BID: $SPC0607 ========= SpaceNews ========= MONDAY JUNE 7, 1993 SpaceNews originates at KD2BD in Wall Township, New Jersey, USA. It is published every week and is made available for unlimited distribution. * ARSENE NEWS * =============== This is the official announcement by Radio Amateur Club de l'Espace that ARSENE satellite is open for mode S traffic starting Tuesday June 1st, 1993. Linear transponder uplink frequency is 435.100 MHz +/- 8 KHz. Downlink frequency is centered on 2446.54 MHz. All modes can be used: CW, SSB, etc... Any report of a QSO via ARSENE is welcome. The Doppler effect can shift the downlink frequency by a few KHz. The suggested procedure is to find the actual frequency of the 2446.47 MHz beacon and then make the correction to find the downlink frequency. Uplink power should not exceed 500 W to 1KW EIRP as there is a strong AGC into the UHF receiver. Mode S should remain open until the next announcement. The VHF telemetry is OFF because ARSENE team is studying the thermal and energy budgets of mode S while the satellite is inclined at 45 degrees. At the same time, serious investigations are starting to try to understand why VHF packet mode is not working. It is hoped that some actions will be suggested after these investigations. The keplerian elements for ARSENE are correct in the last AMSAT bulletin and are repeated here. ARSENE 1 22654U 93 56 B 93145.00000000 .00000000 00000-0 00000-0 0 85 2 22654 1.0950 130.8800 2939760 137.2680 355.5380 1.42273540 242 Satellite: ARSENE Catalog number: 22654 Epoch time: 93145.00000000 Element set: 8 Inclination: 1.0950 deg RA of node: 130.8800 deg Eccentricity: 0.2939760 Arg of perigee: 137.2680 deg Mean anomaly: 355.5380 deg Mean motion: 1.42273540 rev/day Decay rate: 0.0000e+00 rev/day^2 Epoch rev: 24 Checksum: 214 [Info via Bernard Pidoux, F6BVP] * AMSAT-OSCAR-13 NEWS * ======================= L QST *** AO-13 TRANSPONDER SCHEDULE *** 1993 May 31 -> Mode-B : MA 0 to MA 256 This is a temporary schedule Omnis : MA 250 to MA 60 while magnetorquing from 210/0 to 120/0 is in progress. When the Sun angle degrades the ON period will be shortened to about 160 MA counts centred on best squint, and possibly to 55 MA counts during the poorest Sun angle. Please monitor the beacon for the latest information. JRM/PG/GRR M de G3RUH 1993 May 31. Magnetorquing to ALON/ALAT 120/0 via 180/15, 160/15 has commenced. This is a large and slow re- orientation, as perigee eclipses steal 50% of each torquing session, and so will take about 10 days. Transponder performance will sometimes be poor. Magnetorquing is not an exact science, and when the Sun angle reaches more than the target maximum of 40 degrees, the mode-B transponder will have to be restricted to 55 MA counts for a few orbits. 73 James. N QST 1993 May 31. The transmitter section of Oscar-13's mode-L transponder appears to have stopped working. No cause has been established for this. The AGC and Power Output telemetry both read #FF, and the TX temperature is as per an off condition. It has exciter power, but possibly not PA power. Fortunately the mode-L receiver works fine; in conjunction with mode-S telemetry provides a greatly superior command link than does mode-B. Thinking continues. 73 G3RUH/DB2OS/VK5AGR. * MIR NEWS * ============ G3BGM has had several recent conversations with the Mir cosmonauts who report they have changed frequencies from 145.550 MHz to 145.850 MHz after much searching for a less congested frequency. However, it should be pointed out that the new frequency of 145.850 MHz is within several OSCAR satellite uplink and downlink passbands, so caution should be excercised when communicating with the Mir cosmonauts of their new frequency. In other news, sources indicate that tape recordings made in Mir of Amateur Radio contacts with ground stations have been played over Moscow Radio. [Info via G3RWL] * AMATEUR RADIO NEWS * ====================== On May 7 Joint Resolution S.J. 90 was introduced in the U.S. Senate by Sen. Charles Robb of Virginia. It's a bill recognizing the achievements of radio amateurs. Robb, saying that words without deeds are empty, went further. The resolution, supporting amateurs "as national policy," urges "adoption of rules and regulations that encourage the use of new technologies within the Amateur Radio Service." It also "urges that any regulations which are necessary at any level of government be crafted in ways that facilitate and encourage amateur radio operation as a public benefit ... without limiting the decision-making capability of any agency -- local, State or Federal. Robb was joined in introducing the resolution by Senators Akaka of Hawaii, DeConcini of Arizona, Pressler of South Dakota, and Shelby of Alabama. Robb noted amateurs' dedicated public service during communications emergencies, their "expertise" as "technical innovators," and their development of "practical and affordable alternatives to complicated expensive new equipment from the laboratories." The resolution also cites amateurs' pioneering work in satellite communications and "low-cost, practical data transmission by radio." The resolution urges the FCC to adopt rules and regulations to "encourage the use of new technologies within the amateur radio service," and says "reasonable accommodation should be made for the effective operation of amateur radio from residences, private vehicles and public areas, and that regulation at all levels of government should facilitate and encourage amateur radio operation as a public benefit." [Info via ARRL Headquarters] * THANKS! * =========== Thanks to all those who sent messages of appreciation regarding SpaceNews, especially: N1MDZ W2UH LU6FRT N6BIS AF9A Jon A. Dainty * 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 : ...catfish.ocpt.ccur.com!ka2qhd!kd2bd PACKET : KD2BD @ NN2Z.NJ.USA.NA INTERNET : kd2bd@ka2qhd.ocpt.ccur.com -or- kd2bd@amsat.org MAIL : John A. Magliacane, KD2BD Department of Engineering and Technology Advanced Technology Center Brookdale Community College Lincroft, New Jersey 07738 U.S.A. <<=- SpaceNews: The first amateur newsletter read in space! -=>> /EX