HAM Radio 1/HamRadio.cdr/satel/sarexinf/sarex2.inf

Text File | 1990-08-30 | 8KB | 133 lines

PAYLOAD DESCRIPTION AND MISSION OVERVIEW
This  section  contains  a  general  payload  description and a mission
overview.  It is not intended to specify  requirements  or  constraints
that should be specified in other sections.

Payload Description
Configuration  A  -  SAREX-II  configuration  A  consists of a suite of
amateur radio equipment, much of which was flown previously on STS-51 F
and prior to that as a reduced capability configuration  (configuration
B)  on  STS-9.   Configuration  A  is comprised of a low power handheld
Frequency  Modulation  (FM)  transceiver,  a   pare  battery  set,   an
Interface  (I/F)  module,  an  SAREX  headset  assembly,  an  equipment
assembly cabinet, a Television  (TV)  camera  and  monitor,  a  Payload
General Support Computer (PGSC) and an antenna capable of being mounted
in  one  of  the Orbiter's flight deck windows.  The equipment assembly
houses power supplies, a  Slow  Scan  Television  (SSTV)  converter,  a
packet  radio  Terminal Node Controller (TNC) and switches and displays
necessary to control the equipment as well as connectors to connect  it
to other equipment comprising configuration A.
SAREX-II configuration A is capable of communicating with amateur radio
stations  within Line Of Sight (LOS) of the Orbiter in any one of three
modes, e.g., voice, SSTV  or  data.   In  the  latter  two  modes,  the
equipment  can  be  operated  either  attended  or  unattended.  In the
attended method  of  operation,  the  operator  manually  provides  the
equipment with TV pictures (using the TV
camera)  or computer data (using the PGSC keyboard) and observes the TV
picture on the monitor or printed text via the  PGSC  screen.   In  the
unattended  method  of  operation,  the operator sets up the equipment,
turns the equipment on and selects the operating  mode.   The  operator
then  attends  to  other duties with only occasional observation of the
SAREX-II equipment operation.
The function of each of the SAREX-II configuration A equipment suite is
summarized as follows:
a.  Handheld transceiver - Receives and transmits  FM  voice,  SSTV  or
    packet  radio  signals  in  the  two meter (144 to 146 MHz) Amateur
    Band.
b.  I/F module - Serves to  provide  a  means  of  interconnecting  the
    SAREX-II equipment with the standard crew microphone/headset or the
    SAREX  headset  assembly  and standard crew personal tape recorder.
    The I/F module also interconnects the handheld transceiver with the
    equipment assembly cabinet.
c.  Equipment assembly cabinet -  Houses  the  SSTV  converter,  packet
    radio TNC, power supplies and switches, displays and connectors.
    1.      SSTV converter - Takes normal TV from the camera or Shuttle
            TV  distribution  system and makes still pictures which can
            be transmitted in a voice bandwidth radio circuit and takes
            still TV frames transmitted up on a voice  bandwidth  radio
            circuit  and  converts  them  for  viewing on a standard TV
            monitor.
    2.      Packet  TNC  -  Interconnects  a  computer  with  a   radio
            transceiver  so  that  data  to  and  from  the computer is
            transmitted to and received from other stations  in  bursts
            of  characters  using a special amateur developed protocol.
            This  protocol  includes  error  correction   and   station
            addressing features.
d.  TV camera - Allows scenes in the Orbiter as well as external scenes
    available  through  the various windows to be televised and sent to
    the SSTV converter.
e.  TV monitor - Allows viewing of TV pictures from the SSTV converter.
f.  Antenna - Permits the  radio  signals  to  and  from  the  handheld
    transceiver  to  be  transmitted  and  received  through one of the
    Orbiter's windows while limiting the leakage of Radiofrequency (RF)
    energy into the cabin.
g.  PGSC - Serves as a data terminal for the packet  radio  portion  of
    the experiment.
h.  Associated  cables  -  Interconnect the various pieces of equipment
    making up the SAREX-II configuration A suite of equipment.
i.  SAREX headset assembly.
j.  Personal tape recorder - to record contacts.
Configuration B  -  SAREX-II  configuration  B  consists  only  of  the
handheld  transceiver,  I/F  module,  spare  battery set, SAREX headset
assembly, personal tape recorder, and the window antenna. It is capable
only of exchanging voice communications with  amateur  stations  within
LOS  of  the  Orbiter.  Configuration  B  can  be  operated only in the
attended mode.
Configuration C - SAREX-II configuration C  consists  of  the  handheld
transceiver,  I/F  module,  PGSC,  spare  battery  set, window antenna,
packet module, SAREX  headset  assembly,  personal  recorder,  and  the
required  cable  assemblies.  The packet module contains a power supply
and packet TNC.  The power supply provides power for the  TNC  and  the
handheld  transceiver.   The TNC interconnects with a radio transceiver
so that data to and from the computer is transmitted  to  and  received
from  other  amateur  rado  stations.   Configuration  C  is capable of
operating in either the voice  or  data  mode  in  communications  with
amateur stattions within LOS of the Orbiter.  This configuration can be
operated  in  the  attended mode for voice communication and either the
attended or automatic mode for data communications.
Configuration D - SAREX-II configuration D is the same as configuration
A except that a Fast Scan Television (FSTV)  module  is  added  to  the
antenna assembly.  The FSTV module contains a receiving RF preamplifier
and  a  video  decoder  that  provides  NTSC  video for SAREX-II.  This
configuration communicates with amateur  stations  within  LOS  of  the
Orbiter  in  one  of four modes, e.g., voice, SSTV, data, or FSTV.  The
voice mode is operated in the attended mode while SSTV, data,  or  FSTV
can be operated in either the attended or unattended mode.
Note  1:   This  band  is  also  part  of the Amateur Satellite Service
frequency  allocations  established  on  a  worldwide  basis   by   the
International Telecommunications Union (ITU).
Mission Overview
Integrated Ground Operations.- After the payload is initially prepared,
it  is transported to the Orbiter integration facility.  The payload is
installed in the Orbiter at the launch pad.

Flight Operations.- Operation in-flight will be limited to usage during
off-duty hours by licensed crewmembers.  Upon completion  of  in-flight
operation  activities,  the  equipment  will  be returned to its flight
stowage position(s) for landing.
Postlanding.- After landing, the payload is removed  from  the  Orbiter
and returned to the customer at JSC.
MISSION OPERATIONS
The  mission  operations  section includes a definition of requirements
and constraints by mission phase.
Payload Control Parameters
The payload control weight and payload control  dimensions  define  the
maximum  weight and dimensions of the payload for NSTS mission planning
purposes.  A payload may not  exceed  its  control  weight  or  control
dimensions without NSTS approval.
The payload control weights are as follows:
Configuration A      60 lb  (27.21 kg)
Configuration B      35 lb  (15.90 kg)
Configuration C      45 lb  (20.41 kg)
configuration D      70 lb  (31.75 kg)
All configuration A and D payload equipment, except the window antenna,
will  be stowed in one and one half middeck locker volumes.  The window
antenna  will  be  stowed  in  the  Orbiter  window  shade  bag.    All
configuration  B  and  C  payload equipment, except the window antenna,
will be stowed in one half locker volume.  The window antenna  will  be
stowed in the Orbiter window shade bag.
For  configurations  A,  C,  and  D  a  PGSC can be used to provide the
middeck SPOC function which would eliminate the requirement to carry  a
second  SPOC.   In  this  configuration SAREX-II would be operated on a
non-interference basis with SPOC requirements.