. Telemetry (limited) is as follows: Sat Time is Fri Apr 20 20:59:04 2001 LUSAT HIHI 60 AUN ADT AVB ADV AUB A66 A6U AE6 Mineo, JE9PEL, has recorded LO-19 CW and PSK telemetry and placed the information on his Internet homepage site at: http://www.ne.jp/asahi/hamradio/je9pel/ General information and telemetry samples can be found at: www.telecable.es/personales/ea1bcu [ANS thanks Miguel Menendez, EA1BCU, for LO-19 status information] SO-41 SAUDISAT-1A Uplink to be released Downlink 437.075 MHz Broadcast Callsign SASAT1-11 BBS SASAT1-12 Launched: September 26, 2000 aboard a converted Soviet ballistic missile from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. Status: Unknown, this satellite has been in orbit over six months. ANS has received no additional information. SaudiSat-1A 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. SO-42 SAUDISAT-1B Uplink to be released Downlink 436.775 MHz Broadcast Callsign SASAT2-11 BBS SASAT2-12 Launched: September 26, 2000 aboard a converted Soviet ballistic missile from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. Status: Unknown, this satellite has been in orbit over six months. ANS has received no additional information. 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. SUNSAT SO-35 Mode J Uplink: 145.825 MHz FM Mode J Downlink: 436.250 MHz FM Mode B Uplink: 436.291 MHz FM Mode B Downlink: 145.825 MHz FM Launched: February 23, 1999 by a Delta II rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. Status: Non-operational The SunSat team released the following statement, dated February 1, 2001: We regret to announce that the last communication with SunSat from our ground station at the Electronic Systems Laboratory at Stellenbosch University took place recently. We are certain, after having performed several tests since the last contact, that an irreversible, physical failure has occurred on the satellite. It is therefore unlikely that we will have any further contact with SunSat, apart from the occasional visual sighting by telescope! When it was operational the SunSat package included 1200 and 9600 baud digital store-and-forward capability and a voice 'parrot' repeater system in addition to Mode B/J operation with two VHF and two UHF transmit-receive systems. For more information on SunSat visit the following URL: http://sunsat.ee.sun.ac.za [ANS thanks Garth Milne, ZR1AFH, for this information] RADIO SPORT RS-13 Uplink 21.260 to 21.300 MHz CW/SSB Downlink 145.860 to 145.900 MHz CW/SSB Beacon 145.860 MHz Launched: February 5, 1991 aboard a Russian Cosmos C launcher Status: non-operational (last operational in mode-T) RS-12 was re-activated in January 2001. Prior to this switch RS-13 was operational (mode T), but was apparently turned off following the recent RS-12 switch. 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] KITSAT KO-23 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: Intermittent operation with the downlink transmitter operating at unpredictable intervals. Jim, AA7KC, reported that KO-23's downlink transmitter continues in non-operational status. Jim says that KO-23 shows some signs of trying to recover, but no useful data has been downlinked. The duration of this status is unpredictable. No data has been received since October 28, 2000. KyungHee Kim, HL0ENJ, reports (from the KO-23 control team) that part of the problem with non-operation has been the power budget aboard the satellite. "We are not sure when the bird might turn off again due to insufficient power. The capability of the onboard power system has been less and less," said Kim. HL0ENJ also noted that as of October 30, 2000 the onboard computer was reset and a reboot of operational software is was underway. [ANS thanks Jim Weisenberger, AA7KC, and KyungHee Kim, HL0ENJ, for KO-23 status information] TECHSAT-1B GO-32 Downlink 435.225 MHz using HDLC telemetry Launched: July 10, 1998 by a Russian Zenit rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. Status: Semi-operational. Efforts were reported to be underway to bring GO-32 on line, however, no information has been received by ANS (the last report was dated November 1999). Last reported, the satellite does transmit a 9600-baud burst every 30 seconds (the GO-32 beacon sends one short telemetry status transmission of 44 bytes) and upon request the complete telemetry buffer. [ANS has no further information] PANSAT PO-34 Uplink/downlink frequency (listed on the PanSat web site) 436.500 MHz Launched: October 30, 1998 by the Shuttle Discovery Status: Unknown 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 promised to be available to Amateur Radio operators along with software to utilize this technology. To date, this has not happened. 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] DOVE DO-17 Downlink 145.825 MHz FM (1200 baud AFSK) 2401.220 MHz Launched: January 22, 1990 by an Ariane launcher from Kourou, French Guiana. Status: 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. [ANS has no further information] WEBERSAT WO-18 Downlink 437.104 MHz SSB (1200 baud PSK AX.25) Launched: January 22, 1990 by an Ariane launcher from Kourou, French Guiana. Status: Non-operational. WO-18 was last reported to be in MBL mode after a software crash. [ANS has no further information] SEDSAT-1 SO-33 Downlink 437.910 MHz FM (9600 baud FSK) Launched: October 24, 1998 by a Delta 2 rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida. Status: Semi-operational. The satellite is not currently available for uplink transmissions and the image and transponder recovery efforts have been unsuccessful. SedSat-1 signifies Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (satellite number one). SedSat-1 has downlinked months worth of telemetry data on the performance of its electrical power system parameters. The Nickel Metal Hydride batteries on the spacecraft were experimental and experienced some abuse due to a power negative situation. This information has provided NASA with useful information. With the exception of the imaging system and the use of the transponders, SedSat-1 has been judged a success. For more information on SedSat-1 visit the satellite web site at the following URL: http://seds.uah.edu/projects/sedsat/sedsat.htm [ANS has no further information] /EX