From: cowdin@pogo.DEn.mmc.COM (Dave Cowdin)
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
Subject: $ANS-242 BULLETINS
Date: 30 Aug 1992 14:27:16 -0700
Organization: UCSD Usenet Gateway
NNTP-Posting-Host: ucsd.edu

SB SAT @ AMSAT   $ANS-242.01
STS-47/SAREX LAUNCH INFO: PART I

HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 242.01 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD AUGUST 29, 1992     BID:$ANS-242.01
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT

STS-47/SAREX Mission Set For A September 12th LIFTOFF!

Jay Apt (N5QWL) and Mamoru Mohri (7L2NJY) will operate the Shuttle Amateur
Radio Experiment (SAREX) on the upcoming STS-47 mission set for liftoff on
September 12, 1992 at 14:23:00 UTC.  Ham operators are invited to communi-
cate with the Shuttle using 2M FM voice transmissions and packet radio.
The primary voice frequencies to be used during STS-47 are 145.55 MHz for
the downlink and 144.95 MHz, 144.91 MHz and 144.97 MHz for the uplink to
the Shuttle.  Digital packet radio will also operate on a downlink freqency
of 145.55 MHz but the uplink frequency for packet will be 144.70 MHz.
PLEASE DO NOT QRM THE DOWNLINK FREQUENCY OF 145.55 MHz.  This is the only
downlink frequency the Shuttle astronauts will use.

Equipment aboard Columbia will include a low-power, hand-held FM trans-
ceiver, spare batteries, headset, an antenna custom designed by NASA to fit
in an orbiter window, an interface module and equipment cabinet.

SAREX has flown previously on Shuttle missions STS-9, STS-51F, STS-35, STS-
37, STS-45 and STS-50.  SAREX is a joint effort by NASA, the American Radio
Relay League (ARRL), AMSAT, and the Johnson Space Center Amateur Radio
Club.  Information about orbital elements, contact times, frequencies and
crew operating times will be available from these groups during the mission
and from amateur radio clubs at other NASA centers.

/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT   $ANS-242.02
STS-47/SAREX LAUNCH INFO: PART II

HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 242.02 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD AUGUST 29, 1992     BID:$ANS-242.02
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT

STS-47/SAREX Mission Set For A September 12th LIFTOFF!

Ham operators from the JSC club will be operating on HF frequencies, and
the ARRL (W1AW) will include SAREX information in its regular HF voice and
teletype bulletins.  The Goddard Space Flight Center Amateur Radio Club,
located in Greenbelt, MD will operate 24 hours a day during the mission,
providing information on SAREX and retransmitting live Shuttle air-to-
ground communications.  In addition, the NASA Public Affairs Office at the
Johnson Space Center will have a SAREX information desk during the mission.


                    STS-47 SAREX Operating Frequencies

Location                Shuttle's Downlink            User's Uplink     

U.S., Africa            145.55 MHz                      144.95 MHz
South America           145.55                          144.97
and Asia;               145.55                          144.91
                        145.55<========Packet=========> 144.70

Europe                  145.55 MHz                      144.80 MHz
                        145.55                          144.75
                        145.55<=======Packet==========> 144.70

        Goddard Amateur Radio Club Operations  (WA3NAN)
        (SAREX Information and Shuttle Audio Broadcasts)
                        3.860 MHz                        7.185 MHz
                        14.295 MHz                      21.395 MHz
                                                        28.395 MHz

SAREX information also may be obtained from the Johnson Space Center com-
puter bulletin board (JSC BBS), 8-N-1 1200 baud, at (713) 483-2500 and then
type 62511.  For those who have TVRO capability, the NASA Select television
is available on Satcom F-2R, Transponder 13, located at 72 degrees west
longitude; frequency 3960.0 MHz, audio 6.8 MHz.

          STS-47 PRE-LAUNCH PREDICTED KEPLERIAN ELEMENTS

STS-47
1 00047U          92256.65952624  .00092000  00000-0  29200-3 0    59
2 00047  57.0020 107.3007 0012178 278.2332  81.7337 15.89557971    29

Satellite: STS-47
Catalog number: 00047
Epoch time:      92256.65952624 =====> (12-SEP-92 15:49:43.06 UTC)
Element set:     JSC-005
Inclination:       57.0020 deg
RA of node:       107.3007 deg          Space Shuttle Flight STS-47
Eccentricity:     .0012178           Prelaunch SGP4 Keplerian Elements
Arg of perigee:   278.2332 deg         Launch:  12-SEP-92  14:23:00 UTC
Mean anomaly:      81.7337 deg
Mean motion:   15.89557971 rev/day              G. L. Carman
Decay rate:     9.2000e-04 rev/day^2      NASA Johnson Space Center
Epoch rev:               2

/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT   $ANS-242.03
NEW MICROSAT EXPECTED THIS YEAR!

HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 242.03 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD AUGUST 29, 1992     BID: $ANS-242.03
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT

EXPECT ANOTHER OSCAR MICROSAT IN 1992!!!

Tom Clark (W3IWI) is relaying information from David Liberman(XE1TU).
David is project manager for UNAMSAT-1 -- the first Mexican amateur
satellite being built at UNAM, the Autonomous University of Mexico.

UNAMSAT-1 is another of the MICROSAT series and has much in common with
AO-16/DO-17/WO-18/LO-19.  As with the earlier MICROSATs it will have five
modules, each about 20 cm on a side.  Four of the five modules are updated
clones of existing MICROSAT hardware/software:

 -- Dual 70cm PSK transmitters (designed by YT3MV)
 -- V40 CPU (designed by WA7GXD and others from TAPR, with
     modifications by I2KBD and ITAMSAT)
 -- Power system with BCR (by KE3Z/ARRL) and batteries
 -- 5-channel 2M FSK receiver (by W3IWI)
 -- Similar software to other MICROSATs (by NK6K and G0/K8KA)
 -- AART Bus architecture (by W3IWI and N5BRG)

 The main differences from the earlier MICROSAT configuration are:

 -- the V40 CPU will have 4 MB of bulk RAM vs 8 MB.
 -- UNAMSAT-1 will be equipped with Gallium Arsenide solar panels (vs.
     the BSFR technology flown on the MICROSATs).

The innovative new addition in UNAMSAT-1 is the brand new on-board
experiment in the 5th "TSFR" ("This Space For Rent") module:

UNAMSAT-1 primary mission is to act as meteor sounder.  It will contain a
40.097 MHz transmitter with 60 watts output during pulses from which can be
varied from 1 to 10 msec in duration and with a pulse repetition rate of 1
to 10 seconds, as controlled by a 68HC05 CPU.  The meteor echoes will be
detected on a receiver at the same frequency designed to detect the
returned echo and measure its doppler shift.  The use of the meteor
sounder is to obtain research data on the full-sky spatial and velocity
distribution of meteors, with the focus on a search for high-velocity
meteors originating outside our solar system.

The 41 MHz frequency for this transmitter is in accordance with the
ITU frequency allocations table for scientific research and both the 41
MHz and amateur frequencies have been licensed by Mexican authorities.
The transmitter is frequency controlled and has a class "E" power amplifier.

The meteor receiver is a SSB "zero-IF" design (suggested by W3IWI) and
the return echoes are digitized and stored in the normal V40 MICROSAT
computer's RAM.  After each pulse, the spectrum of the received signal
will be determined using the onboard V40 as a DSP Fourier Transform
spectrum analyzer.  If a meteor echo is detected, the echo will be saved
for later transmission as a special telemetry frame.

The 1-10 second repetition rate for the meteor transmitter will be
adjusted depending on the state of charge of the batteries and other
spacecraft power requirements, and also on the time domain requirements of
the echoes.

Detailed telemetry formats for meteor "radar" are still being defined.
Data will be sent using standard amateur AX.25 packet specifications.

When UNAMSAT-1 is not involved in meteor research, it can be turned into
a standard PACSAT message store-and-forward satellite.

Also, still to be finalized are the detailed 2M uplink and 70cm downlink
amateur frequencies.

XE1TU has been responsible for technical development of UNAMSAT-1 along
with the team of hams and students at the University.  The hams are
XE1MGI, XE1XUS, XE1YLS in Mexico City.  Scientific direction for the
project has been provided by UNAM Professor of Astronomy Arcadio Poveda.
AMSAT-NA provided technical details of its MICROSAT satellites to UNAM.
During the development  of UNAMSAT-1, technical assistance from AMSAT-NA
has been provided by W3GEY, N4HY, NK6K, W3IWI and WD4FAB.  ITAMSAT
assistance was coordinated through I2KBD.

The UNAMSAT-1 launch will also be the beginning of a new era.  Along with
a larger meterological satellite, it will be launched by the Russian Space
Agency and by the Russian Academy of Sciences on a decommissioned SS-18
ICBM into an orbit about 1000 km high.  At this time the launch is
scheduled for the first week of December, 1992.  Details for the launch
are being worked out at the present and we will give you the details as
soon as the become available.

[The AMSAT News Service (ANS) would like to thank W3IWI and XE1TU for this
 this bulletin item.]

/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT   $ANS-242.04
AMSAT OPERATIONS NET SCHEDS

HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 242.04 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD AUGUST 29, 1992     BID: $ANS-242.04
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT

AMSAT-NA 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 the Mode
J/L Nets on a downlink of 435.970 MHz.

 Date           UTC    Mode     Phs     NCS     Alt

12-Sep-92       1600   B         79     W5IU    WA5ZIB
19-Sep-92       1830   B         71     WJ9F    VE2LVC
26-Sep-92       1445   B        162     VE2LVC  W9ODI
 3-Oct-92       1830   B        162     N7NQM   W5IU

Any stations with information on current events would be most welcome.
KITSAT-OSCAR-23 (KO-23) information is of particular interest at this time.
In the unlikely event that either the Net Control Station 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 UTC Saturdays and Sundays.  Mode J on a
downlink of 435.980 MHz, and Mode B immediately after Mode J on 145.960
MHz.  OPS NETS will take priority so look for SSTV activity immediately
after they conclude.

/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT   $ANS-242.05
DO-17 STATUS REPORT

HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 242.05 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD AUGUST 29, 1992     BID: $ANS-242.05
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT

Harold Price (NK6K) Explains First-Hand The Status of DOVE

"Here is the current status of DOVE.  Three months ago we undertook to get
off the dime on the DOVE project by committing whatever time was necessary
to determine what the hardware problem was on DOVE, and if it could be
coded around.  I spent a solid week on coding and reviewing, and thinking,
and N4HY spent many days trying to the load test software by ear.  We found
out what the hardware problem was (failure of the AART talk-back line from
the DOVE module), and we worked around it and got DOVE talking.  (This is
in addition to the previously known failure of the S-band modulator)."

"A bug was found in the talk test code, and we wanted to reload new code.
Since then our S-Band uploader, N4HY, has had an increase in foliage around
his antenna that makes it impossible for him to do the loading.  I have
started to get an S-band system running at my place.  I've got the
antennas, pre-amp, down converter, a replacement for the fiberglass boom
that cracked while all this was being installed, and another 2M radio for
the downlink.  This is all being integrated, and may be on the air next
week.  Hopefully, loading will go quickly, and DOVE will be back on 2M
soon.  The work done earlier this year will allow us to make quick progress
once we're back on 2M."

[The AMSAT News Service would like to thank Harold Price (NK6K) for this
 bulletin item.]

/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT   $ANS-242.06
AO-13 TRANSPONDER SCHEDULES

HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 242.06 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD AUGUST 29, 1992     BID: $ANS-242.06
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT

G3RUH Provides Current & Future AO-13 Operating Schedules

 L G3RUH/DB2OS/VK5AGR  *** Future  AO-13 Transponder Schedule ***
 Mode-B  : MA   0 to MA  40 !     from  1992 Aug 17 - Sep 21
 Mode-S  : MA  40 to MA  50 !<- S transponder; B trsp. is OFF!
 Mode-LS : MA  50 to MA  55 !<- S beacon + L transponder
 Mode-JL : MA  55 to MA  70 !   This schedule operates
 Mode-B  : MA  70 to MA 256 !   every orbit, every day.
 Omnis   : MA 160 to MA  10 !     Blon/Blat 150/0

Mode B users are reminded that at MA 40, the Mode B transponder will be
heard to go OFF with a click.  Although you will still hear the Mode B bea-
con, do not attempt to uplink as you will get no Mode B response; however,
you could interfere with Mode S.  Mode B returns at MA 70.

Note too that this schedule operates every orbit, every day.

The next event will commence on 1992 Sep 21 [Mon] with a move to attitude
180/0 with a B/JL/S schedule. The schedule will be as follows:

M G3RUH/DB2OS/VK5AGR  *** Future  AO-13 Transponder Schedule ***
Mode-B  : MA   0 to MA 130 !     from  1992 Sep 21 - Nov 23
Mode-S  : MA 130 to MA 140 !<- S transponder; B trsp. is OFF!
Mode-LS : MA 140 to MA 145 !<- S beacon + L transponder
Mode-JL : MA 145 to MA 160 !   This schedule operates
Mode-B  : MA 160 to MA 256 !   every orbit, every day.
Omnis   : MA 235 to MA  30 !     Blon/Blat 180/0

/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT   $ANS-242.07
AO-16 STATUS REPORT         

HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 242.07 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD AUGUST 29, 1992     BID: $ANS-242.07
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT

WB9ANQ Provides Current AO-16 Status Report        

The joint AO-16 test team has made significant progress since the last
report.   Several megabytes of performance data has been collected and
analyzed.  The team has now moved on to their next objective: to implement
changes to the solar array power control algorithm.
 
In support of this phase, whole orbit data (WOD) collection software was
uploaded to AO-16 on the 26th of August. Dumps of the WOD started the next
day and the team now has enough WOD on the power control algorithm to
establish the baseline performance criteria against which changes to the
algorithm will be measured and assessed.  WOD collection and software
reloads will continue for the next two to three weeks as the team zeros in
on the optimum power control algorithm.
 
What does this mean to the user community?  On the downside, it means that
operation of the new file server system will be delayed for another two to
three  weeks.  On the positive side, increases in the efficiency of the
power control algorithm translate into a higher average transmitter power
output level which means a better downlink signal to noise ratio.  The
team also hopes that the changes will allow more frequent operation of the
S-Band transmitter.
 
User's should watch for bulletins and updates in the ASCII telemetry text
frame, on LO-19, UO-22, CompuServe's HAMNET Forum, and the AMSAT News Service
bulletins.

[The AMSAT News Service (ANS) would like to thank WB9ANQ for this bulletin
 item.]

/EX
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc