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1993-05-23
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SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-128.01
STS-55 SAREX MISSION CONCLUDED
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 128.01 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD MAY 8, 1993
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-128.01
STS-55 Shuttle Amater Radio Experiment (SAREX) Mission Concluded
After 10 days in space, over 160 orbits, and 4.1 million miles of space
travel, the Space Shuttle Columbia successfully completed its SAREX mission
this week with a landing at Edwards Air Force Base, CA. With over 300
packet contacts and numerous school contacts, the SAREX payload on this
mission was kept very busy at times. One of the major highlights of this
mission from a SAREX standpoint was the testing of the shuttle bay-mounted
1/4 wave vertical antenna on Orbits #61 and #62. From the ground station
signal reports, it was observed that the signals appeared to be 10-12 dB
stronger compared with the shuttle window-mounted antenna. This infor-
mation is being compiled by the SAREX Working Group and is being forwarded
to NASA officials. It is hoped that the results of this experiment will
provide an incentive to NASA to have an outside shuttle bay-mounted antenna
to be included on all SAREX missions. Although the bay-mounted antenna was not
expected to be used after its initial test, it did unexpectedly find further
use late in the STS-55 mission when a N-connector was pulled loose from
the window-mounted antenna. Astronauts quickly obtained permission to
reconnect back to the 1/4 wave vertical antenna in the shuttle bay. Again
signal comming received by SAREX officials reported that packet signals
were "booming" into packet ground stations. The SAREX payload was finally
stowed away on 5-MAY-93 around 20:50 UTC after working flawlessly during
the 10 day STS-55 mission.
Because of electrical power conservation measures taken during this
mission, the SAREX computer was turned off and thus was not recording any
telemetry during different portions of this mission. However, the SAREX
packet station was kept operational. The SAREX Working Group would very
much like to examine this telemetry. If you copied the SAREX telemetry
during this mission, the SAREX Working Group would like to receive a floppy
disk from you of this telemetry. Please send your STS-55 SAREX telemetry to:
STS-55 Packet Logs
Frank Bauer (KA3HDO)
1804 Hopefield Road
Silver Spring, MD
20905
Please send a IBM PC compatible 3.5" floppy with the SAREX telemetry stored
in an ASCII formatted file. For those who made a 2-way contact or heard
the SAREX payload, you can receive a QSL card or a SWL card by sending your
either card to the following address:
IBM Amateur Radio Club/1993
P.O. Box 1328
Boca Raton, FL
33429-1328
Please include a large self-addressed-stamped-envelope (SASE), 4" x 9.5"
and sufficient postage or IRCs with your QSL card. Please indicate on the
your if you made a 2-way contact or only heard STS-55 with a "STS-55 2-WAY"
or "STS-55 SWL" on the outside of your envelope.
In final note from the SAREX Work Group. The Group is acutely aware that durin
this mission the astronauts were unable to make as many general 2M FM voice
QSOs as they would have wanted. A complete rundown of General QSO (Voice and
Packet) operations on the past two SAREX Flights (STS-56 and STS-55) will be
provided in next weeks ANS bulletin. In particular, Frank Bauer (KA3HDO),
AMSAT's V.P. for Manned Space Programs will address concerns raised by several
radio amateurs regarding the apparent lack of general QSO operations on these
flights. Please stay tuned.
[The ANS would like to thank Frank Bauer (KA3HDO) for the information which
went into this bulletin item.]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-128.02
PHASE-3D MODE B CLARIFICATION
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 128.02 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD MAY 8, 1993
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-128.02
Joint Statement From AMSAT-DL & AMSAT-NA About Phase-3D Mode B Transponder
The following is a joint statement from AMSAT-DL President Karl Meinzer
(DJ4ZC) and AMSAT-NA President Bill Tynan (W3XO) regarding Phase-3D:
"A translated version of Peter Guelzow's (DB2OS) report of a Phase-3D
satellite transponder meeting held near Munich on 17-18 April, 1993 has
been recently circulating via the various AMSAT media. Unfortunately, as a
direct result of the tedious process of translating Peter's notes from
German to English, readers of the English text might also construe that
transmitter and receiver complements for Phase-3D are now final. We want
to again emphasize this is not the case. The Munich meeting resulted in
committments from several individuals for a minimum viable baseline suite
of equipment for the Phase-3D satellite. At this time, the transponder
listing has NOT been finalized. Locations for additional transmitter and
receiver modules, including a place for a 2M downlink transmitter, still
remain both in the spacecraft structure as well as in the IF matrix.
"On the other hand, we are becoming increasingly concerned that precious
little time remains for construction and delivery of any additional
electronic components. The process of integrating our flight model
spacecraft must commence, without fail, in July '94. This means the
absolute latest time that delivery of qualified electronic components can
occur is 1-DEC-94. That's about 600 days from now.
"While we are committed to keeping our options open for various additional
transmitter and receiver combinations, we also cannot afford to put the
entire project's schedule in jeopardy by waiting indefinitely for qualified
builders of additional equipment to step forward. Put another way, the
details of the various transmitter and receiver complements will have to be
finalized in the very near future.
"The volunteer efforts of each member of the Phase-3D team are focused on
building the best satellite that we can with the resources we have
available. We are still confident that once built and launched, Phase-3D
will truly be the satellite for ALL amateurs. We remain firmly committed
to achieving that goal."
[The AMSAT News Service (ANS) would like to thank Karl Miezer (DJ4ZC) of
ANSAT-DL and Bill Tynan (W3XO) from AMSAT-NA for this bulletin item.]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT
$ANS-128.03 AMSAT OPS NET SCHEDULE
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 128.03 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD MAY 8, 1993
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-128.03
AMSAT Operations Net Schedule
AMSAT Operations Nets are planned for the following times. Mode B Nets
are conducted on AO-13 on a downlink frequency of 145.950 MHz and Mode J/L
on a downlink of 435.970 MHz.
Date UTC Mode Phs NCS Alt NCS
15-May-93 2030 B 148 WJ9F VE2LVC
23-May-93 0030 B 156 VE2LVC W9ODI
30-May-93 0000 B 62 N7NQM W5IU
Any stations with information on current events would be most welcome.
Also, those interested in discussing technical issues or who have questions
about any particular aspect of OSCAR statellite operations are encouraged
to join the OPS Nets. In the unlikely event that either the Net Control
Station (NCS) or the alternate do not call on frequency, any participant is
invited to act as the NCS.
**************************************
Slow Scan Television on AO-13
SSTV sessions will be held on Saturdays and Sundays UTC:
Mode J Downlink 435.980 MHz
Mode B after J Downlink 145.960 MHz
OPS NETS will take priority, look for SSTV activity immediately after the
net. SSTVer's are invited to join the Net to make schedules at other
times if desired.
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-128.04
W6SP SERIOUSLY ILL
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 128.04 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD MAY 8, 1993
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-128.04
Former AMSAT-NA Chairman-Of-The-Board Seriously Ill
Former AMSAT Chairman of the Board, John W. Browning (W6SP) is seriously
ill at his California residence. Words of greetings and well-wishes are
certainly in order to buoy up this stalwart who gave so much of himself to
our hobby.
Many AMSAT members will recall John's steady leadership guiding AMSAT-NA
into the Phase-3 era in the Eighties whilst trying (mostly successfully) to
coax an unruly herd of prima donna techies (and would-be techies) in the
same general direction. Many will also remember his always interesting
column, "W6 Space Philosopher" in AMSAT's magazine, "Orbit".
Shot down twice in WWII, a Korean war fighter pilot, and a veteran of more
than thirty years in the Air Force, he came to be known as "Colonel
Electric" for his many space satellite program achievements including the
MILSTAR which he virtually invented. He earned the Distinguished Service
Medal upon retirement, an honor usually reserved for senior general
officers.
John brought his brand of truly inspired leadership and clear vision to
AMSAT at an important transition period where AMSAT-NA became one of a
family of significant AMSAT organizations with a need to share program
decisions on an international scale. He understood the "new AMSAT
realities" long before many did since he had experienced similar scenarios
in his work with NATO satellite managers.
Now W6SP is "down for maintenance" and his spirits could certainly benefit
from hearing from his many friends in the Amateur Radio community who have
benefitted through his contributions and simply through knowing him.
QSLs or letters may be addressed to John at:
John W. Browning (W6SP)
6202 Lochvale Drive
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA, 90274, USA
Or, WA2LQQ would pleased to relay your greeting messages sent to WA2LQQ over
UO-22, KO-23 or via the INTERNET: rip@pandora.sf.ca.us
[The AMSAT News Service (ANS) would like to thank Vern Riportella (WA2LQQ)
for this bulletin item.]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-128.05
WEEKLY OSCAR STATUS REPORTS
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 128.05 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD MAY 8, 1993
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-128.05
Weekly OSCAR Status Reports: 08-MAY-93
AO-10: AMSAT-OSCAR-10 is still operational in Mode-B. The telemetry beacon
no longer exists. However, despite good signals from the Mode-B transponder,
there are very few stations using the transponder. [WD4AHZ]
AO-13: ATTITUDE CHANGE
L QST *** AO-13 TRANSPONDER SCHEDULE *** 1993 May 10 - May 31
Mode-B : MA 0 to MA 130 ! Omnis MA 250 - MA 60
Mode-BS : MA 130 to MA 180 !<- S transponder; B trsp. is ON
Mode-S : MA 180 to MA 190 !<- S transponder; B trsp. is OFF
Mode-LS : MA 190 to MA 195 !<- S beacon + L transponder
Mode-JL : MA 195 to MA 210 ! Bon/Blat 210/0
Mode-B : MA 210 to MA 256 ! Move to attitude 120/0, May 31
Please don't uplink to B, MA 180-190. Interferes with Mode S.
Magnetorquing from attitude 180/0 to 210/0 will commence on 08-MAY-93 [Sat]
20:09 UTC, ORBIT 3752 and will continue for 6 perigees. The new schedule
will be uploaded during Mode-L on orbit 3756, so it (only) will contain two
Mode J/L/S sessions: MA 130-150 and 190-210. Mode S will be ON for nearly 3
hours, MA 130 to MA 195. New Mode-S stations appear daily. During MA 130-
180 you will have to endure the coupling from Mode-B users operating at
145.880 - 145.920 MHz. Either work between them, use as test signals or go
X-band. MA 180-190 is Mode-S transponder exclusive (plus Mode-B beacon).
MA 190-195 is Mode S beacon (plus Mode-L transponder).
[G3RUH/VK5AGR/DB2OS]
AO-21: The Dual-Hop (DoHop) experiments are planned from AO-21 through the
RS-10 bird on 16-MAY-93. Stations wishing to participate should uplink on
CW or Lower Side Band (LSB) on AO-21 between 435.100 and 435.110 MHz and
call "CQ DoHop de" your call sign. If you are not taking part in the DoHop
experiments, you are asked to monitor the RS-10 signals on Mode-A. Signal
reports will be appreciated. In your signal reports, please note the time
in UTC, frequency, and the location of the station heard. Please send your
reports to W2RS @ WA2SNA.#NJ.USA.NA or to G0NKA @ GB7DTX.GBR.EU. [G0NKA]
FO-20: The FO-20 Ground Control Station, JJ1ZUT, announced that FO-20's
operational schedule during the month of May will be as follows:
Analog Mode Operation(in UTC):
May 12 11:52 <---> May 13 10:20
May 19 10:20 <---> May 20 10:40
May 26 10:50 <---> May 27 11:08
[JJ1WTK/3]
AO-16: Operating normally and has a number of interesting education files
regarding the WO-18 spectrometer experiment. [WH6I]
LO-19: LO-19 is operating normally. The CW beacon is on again. You can copy
the CW beacon on a downlink frequency of 437.125 MHZ and it is quite strong.
The CW beacon is in operation on Wednesdays only. The beacon output power
is near 800 mW and it transmits eight telemetry channels and then its ident-
ification. The other PSK transmitter is on a downlink frequency of 437.150 MHz
and is used for BBS operations. This week new software has arrived so our
software and control team is studying the best way to start to load it inorder
to improve the operation of LO-19. If you want like to receive a QSL card from
AMSAT-Argentina, please send your telemetry reports to our address:
AMSAT ARGENTINA, P.O. Box 9 Suc. 1, 1401-CAPITAL FEDERAL. [WH6I & LW2DTZ]
UO-22: Operating normally. [WH6I]
KO-23: The BBS has been down for about 48 hours. No digital data output.
[WH6I]
The AMSAT NEWS Service (ANS) is looking for volunteers to contribute weekly
OSCAR status reports. If you have a favorite OSCAR which you work on a
regular basis and would like to contribute to this bulletin, please send
your observations to WD0HHU at his CompuServe address of 70524,2272, on
INTERNET at wd0hhu@amsat.org, or to his local packet BBS in the Denver, CO
area, WD0HHU @ W0LJF.#NECO.CO.USA.NOAM. Also, if you find that the current
set of orbital elements are not generating the correct AOS/LOS times at
your QTH, PLEASE INCLUDE THAT INFORMATION AS WELL. The information you
provide will be of value to all OSCAR enthusiasts.
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-128.06
ARSENE INITIAL KEPLERIAN SET
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 128.06 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD MAY 8, 1993
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-128.06
Initial Keplerian Element Set For ARSENE
According to F6BVP, the ARSENE OSCAR satellite is scheduled to lift-off from
the Kourou, French Guiana spaceport on 12-MAY-1993 at 00:51:00 UTC. Based
on information given by F6BVP, the following is the initial keplerian element
set:
Satellite: ARSENE
Catalog number: 00001
Epoch time: 93132.05451390
Element set: 001
Inclination: 4.9999 deg
RA of node: 227.8710 deg
Eccentricity: 0.7320529
Arg of perigee: 178.0490 deg
Mean anomaly: 40.5970 deg
Mean motion: 2.25970969 rev/day
Decay rate: 0.0e-00 rev/day^2
Epoch rev: 0
This element set will be good until Orbit #6 when at that time, the ARSENE
rocket motor will be fired inorder to raise the perigee and to circularize the
orbit. At this time there is no AMSAT Launch Information Net (ALINS) net is
planned. However, please stay tuned to AMSAT HF/VHF nets for up-to-the-minute
information about the status of ARSENE.
[The AMSAT News Service (ANS) would like to thank F6BVP for the information
which went into this bulletin item.]
/EX