From: dave@ips.oz.au (Dave Horsfall)
Newsgroups: aus.radio.amsat
Subject: * SpaceNews 07-Sep-92 *
Date: 6 Sep 92 23:58:04 GMT
Distribution: aus
Organization: IPS Radio and Space Services.  Sydney, Australia.

Bulletin ID: $SPC0907


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


                      MONDAY SEPTEMBER 7, 1992


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



* SAREX NEWS *
==============
The launch date/time for the next Shuttle flight (STS-47) has been changed
to September 12, 1992 at 14:23:00 UTC.  This flight includes SAREX and is
a high inclination orbit (57 deg).  Yes, you hams in Antarctica have another
opportunity to talk to the Shuttle.

The following are pre-launch Keplerian elements for STS-47:

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

SAREX operations will include the following:

Packet Radio

Callsign : W5RRR-1
Uplink   : 144.700 MHz
Downlink : 145.550 MHz

FM Voice (Europe only)

Callsigns: N5QWL, 7L2NJY
Uplink   : 144.800, 144.750, 144.700 MHz
Downlink : 145.550 MHz

FM Voice (except Europe)

Callsigns: N5QWL, 7L2NJY
Uplink   : 144.950, 144.910 MHz
Downlink : 145.550 MHz

Please DO NOT transmit on the SAREX downlink frequency of 145.550 MHz!!

[Info via Jay Apt, N5QWL, and Gary Morris, KK6YB]


* MIR NEWS *
============
The planned operation of a Special Event Station from the Russian
Space Exhibit in Tel Aviv did not take place.

Neither Sergei Samburov, RV3DR, nor Sergei Krikalev, U5MIR, was able
to come to Israel, apparently because of financial considerations.
Two veteran Cosmonauts were on hand - Alexsander Alexandrov and
Valeri Ryumin - but neither of them are hams.

The exhibit itself was extremely interesting, and gave a detailed
picture of Russian space exploration from Sputnik to the present.
The 14-Metre long Mir module gave visitors some indication of the
living conditions aboard the Mir Space Station.

[Info via Shlomo, 4X4LF]


* MARS OBSERVER NEWS *
======================
The launch of Mars Observer aboard a Titan III rocket
from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida, originally
scheduled for September 16th, has been postponed.

During an inspection of the payload contained within the
Titan nose fairing atop the rocket,  particulate
contamination was observed on the surface of the Mars
Observer spacecraft.  A precautionary decision has been made
to remove the payload from the Titan and return it to a
spacecraft facility on Kennedy Space Center for cleaning.

The contamination may have been introduced into the
fairing when a dry nitrogen purge was placed on the
spacecraft as part of securing for Hurricane Andrew.

The Titan had a lightning strike very near the pad after
the spacecraft was back in the PHSF (Payload Hazardous Support
Facility).  As a result, the Titan suffered some damage to its
electronics and will need some repair.

The countdown dress rehearshal scheduled for August 28th
was postponed.  A new launch date cannot be determined
until it is known how long it will take to clean the
the spacecraft.  However, a launch before the end of
September is expected.  The planetary launch window extends
through October 13th.

[Info via Ron Baalke at JPL, NASA]


* MESSAGES *
============
Thanks to the following who sent feedback to SpaceNews:

KC1CO  PE1LXR  IW2BSF  4X4LF  WG4Q

... and also a special greeting to all those at Dow Jones who read
SpaceNews on a regular basis.


* 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     : ...ocpt.ccur.com!ka2qhd!kd2bd
BITNET   : ...princeton!ocpt!ka2qhd!kd2bd
PACKET   : KD2BD @ NN2Z.NJ.USA.NA
INTERNET : kd2bd@ka2qhd.de.com  -or- kd2bd@amsat.org

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


    <<=- SpaceNews: The first amateur newsletter to be read in space! -=>>

-- 
Dave Horsfall (VK2KFU)         VK2KFU @ VK2RWI.NSW.AUS.OC
dave@ips.OZ.AU                  ...munnari!ips.OZ.AU!dave