DP Tool Club 15/CD_ASCQ_15_070894.iso/vrac/hod005.zip/FILE3.005

Text File | 1994-05-21 | 18KB | 428 lines

                               =========
                               SpaceNews
                               =========


                           MONDAY MAY 9, 1994


SpaceNews originates at KD2BD in Wall Township, New Jersey, USA.  It is
published every week and is made available for unlimited distribution.


* SPACE CALENDAR *
==================
May 10 - Annular Solar Eclipse, Visible from Mexico, USA, Canada
May 20 - Resurs Launch (Russian)
May 24-25 - Partial Lunar Eclipse
May 25 - DSPSE (Clementine), 4th Earth Flyby
May 27 - DSPSE (Clementine), Lunar Flyby

[Info via LU7AKC]


* WEBERSAT NEWS *
=================
WEBERSAT (WO-18) is broadcasting new pictures and light spectrometer data
weekly.  Software for the extraction, decoding, and display of spectrometer
data, written by Bob (KB7KCL), is available on LO-19 (file #s 371a/3739),
or directly from Weber State University.  Monday UTC continues to be the
day for the broadcast of the most recent spectrum, along with the week's
WOD.

WeberWare 1.0, 1.2, 1.3, or a similar program is required for picture
extraction, decoding, and display.  WeberWare 1.3 is the current software
version, and is available from Weber State University, AMSAT-NA, or AMSAT-UK.
The most recent WeberSat double field image is number 10/14, which was taken
of an as yet unidentified area of Northern Nigeria, Africa. The photo has
very few clouds, and land features are clearly visible.  Expect new photos
sometime during the week of May 9th.

WO-18 is currently sending spacecraft solar array current whole orbit data
(WOD).  This is an excellent opportunity for a student, group, or class to
use this data for spacecraft motion studies, or for studying the long term
effects of the space environment on solar cell effeciency.  WOD collection
and broadcast will adhere to the following schedule:

 1 May/Week1: Array currents, Ch# 26 27 28 29 2A 2B
 8 May/Week2: Array currents, Ch# 26 27 28 29 2A 2B during 10-May-94 eclipse
15 May/Week3: BCR, 21 22 29 2F 33 36
22 May/Week4: Temperatures and impact detector, Ch# 14 2F 30 35 3B 40
29 May/Week1: Array currents, Ch# 26 27 28 29 2A 2B

[Info via EA2CLS]


* MICROSAT DESIGN AT STANFORD *
===============================
Over the years a number of Stanford researchers have been involved in the
design and operation of dozens of different kinds of space vehicles.  But,
beginning this year, the Aeronautics and Astronautics Department has
initiated a new program that involves students in designing, constructing
and controlling small, simple and inexpensive "microsatellites" that are
launched into orbit.

On Thursday, April 21, two dozen engineering students involved in this
program at Stanford University showed a mock-up of their first satellite
design to a visiting Russian official, Yuri Plotnikov, professor of flight
mechanics and control design at the Moscow Aviation Institute.

If the project goes as planned, a year from now the 2-foot-wide hexagonal
satellite will hitch a ride on top of a Delta rocket along with a commercial
satellite.  Once it goes into orbit, the satellite will begin beaming back
digital pictures of Earth and broadcasting its position and status over ham
radio channels with a synthesized voice.

"The program has two major objectives," said Robert Twiggs, a visiting
professor brought to Stanford from Weber State University in Utah to
jump-start the new small satellite development laboratory. "First is to give
graduate students in aero-astro and other departments practical, hands-on
experience in designing and building something that can be launched into
space in only a year on a very limited budget.  Second is to provide
faculty, students, space experimenters and industry with an opportunity
to do inexpensive space experiments."

Plotnikov's interest stems from the fact that the Moscow Aviation
Institute is a professional school with 15,000 students devoted to aerospace
design.  "The name is historical.  Actually, we design anything that flies,"
he said.  The institute currently has a joint satellite program with Utah
State University.  When asked whether something similar is likely with
Stanford, he shrugs and replies, "It's all a matter of funding."

The students have nicknamed their design the Stanford (or Satellite) Quick
Research Testbed, or SQUIRT.  They hope that this could become a de facto
standard for microsatellites, which are a growing phenomenon worldwide.
Students at the University of Umea in Kirna, Sweden, are working on a
parallel design.  So far, about a dozen student-designed microsatellites
have been built and launched.

The watchwords for these satellites are simple and inexpensive.  So the
Stanford design uses powerful magnets to keep the satellite aligned
perpendicular to the Earth's magnetic field, rather than employing
complicated gyros and thrusters to control its position.

"Usually, the reason for a satellite is its payload.  But we are doing
things backward.  Our purpose is to get the experience of designing the
satellite, so what it carries is of secondary importance.  However, we've
tried to come up with a payload that will be interesting and worthwhile,"
said Christopher Kitts, a graduate student in mechanical engineering.

The payload the students have agreed upon is a digital camera, voice
synthesizer and global positioning satellite system receiver.  The GPS
receiver will allow student controllers to determine the satellite's
position.  Simple photocells will determine when the camera is pointing
toward the Earth.  That will allow the Logitech digital camera to snap
images of different parts of the globe that will be transmitted by radio
to interested ham radio operators.

According to Kitts, participants hope that the pictures and synthesized
messages from the satellite can be used in elementary schools, middle
schools and high schools to help interest students in science.

[Info via Axel, CE3AFC]


* FO-20 MALFUNCTION *
=====================
FO-20 command station had confirmed that the FO-20 satellite has experienced
a malfunction.  The operating schedule previously announced has been
cancelled.  More details will be available next week.

[Info via Kazu Sakamoto, JJ1WTK]


* RS-12 NEWS *
==============
Bandi, HA5WH reports that his friend, Sanyi, XU7VK is active on RS-12 from
Cambodia and is looking for contacts.  XU7VK is active during his local
daytime hours and is using CW.


* OSCAR-11 NEWS *
=================
During a conversation with Doug, G0SYX at the Dayton Hamvention, Eric,
WB1HBU was informed that UoSAT-OSCAR-11 now has its S-band beacon
transmitting continuously on 2401.5 MHz.

[Info via Eric, WB1HBU]

                               =========
                               SpaceNews
                               =========


                           MONDAY MAY 16, 1994


SpaceNews originates at KD2BD in Wall Township, New Jersey, USA.  It is
published every week and is made available for unlimited distribution.


* UNAMSAT-1 NEWS *
==================
David Liberman, XE1TU reports that after battling a bad case of hepatitis,
he is now back in the lab and preparing for the launch campaign of
UNAMSAT-1.  The tentative launch date for UNAMSAT-1 is 15-Jun-94, but
there might be a 1 week launch delay.

[Info via David, XE1TU]

* OSCAR-13 NEWS *
=================
L QST *** AO-13 TRANSPONDER SCHEDULE ***  1994 May 07-Jul 11
Mode-B  : MA   0 to MA 170 |
Mode-BS : MA 170 to MA 218 |
Mode-S  : MA 218 to MA 220 |<- S beacon only
Mode-S  : MA 220 to MA 230 |<- S transponder; B trsp. is OFF
Mode-BS : MA 230 to MA 250 |        Alon/Alat 230/-5
Mode-B  : MA 250 to MA 256 |
Omnis   : MA 250 to MA 120 |  Move to attitude 180/0, Jul 11

[Info via G3RUH]


* UPCOMING LUNAR ECLIPSE *
==========================
There will be a partial lunar eclipse on the evening of May 24 into the
morning of May 25.  The eclipse begins with the first point of contact at
9:18 PM EDT (01:18 UTC), but will be more discernable a little over an hour
later at 10:38 PM EDT.  The partial eclipse ends when the Moon leaves the
umbra (Earths shadow) at 12:23 AM EDT (04:23 UTC) on May 25.  About 1/4
of the Moon's surface will be in the Earths shadow during this partial
eclipse.  For observers in the United States, this eclipse will be widely
visible, except for the observers in the Western U.S. and Canada, where the
penumbral phases begin before moonrise.  For observers in western Europe,
the Moon sets during the eclipse.  At mid-eclipse watch for the star of
Antares, a reddish star in the constellation of the Scorpion, that will
appear 7 degrees south of the Moon.

[Info via N9JUW]


* FO-20 MALFUNCTION *
=====================
FO-20 command station had confirmed that the FO-20 satellite has experienced
a malfunction.  The operating schedule previously announced has been
cancelled.  More details will be available shortly.

[Info via Kazu Sakamoto, JJ1WTK]


* OSCAR-11 NEWS *
=================
OSCAR-11's Digitalker is active on 145.826 MHz FM.  Reception reports
should be directed to:

UoSAT Satellite Engineering Research Unit
Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering
University of Surrey
Guildford, Surrey GU2 5XH
England


* THANKS! *
===========
Thanks to all those who sent messages of appreciation to SpaceNews,
especially:

        G1HFS    ZR2ABT   G3BGM   KA3AFY   KC4LLV   VK5ZX   KB7YNO


                               =========
                               SpaceNews
                               =========


                           MONDAY MAY 23, 1994


SpaceNews originates at KD2BD in Wall Township, New Jersey, USA.  It is
published every week and is made available for unlimited distribution.


* LUSAT-1 CRASH RECOVERY UNDERWAY *
===================================
On 16-May-94 while LU1JBR and other stations were operating LUSAT-1
(LO-19), the satellite's downlink vanished, a result of an on-board
computer crash.  By 17-May-94, LUSAT-1 command station (operated by
Norberto Pennini, LU8DYF), successfully reset the satellite.

Norberto will start a series of deep tests and studies in order to find
the origin of the crash.  Reloading of operating software will follow the
study.   Please note that the satellite will not be operational for regular
users for the next 7 to 30 day period.

LUSAT-OSCAR-19 controllers would like to thank LU8DYF and other stations
who, in a way or another, collaborated and made this operation a success,
including: LU6DYD, LU7AKC, LU7DSU, LU8ENU, LU4AGC, LU1EXC, LU2BDT, LW1EEO
and LU3AGY.

[Info via Eduardo Sweet, LU7AKC]


* AMSAT CALL FOR PAPERS *
=========================
Share your experience with the amateur satellite community at the 1994
AMSAT-NA Annual Meeting and Space Symposium scheduled for 07-Oct-94
through 09-Oct-94 in Orlando, Florida.  Come help celebrate AMSAT's 25 year
presence in Space.  Your help is needed to make this meeting a success.

Papers for this meeting are sought.  Editing, formatting, graphics and even
typing can be provided if required.  Prepare a paper and advance your
reputation among others involved in the Amateur Satellite program!  Even if
you cannot attend the meeting, consider a paper for publication.

Topics for all amateur satellite disciplines are sought.  Author and Title
requested ASAP.  Compose a short abstract by July 1.  Final drafts are
requested on or about August 26.

Direct inputs and inquiries to:
Steve Park - WB9OEP
12122 99th Ave. N.
Seminole, FL 34642
Phone: [phone]
Internet: [e-mail]
Amateur Packet Radio: WB9OEP @ W4DPH#TPA.FL.EL87OW

Join us in Orlando, Florida for the fun and festivities!

[Info via Steve Park, WB9OEP]


* CLEMENTINE FAILURE *
======================
After successfully completing a mission using advanced ballistic missile
defense technologies to map the entire surface of the moon, the Ballistic
Missile Defense Organization's Clementine satellite suffered an on-board
malfunction at 9:39 AM EST on 07-May-94.  The likely result of this
malfunction will be to prevent Clementine from performing the planned close
fly by of the near-Earth asteroid Geographos in August 1994, and for the
satellite to point its cameras and sensors.

Preliminary analysis has traced the cause of the malfunction to the
on-board computer which controls most of the satellite's systems including
the attitude control thrusters.  The computer activated several thrusters
during a 20 minute telemetry interrupt with the ground station, thus
depleting all the fuel in the Attitude Control System (ACS) tanks.  It has
not been determined as yet whether the fault was in the computer software
or in the computer's electronic chips.  The primary processor on the
computer is a radiation hardened Military Standard 1750A computer, which is
not experimental technology.

Clementine's mission control center in Alexandria, VA. is continuously
monitoring the satellite.  It has been determined that all instruments and
systems are continuing to function well with the exception of the ACS.

Although it may be difficult to Clementine to make the close fly by of the
asteroid, the satellite will continue to perform its intended military
mission to test 23 advanced technologies.  The Clementine engineering team
is examining several mission options which would continue to yield useful
data. Since January 25, 1994, Clementine's cameras have recorded over 1.5
million images including the topographical surface of the moon.  Analyzing
this data, including results of the search for the existence of ice on the
lunar surface, will continue to occupy scientists for many years.

The Clementine project is managed by BMDO, built by the Naval Research
Laboratory, and its instruments constructed by industry and the Lawrence
Livermore Laboratory.  It has been a landmark project since it demonstrates
that small, highly capable satellites can be built and launched for under
$100 million and in less than two years, using advanced miniaturized
technology and a streamlined management approach.

[Info via Richard H. Buenneke Jr.]


* DISCOVERY OF ASTEROID MOON *
==============================
NASA's space probe Galileo has discovered what is probably the first
known moon of an asteroid.  Since Galileo passed the asteroid, Ida, on
August 28, 1993, the probe has continued to send back images and data from
the near infrared mapping spectrometer.  Because of the great distance at
which the probe is from Earth, downloading this data will continue for
months to come.

The Galileo Porject Scientist, announced on March 3, 1994, the discovery
of a "blip" consisiting of more than a few pixels visible in data from both
the solid-state imaging system and the spectrometer.

Based on simultaneous observation, a natural moon may be in orbit around
Ida.  If so, this would be the first satellite of an asteroid to be
discovered.

More information will be forth coming soon from NASA, along with the first
images of this possibly new moon orbiting Ida.

[Info via Dave, N9JUW]


* ECLIPSE IMAGE AVAILABLE VIA FTP *
===================================
A collection of images taken of the 10-May-94 annular solar eclipse have
been assembled into a single file and is available via anonymous FTP at:
ftp.uleth.ca (IP # 142.66.3.29).  The image is called "eclipse.gif"
and is located in the "pub/solar/Images" directory at this site.  The
frame contains 24 high-quality images taken by the Big Bear Solar
Observatory.  All but three are full-disk hydrogen-alpha and Ca II K
images, giving excellent views of existing features visible on the Sun
(regions of enhanced plage, filaments, etc).  The other three images are
high-resolution close-up images of the Sun showing craters and mountain
ranges against the background of the solar surface.  "eclipse.gif" is a
large 1500 x 1297 x 256 image that will make good use of large
high-resolution monitors.

The folks at the BBSO did a great job capturing these images, and deserve a
nice pat on the back for covering the event so well.

"eclipse.gif" is in a semi-permanent state.  That is, it will not be removed
from the FTP disk for a few months.

[Info via Cary Oler]


* RS-10 NEWS *
==============
VE3CIQ in Canada reports that RS-10 is working quite well in Mode A.  In
one Atlantic pass, he made contact with FG5GI from Guateloupe Island,
ON2ATB from Belgium, and N1MCT from Maine, USA using 25 watts of transmitter
power.  VE3CIQ reports he can hear himself with only 5 watts.

[Info via VE3CIQ]


* SpaceNews IN SPANISH *
========================
Pedro Jose, EA4ADD in Spain is translating SpaceNews issues into the
Spanish language and circulating the translated issues throughout the
LATNET (Latin America) and the EA (Spanish) packet radio networks.

My thanks to EA4ADD for taking the time to translate SpaceNews into Spanish.


* THANKS! *
===========
Thanks to all those who sent messages of appreciation to SpaceNews,
especially:

        ON1AOT   VK2XCI   VE3CIQ   EA4ADD   N6UVY   WB9OEP   W0XK


* FEEDBACK/INPUT WELCOMED *
===========================
Mail to SpaceNews should be directed to the editor (John, KD2BD) via any
of the following paths:

FAX      : [phone]
PACKET   : KD2BD @ N2KZH.NJ.USA.NA
INTERNET : [e-mail] -or- [e-mail]

MAIL     : John A. Magliacane, KD2BD
           Department of Engineering and Technology
           Advanced Technology Center
           Brookdale Community College
           Lincroft, New Jersey  07738
           U.S.A.


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