SB NEWS @ AMSAT $SPC0621 * SpaceNews 21-Jun-93 * BID: $SPC0621 ========= SpaceNews ========= MONDAY JUNE 21, 1993 SpaceNews originates at KD2BD in Wall Township, New Jersey, USA. It is published every week and is made available for unlimited distribution. * OSCAR-20 NEWS * ================= The Fuji-OSCAR 20 satellite (FO-20) will operate its Mode JA analog transponder for use during Field Day. This special transponder operation is the result of discussions between the JARL (Japan Amateur Radio League) and the ARRL. OSCAR 20 normally operates its analog transponder on Wednesdays only. According to Fujio Yamashita, JS1UKR, of the JARL, OSCAR 20's digital transponder and packet BBS will shut down at 0920 UTC, June 25. The Mode JA analog transponder will be activated at this time and will remain available until 1020 UTC, June 28. The OSCAR 20 analog transponder is available for SSB and CW communications only. Uplink passband is 145.900 to 146.000 MHz. Downlink passband is 435.900 to 435.800 MHz (inverting). All amateurs are encouraged to take advantage of this unique opportunity during Field Day. Our thanks to the JARL for making this possible. [Info via Steve Ford] * MIR INFORMATION * =================== The latest Mir QSL card information was received from RV3DR via Mir and passed along to SpaceNews by N6JLH. QSL cards confirming radio contacts with Mir were recently sent out from U_MIR (R_MIR) in March 1993 to the following stations: 1 VK3CFI-from U8MIR,U9MIR 2 VK6IG- from U4MIR,U6MIR 3 IW1QDZ-from U5MIR,U8MIR-1 4 KI4TD -from U6MIR,U8MIR-1 5 KT0H -from U2MIR 6 K2CL -from U5MIR,U5MIR-1,U6MIR-1,U8MIR-1 7 N0MIR -from U6MIR via UA3CR 8 W0SL -from U6MIR,U8MIR via UA3CR 9 W2IFR -from U6MIR,U3MIR,U6MIR-1 10 FC1OKN-from U8MIR 11 IV3WLQ-from U6MIR,U8MIR via UA3CR 12 4X4LF -from U6MIR,U8MIR 13 KDX1A -from R2MIR 14 N2PKF -from U6MIR-1 from U_MIR (R_MIR) in April-May 1993: 15 SV2AGW-from U4MIR,U5MIR 16 PE1MQC-from RV3DR (foto TV "ALTAIR") 17 K0SK -from U4MIR,U5MIR 18 W2LRJ -from R2MIR 19 OZ-OR 2197 (SWL) U4,U5,U6MIR 20 ON7QD-from U6MIR 21 ON4APB-from U8MIR 22 KA3AFY-from U6MIR 23 WG0I -from U8MIR 24 N3KYP -from U8,U6MIR 25 WB8IMY-from U5MIR 26 N2JNT -from R2MIR 27 VE7VVW-from U6MIR 28 ZL2UYH-from U5,U8MIR 29 FC1CDC-from U6MIR 30 G0PWU -from U8MIR 31 5B4ZL -from U2MIR 32 ON2AKJ-from U6MIR via ON4APB 33 ON4APB-from U8MIR 34 F11BYB(SWL)-from U4,F5MIR 35 FE6DOK-from F5MIR 36 EB5IFI-from R2MIR via IV3WLQ 37 VE5RC -from R2MIR 38 N1FWV -from U5MIR 39 N4QN -from U6MIR 40 LU1MIK-from R2MIR 41 LU1MHG-from R2MIR via LU1MIK 42 UA3IFI-from U3,U5MIR 44 ZS2ABF-from U4,U5MIR 45 G3MFQ -from U4,U5MIR 46 N8KCG -from R2MIR 47 KD4OJD-from R2MIR 48 WN3Z -from R2MIR 49 WA3LKT-from U6MIR 50 WA3TNT-from U5MIR 51 N1NEG -from R2MIR 52 N2RBJ -from R2MIR 53 K4PTB -from U5MIR 54 N2PKF -from R2MIR 55 DE1MSA-from R2MIR 56 FC1GTU-from U6MIR 57 SV8BEV-from U4MIR 58 SV2BNY-from U5MIR 59 14 ICC 666 (SWL)-from F5MIR 60 HB9RHV-from U4,U5MIR 61 HB9SKA-from U5,U8,U6MIR 62 PE1OKI-from R2MIR 63 OH8UV -from U5,U6MIR Starting 01-Jan-93, the new QSL Manager for the Mir cosmonauts is RV3DR. All Mir QSLs should be sent to: RV3DR-Serge Samburov, Space QSL Manager P.O. 141070, BOX 73, Kaliningrad-10 city, Moscow Area, RUSSIA. or direct: P.O. 141070, Kaliningrad city, Moscow Area, prospekt Cosmonavtov, dom 36, kw 96, RUSSIA Please include return envelopes with your QSL cards. Mir is back on 145.550 MHz during free periods on the weekends and holidays. Mir will be off the air during the upcoming SAREX mission. The cosmonauts work on Moscow time and wake up at 8:00 AM, bathe, and have breakfast. The remained of their work day is as follows: 9:00-12:00 -scheduled work 12:00-13:30 -first aerobics, water treatments 13:30-14:30 -dinner 15:00-18:00 -scheduled work 18:00-19:30 -second aerobics, water treatments 19:30-20:30 -supper 20:30-21:30 -preparing everything for tomorrow's work, then personal time and 8 hours sleep. * AMSAT-OSCAR-13 NEWS * ======================= The following message blocks are flying on AO-13: L QST *** AO-13 TRANSPONDER SCHEDULE *** 1993 Jun 10 -> Mode-B : MA 0 to MA 15 ! Mode-S : MA 15 to MA 25 !<- S transponder; B trsp. is OFF Mode-B : MA 25 to MA 256 ! Attitude Jun 10 122/0 Mode- : MA ! (approx) Jun 14 130/0 Mode- : MA ! Jun 28 140/0 Omnis : MA 170 to MA 10 ! Jul 12 150/0 Please don't uplink on B MA 15-25; interferes with mode-S. M QST de G3RUH 1993 Jun 10. After 10 days magnetorquing for 17 perigees, the re-orientation is complete. The new attitude is Alon/Alat 122/0 at 25 rpm. At the poor Sun angle (37 degrees, 80% illumination), which has to be maintained for some weeks, power balance is marginal, and the low voltage alarm trips frequently. When this happens, a) the beacon goes OFF and b) the transponder goes to LOW power. Increasing your uplink e.i.r.p. is futile! 73 James. N QST 1993 May 31. The transmitter section of Oscar-13's mode-L transponder appears to have stopped working. No cause has been established for this. The AGC and Power Output telemetry both read #FF, and the TX temperature is as per an off condition. It has exciter power, but possibly not PA power. Fortunately the mode-L receiver works fine; in conjunction with mode-S telemetry provides a greatly superior command link than does mode-B. Thinking continues. 73 G3RUH/DB2OS/VK5AGR. [Info via G3RUH] * SpaceNews NEWS * ================== Due to lack of time, SpaceNews was not issued last week. Sorry for the inconvience. de John, KD2BD * THANKS! * =========== Thanks to all those who sent messages of appreciation regarding SpaceNews, especially: G0RKJ WF1F N2KZH VK2FBI VE3XPM KB4MHH KD4DJV I5NQZ N5JXS N6JLH * FEEDBACK/INPUT WELCOMED * =========================== Mail to SpaceNews should be directed to the editor (John, KD2BD) via any of the following paths: FAX :1-908-747-7107 UUCP :...catfish.ocpt.ccur.com!ka2qhd!kd2bd PACKET :KD2BD @ NN2Z.NJ.USA.NA INTERNET:kd2bd@ka2qhd.ocpt.ccur.com -or- kd2bd@amsat.org MAIL: John A. Magliacane, KD2BD Department of Engineering and Technology Advanced Technology Center Brookdale Community College Lincroft, New Jersey 07738 U.S.A. <<=- SpaceNews: The first amateur newsletter read in space! -=>> /EX