SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-142.01 ARSENE STATUS REPORT HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 142.01 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD MAY 22, 1993 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-142.01 ARSENE's Rocket Motor Successfully Fired 17-MAY-1993 This week, the ARSENE apogee-kick-motor (AKM) was successful in taking ARSENE out of its geostationary-transfer-orbit (GTO) and raising it from its dangerously low perigee of 205 KM to 17,666 KM. This AKM firing occurred on 17-MAY-93 at 11:45 UTC and has now put ARSENE into the desired orbit. Initially, the AKM firing was planned to occur on Orbit #6 but because the VHF downlink signal at 145.975 MHz was quite weak, the firing was delayed delayed until Orbit #13 so that ground controllers at FF1STA located in Toulouse, France could study this problem in detail. Here are the two theories that ground controllers have come up with about what has happened to the VHF transmitter: 1) Perhaps because of the high vibrations experienced during launch by ARSENE, the Local Oscillator (LO) crystal was damaged. If this is the case, then look for the VHF signal from ARSENE some where between 140-150 MHz. 2) The second theory is that during the launch, the coaxial cable between the Power Amplifier (PA) and the VHF antenna was damaged or perhaps even a connector has been broken. From S-Band telemetry gathered so far, it is clear that the PA is consuming the expected amount of power when ground controllers send the commands to turn on the VHF transmitter. Also, controllers know that RF is flowing from the VHF exciter based on what they have seen in the telemetry. FF1STA is asking all radio amateurs to scan between 140-150 MHz whenever ARSENE is above the horizon at your QTH. They suggest you starting listening at 145.975 MHz and then begin your scan. If a downlink signal can be heard somewhere between 140-150 MHz, this will be a VERY IMPORTANT PIECE OF INFORMATION for ground controllers in their trouble shooting efforts on ARSENE. Those who have a S-band downconverter are very much encouraged to also help in this search of ARSENE's VHF signal. Ground controllers have commanded ARSENE to send telemetry on both S-Band and 145.975 MHz. If you have a downconverter for 2446.470 MHz and a low noise preamp and, you hear a telemetry signal coming down between 140-150 MHz at the same time matching the S-band telemetry, the ground controllers at FF1STA would very much like to hear from you. The telemetry being sent simultaneously on both 145.975 MHz and S-Band is PSK at 128 baud. Again, all radio amateurs are asked to help in this search for the VHF signal from ARSENE. At the present time ARSENE is spinning about 70 RPM and is inclined about 15 degrees away from what is referred to as the "orbital-plane." In about three weeks, ground controllers at FF1STA will reduce ARSENE's spin rate to about 50 RPM and adjust the spacecraft's attitude so that it is 45 degrees with respect to the "orbital-plane." This last move will be done to optimize the antenna patterns for the VHF and S-Band antennas for users on the ground. Also, this attitude re-adjustment is necessary to keep the solar panels fully illuminated. Once this re-adjustment is completed in about three weeks, all radio amateurs will be invited to start using ARSENE's S-Band linear transponder for traffic. The uplink will be 435.100 +/- 8 KHz and the downlink will be 2446.50 MHz. Circular polarization is recommended and a 2M diameter dish with a low-noise preamp should be sufficient to receive ARSENE's 0.8 watt S-Band output. The recommended uplink power of 1 KW EIRP will be plenty due to the excellent sensitivity of ARSENE's UHF receiver. At FF1STA ground controllers currently use 10 watts into a 21 element F9FT UHF antenna to send commands to ARSENE without any problems. AMSAT-NA and radio amateurs around the world congratulate the Radio Amateur Club of Space (RACE) for their success in bringing a new amateur radio satellite into service. Please stay watch for further updates on the status of ARSENE in the AMSAT News Service (ANS) bulletins. [The AMSAT News Service (ANS) would like to thank F6BVP for the information which went into this bulletin item. If you would like to write to F6BVP, his INTERNET address is f6bvp@amsat.org and on packet he can be reached at f6bvp@f6bvp.frpa.fra.eu. Please send your signal reports and any other telemetry data to F6BVP at either of the above mentioned addresses.] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-142.02 AMSAT OPS NET SCHEDULE HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 142.02 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD MAY 22, 1993 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-142.02 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 30-May-93 0000 B 62 N7NQM W5IU Any stations with information on current events would be most welcomed. 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-142.03 WEEKLY OSCAR STATUS REPORTS HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 142.03 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD MAY 22, 1993 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-142.03 Weekly OSCAR Status Reports: 22-MAY-93 AO-13: TRANSPONDER SCHEDULE CHANGE! PLEASE TAKE NOTE! L QST *** AO-13 TRANSPONDER SCHEDULE *** 1993 May 21 - May 31 Mode-B : MA 0 to MA 130 ! Blon/Blat 206/6 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-S : MA 190 to MA 195 !<- S beacon ; L trsp. is OFF Mode-B : MA 195 to MA 256 ! Move to attitude 120/0, 31-May-93 Omnis : MA 250 - MA 60 ! The transmitter section of the AO-13 Mode-L transponder appears to have stopped working. Therefore, while investigations proceed, the Mode-J/L session has been deleted from the schedule. Mode-B now resumes at MA 195. Please see the above AO-13 Transponder schedule. Please don't uplink to Mode-B during MA 180-190. Doing so will interfere with Mode-S operations. Mode-S will be ON for nearly 3 hours, from MA 130 to MA 195. New Mode-S stations appear daily. During MA 130-180, Mode-S stations will have to endure the coupling from Mode-B users operating between the downlink passband between 145.880 - 145.920 MHz. Either work between them, use them as test signals or go to cross-band operations. >From MA 180-190 is Mode-S transponder exclusive (plus Mode-B beacon). MA 190-195 is Mode S beacon. [G3RUH/VK5AGR/DB2OS] 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 26 10:50 <---> May 27 11:08 At all other times, expect the digital mode and BBS to be in operation. Listen for FO-20's CW beacon on a downlink frequency of 435.975 MHz. [JJ1WTK/3] AO-16: Operating normally. [WH6I] LO-19: Operating normally. [WH6I] UO-22: Operating normally. [WH6I] KO-23: WH6I reports that KO-23 isOperating normally. G0SUL (formerly G0/K8KA) has uploaded a file called KAIW004C.GIF, which is a KO-23 image of the eastern seaboard of North America. Although it is not perfect because there is a lot of cloud cover inland and off shore but it certainly covers everything from about Nova Scotia to the Outer Banks where there are no clouds. [G0SUL & WH6I] MIR: 4Z5BS reported that he heard Alexander (R2MIR) making a voice QSO with with 4Z4KX and also, 4Z5BS was able to connect to R2MIR-1 on packet. However, 4Z5BS reports that Alexander was using a downlink frequency of 145.850 MHz FM rather than the published frequency of 145.550 MHz [4Z5BS] UO-11: 4Z5BS reports that signals are loud and clear and that besides the "regular" telemetry from UO-11, there appears to be a long lines of letters which he doesn't seem to be able to decode. Look for UO-11's downlink on 145.825 MHz. [4Z5BS] 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-142.04 AMSAT-NA SPACE SYMPOSIUM INFO HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 142.04 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD MAY 22, 1993 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-142.04 W5IU Provides Advance Agenda Of AMSAT-NA's Space Symposium Information ELEVENTH ANNUAL AMSAT SPACE SYMPOSIUM OCTOBER 7-10, 1993 LA QUINTA INN ARLINGTON, TEXAS State Hwy 360 and Interstate-30 Hosted by the North Texas AMSAT Members +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ THURSDAY MORNING, OCTOBER 7TH: Meet at La Quinta Inn at 9:00 a.m. and visit various electronic surplus stores in the Fort Worth/Dallas area. Transportation and expert guide will be provided. FRIDAY MORNING, OCTOBER 8TH: Registration begins at the La Quinta Inn. An antenna test range will be set up near the hotel, so bring your new antenna design and test it out. FRIDAY AFTERNOON, OCTOBER 8TH: Presentation of the first of many outstanding technical papers begins. Papers will be presented in the spacious La Quinta Conference Center. FRIDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 8TH: Rendezvous with your AMSAT friends and families at the La Quinta Inn and make dinner plans. This will be an excellent opportunity to sample the local Texas BBQ and Tex-Mex cuisine. Or just go to the stadium next door and watch the Texas Rangers in action. SATURDAY MORNING & AFTERNOON, OCTOBER 9TH: Enjoy a full day learning about what's new in AMSAT and what is planned for tomorrow. Topics include Phase 3D, Pacsats, DSP modems, and much, much more. SATURDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 9TH: Start out the evening with the traditional "attitude adjustment" hour followed by an enjoyable banquet dinner. As usual, the keynote speaker planned for this year will impressively entertain you. SUNDAY, OCTOBER 10TH: If you can spend another day with us, we've planned a series of technical sessions on various topics including the traditional Beginners Forum. And don't forget about the open Board of Directors meeting in the afternoon. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ WE HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND PLANNED, AND WE'VE RESERVED THE LA QUINTA INN, CENTRALLY LOCATED IN THE METROPLEX AREA. FLY INTO DFW AIRPORT AND TAKE THE FREE HOTEL SHUTTLE TO THE LA QUINTA INN, ARLINGTON. CALL AMSAT AT 301-589-6062 FOR REGISTRATION DETAILS OR WAIT FOR THE ANNOUNCEMENT IN THE AMSAT JOURNAL. /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-142.05 CALL FOR PAPERS HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 142.05 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD MAY 22, 1993 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-142.05 Call For Papers For The AMSAT-NA Space Symposium ***** CALL FOR PAPERS ***** 1993 AMSAT ANNUAL MEETING AND SPACE SYMPOSIUM October 7, 8, & 9 The 1993 AMSAT Annual Meeting and Space Symposium provides a unique opportunity for you to share the valuable experiences you've had over the past year with th rest of the amateur satellite community. The AMSAT enthusiasts of North Texas are working hard to make the 1993 meeting a smashing success. But it can only be successful with your help. This is a call for papers to be presented and published in association with the Symposium this year. If you would like to submit a paper, simply compose a short abstract describing the purpose and scope of the paper. Abstracts are due by July 30, 1993. The final draft of the papers are then due by August 27, 1993. Please mail all submissions to the address below. Presentations and technical papers are the meat of the AMSAT-NA Annual Meeting and Space Symposium. Even if you will not be able to attend, please consider writing a paper for publication in the proceedings. Help us make this year's Symposium one to remember. Doug Howard - KG5OA 2517 Coldstream Drive Fort Worth, TX 76123 CServe Address 70233,3517 /EX