Bulletin ID: SPC90731 --------- SpaceNews --------- MONDAY JULY 31, 1989 SpaceNews originates at KD2BD in Wall Township, NJ, and is distributed weekly around the world. It is available for UNLIMITED distribution. * STS-28 LAUNCH ADVISORY * -------------------------- LAUNCH DATE SET FOR STS-28 NASA officials meeting at a Flight Readiness Review at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on July 26th set August 8, 1989, as the launch date for STS-28. The launch period for the Department of Defense-dedicated Space Shuttle mission will be from 7:30 to 11:30 AM Eastern time. This schedule depends upon completion of work in progress and cooperative weather allowing normal pad activities to continue. Launch countdown preparations for Columbia and STS-28 will begin this week. * OSCAR-9 NEWS * ---------------- The current operating schedule for OSCAR-9 indicates that Diary software reloads will take place on Tuesdays, UTC. Digitalker telemetry will follow. The telemetry channels currently being downlinked by the Digitalker include: 08 : Battery Pack A Temperature (C) 18 : Battery Pack B Temperature (C) 22 : Battery Voltage +14V (Volts) 29 : Spacecraft -Y Facet Temperature (C) 35 : 145 MHz Beacon Output Power (UnCalibrateD) 39 : Spacecraft +Y Facet Temperature (C) 49 : Spacecraft +Z Facet Temperature (C) 59 : Spacecraft -Z Facet Temperature (C) Note that the telemetry value for channel 35 is UnCalibrateD (UCD). In order to decode the proper value for this channel, substitute the "N" value given by the spacecraft into the equation : (N-82) * 1.67. The result is given in milliwatts. * DATASPACE '89 * ----------------- The second International Amateur Radio Satellite Assembly was held last week on July 27th at the University of Surrey in England. At the meeting, Dr. Geswindt, HA5WH, reviewed plans for co-operation between the USSR and East European countries for a series of satellites to be designated RSS. The first one will most likely be launched during 1991 and will include modes A and J. Three to four launch opportunities will be available during the next five years for these new satellites. Dr. Martin Sweeting, G3YJO, told the delegates that the construction of Educational and Scientific Satellites combined with Amateur Radio activities could provide the necessary infrastructure and finance needed for a sound Amateur Satellite development program. By using Amateur Satellites to prove new technological concepts which later may find use in a commercial application would benefit the service and create a pool of expertise. Cees van Dijk, PA0QC, Chairman of the IARU Region I VHF/UHF Working Committee told the meeting of the importance of frequency bandplanning. He said that Administrations expect Amateur Radio Organizations to manage their own allocations in a responsible manner. This work has to be done by international cooperation and consultation. He was critical of the inclusion of satellite uplink frequencies in the region 144.300 - 144.500 MHz for mode JL on OSCAR-13. This was not in the bandplan and has created problems. * FEEDBACK WELCOMED * --------------------- Feedback regarding SpaceNews can be directed to the author (John) via any of the following paths: UUCP : ucbvax!rutgers!petsd!tsdiag!ka2qhd!kd2bd PACKET : KD2BD @ NN2Z * SOURCES * ----------- Some of the news contained in this SpaceNews issue was obtained via OSCAR-9, OSCAR-11 and the KA2QHD and NN2Z PBBSs. * AMATEUR RADIO: A Natural Resource *