[Following is the handout I wrote on a panel that I and Johnathan Vail, N1DXG did for Arisia '93, a science fiction convention in Boston. If you use it, be sure to update it; it was last written for early 1993, and things have changed, to put it mildly. :) --Dave Moisan ] [Blurb for the panel, which was entitled, "Participate in the Space Program,--Through Amateur Radio!"] Are you a space buff, but find NASA too big and impersonal? Are you a techie? Want to talk to an astronaut live--from your own house? Find out about the world's _only_ volunteer space program and how _you_ can get involved! "Participate in the Space Program--Through Amateur Radio", 6 PM Saturday in Beacon Hill. Exploring the Amateur Satellites -------------------------------- by David Moisan, N1KGH and Johnathan Vail, N1DXG For the space enthusiast, nothing can bring the space program closer than tracking and listening to amateur radio satellites. Without much fanfare, a group of experimenters has been building and designing satellites on their own time and money. This group--The Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT)--has revolutionized the satellite industry with their _microsat_ technology. And, with just a computer and a scanner or ham transceiver, you can join in too! Here's what you need: _Software_: Tracking software exists for nearly every computer; two programs for the PC that I use are _Traksat_ and _STS Plus_; both are shareware. The minimum hardware requirements are a 286 processor, 512K RAM and at least a Hercules or EGA display. For best performance, a math coprocessor is required, though most tracking software will work fine, albeit more slowly, without it. (Did you know that _STS Plus_, a shuttle tracking program, was used by Intelsat to support the _Endeavour_'s rescue of one of their satellites last May?) _Radio_: If you merely want to hear satellites, any good programmable scanner (which you may already have) will do. Make sure it can receive 144-148 Mhz. (most do) Optionally, you might want to receive 136-138, 150 and 400 Mhz, for weather and navigation birds. If you want to _transmit_, you'll need an amateur radio license. With a little study (55 question test), you'll earn a _Technician_ license that'll let you work almost all the hamsats. See the addresses at the end of the handout for more info. In either case, a large whip antenna or outdoor antenna will work well for the satellites described here. _Keplerian Elements_: Every satellite's orbit can be described by a set of numbers known as Keplerians, after the Dutch astronomer. Keplerians are published (electronically) in a format known as 2- line Elements. As a satellite's orbital parameters change with time, you need the latest, most accurate set. Elements are available online from the sources listed later in this handout. [Figure 1--A 2-Line element set for Oscar 21] AO-21 1 21087U 91 6 A 92360.87140303 .00000101 00000-0 99999-4 0 6527 2 21087 82.9429 181.0758 0035919 142.7285 217.6376 13.74504595 95638 _Where Do I Listen?_ While this is by no means a complete list of satellite frequencies, here are some to get you started: 145.55 Mhz. This is an important frequency, used by both Mir (the Russian space station) and astronaut-hams on the Space Shuttle. Both voice and data (packet) transmissions can be found here. With a ham license, you can try talking to the astronauts yourself! 145.825 Mhz. Oscar-11 and Dove--both amateur radio satellites-- broadcast synthesized voice and data here. Dove is not active at the moment, due to technical difficulties, but AMSAT is working hard to get it going again, perhaps soon after you read this. 145.987 Mhz. Oscar 21: This is the most popular amateur radio satellite on (and above!) the air. Using DSP (Digital Signal Processing), Oscar 21 not only has a voice synthesizer, but can also retransmit voice signals from the ground, making it the world's highest repeater! (If you've a ham license and want to try transmitting, the uplink frequency for Oscar 21 is 435.015 Mhz) 150.000 Mhz. This frequency is shared by three Russian navigation satellites: Cosmos 2123, Nadezhda 2 and Nadezhda 3. Every few hours, you'll hear the 'deedle-deedle' of telemetry being transmitted to nav receivers on the ground. _And That's Not the End of It_: Thousands of hams have talked (and typed) on the satellites. And there's more to come! No fewer that *six* new hamsats are planned for launch in the next few years (including one with a built in meteor-sounding radar, which an enterprising ham could utilize for free!) Many hams have equipment to receive pictures from weather satellites. And several hamsats already take pictures, which can be downloaded from the birds. Other hams analyze telemetry. And still others search the skies (and the airwaves) for new or unusual satellites. _Electronic Resources_: Tracking Software: The two programs mentioned--_Traksat_ and _STS Plus_ are readily available from various sources. They can be found on the Internet via anonymous FTP to wuarchive.wustl.edu (in pub/mirrors/msdos/hamradio); Or call Tom's BBS (617-698-8649). Keplerian elements: Can be found via FTP to archive.afit.af.mil, where Dr. T.S. Kelso publishes them every week; also check kilroy.jpl.nasa.gov (under /pub/space/elements/molczan) for Ted Molczan's big list (containing nearly every known satellite!) See also the newsgroups rec.radio.amateur.misc and sci.space.news; AMSAT posts elements to its mailing list (see below), and they can also be found on Tom's BBS. AMSAT Email List: AMSAT has an electronic mail list that's used to post bulletins and keplerian elements and also to provide a forum for satellite enthusiasts. To join the list, send mail to kb5mu@amsat.org. I _strongly_ recommend this list to _anyone_ interested in satellites! Also look for "SpaceNews", John Magliacane's superb weekly newsletter in rec.radio.amateur.misc, sci.space.news and the AMSAT list. Printed Resources: "The Satellite Experimenter's Handbook", Dr. Martin Davidoff, ARRL This is _the_ reference for amateur satellites! Readable by the novice, yet _very_ comprehensive. If you are seriously interested in satellites, _get this book_! "The Weather Satellite Handbook", Dr. Ralph Taggart, ARRL Similar to Davidoff's book, except concentrating on weather satellites. A must if you're interested in this area. Both of these books are available from the ARRL and AMSAT. Magazines: Both "73" and "QST" publish regular columns about hamsats; "73" can be found at your local newsstand. "QST" is published by the ARRL. Organizations: AMSAT (The Amateur Satellite Corporation) P.O. Box 27 Washington DC, 20044 The preeminent organization for amateur satellite experimentation. These folks have been making it happen for over 30 years! ARRL (Amateur Radio Relay League) 225 Main St Newington, CT 06111 This is the oldest, and biggest, amateur radio organization in America. They'll send you information on becoming a ham, free for the asking, including a list of the closest clubs that give exams. ESTO (Educational Satellite Tracking Organization) c/o Keith Stein 7830 Water Valley Court Springfield, VA 22153 This organization is devoted to the tracking, reception and study of all satellites, amateur and non-amateur; members are encouraged to track satellites, visually or by radio, and report their results; it's the only amateur organization of its kind that I know of. _Contacting Us:_ We'd be happy to talk satellites with you, or help you get your ham license. I (Dave Moisan), can be reached via email at n1kgh@amsat.org; Locally, I can be found on Tom's BBS. Johnathan can be reached at vail@tegra.com. Drop us a line! [or n1dxg@amsat.org]