SB NEWS @ AMSAT $SPC0221 * SpaceNews 21-Feb-94 * BID: $SPC0221 ========= SpaceNews ========= MONDAY FEBRUARY 21, 1994 SpaceNews originates at KD2BD in Wall Township, New Jersey, USA. It is published every week and is made available for unlimited distribution. * OSCAR SKN BEST FISTS * ======================== Many thanks to all who participated in our 22nd Annual Straight Key Night on OSCAR, 1 January 1994. The following "Best Fist" nominations have been received: W1NU, WQ3Y and W6HDO. Although we didn't ask that logs be submitted, several participants also reported working AMSAT-NA's esteemed president, W3XO/5, in one of Bill's rare appearances on CW (PVRC members especially will appreciate the significance of this occasion). An "honorary" Best Fist nomination goes to you, Bill; let's hope that more SSB ops will follow your fine example, dust off their old pump handles, and enjoy the fun. See you all next year! [Info via Ray, W2RS] * STS-62 PRE-LAUNCH ORBITAL DAT ================================== STS-62 1 00062U 94062.63664409 .00073440 00000-0 22129-3 0 29 2 00062 39.0115 247.8629 0006644 298.2691 61.7477 15.90695888 27 Satellite: STS-62 Catalog number: 00062 Epoch time: 94062.63664409 = (03 MAR 94 15:16:46.05 UTC) Element set: 002 Inclination: 39.0115 deg RA of node: 247.8629 deg Space Shuttle Flight STS-62 Eccentricity: .0006644 Prelaunch Element set JSC-002 Arg of perigee: 298.2691 deg Launch: 03 MAR 94 13:54 UTC Mean anomaly: 61.7477 deg Mean motion: 15.90695888 rev/day G. L. Carman Decay rate: 7.3440e-04 rev/day^2 NASA Johnson Space Center Epoch rev: 2 Checksum: 310 [Info via Gil Carman] * OSCAR-13 ZRO TEST SKED * ========================== The ZRO Memorial Technical Achievement Award Program, or just "ZRO Test" has a new schedule for February and March, 1994, via AMSAT-OSCAR-13. This activity is a test of operating skill and equipment performance. During a typical ZRO run, a control station will send numeric code groups using CW at 10 words-per-minute. At the beginning of the run, uplink power from the control station is set to match the general beacon downlink strength. This is level "zero". The control operator will send and repeat a random five-digit number, then lower his uplink power by 3 dB (half power) and repeat the procedure with a new random number (level "1"). This will continue to a level 30 dB below the beacon (level "A"). A participating listener monitors the downlink signals till he can no longer copy the numbers. Those who can hear the beacon will qualify for the basic award by copying the code group heard at level "zero". The challenge is to improve home-station performance to a point where the lower-level downlink signals can be copied (levels 6 through A). To date, only one station (Darrel Emerson, AA7FV) has successfully copied level "A". The following schedule of Mode "B" tests were chosen for convenient operating times and favorable squint angles. The tests can be heard on 145.840 MHz. Andy WA5ZIB will conduct all the tests. Mode "JL" tests will no longer occur due to the failure of AO-13's 70-cm transmitter. Day Date (UTC) Time Areas covered Sunday Feb. 20, 1994 0330 UTC NA, NW SA, Japan, Pacific Saturday Feb. 26, 1994 1930 UTC NA, SA, Europe, Africa, ME Saturday Mar. 19, 1994 1930 UTC NA, SA, Europe, Africa Saturday Mar. 26, 1994 2315 UTC NA, SA Note that the dates and days are shown in "UTC", thus the first test listed occurs at 9:30 PM CST announced as soon as possible via the AMSAT HF and AO-13 Operations Nets. All listener reports with date of test and numbers copied should be sent to Andy MacAllister WA5ZIB, AMSAT V.P. User Operations, 14714 Knights Way Drive, Houston, TX 77083-5640. A report will be returned verifying the level of accurate reception. An S.A.S.E. is appreciated but not required. Information about the AMSAT Awards Program can be found on page 197 of the "Proceedings of the AMSAT-NA Tenth Space Symposium" (1992). This paper, covering all the AMSAT-NA awards including specifics on the ZRO Test, was reprinted on page 10 in the March/April 1993 issue of "The AMSAT Journal". The ZRO Test information provided in the article covers test procedures, means for obtaining certificates and gives some historical background about the program. Reprints of the article can be obtained for an S.A.S.E. to WA5ZIB at the address above. [Info via WA5ZIB] * DISCOVERY-MIR RADIO LINK * ============================ The Space Shuttle Discovery's crew and the MIR Russian space station made an Amateur Radio contact on 08-Feb-94 during a period of time when Discovery was over the south Pacific and MIR was over the Caribbean. "We fly during a lot of time with Sergej and I wish a good work with his North American collegues, and a not problems return to the Earth", said Valery Polyakov one of the MIR cosmonauts. "Thanks, I heard you perfect", replied Krikalev in Russian. [Info via Gustavo, LW2DTZ of AMSAT-LU] * AMSAT HF PBBS * ================= WT0N-3 in St. Paul, MN, USA will be on 10.127 LSB (30 meters) Monday through Saturday from 1600 UTC until 23OO UTC. This station will carry all AMSAT bulletins and Keps. It will also carry other satellite related items such as "SpaceNews". This PBBS will be set up on 300 baud HF packet, but will also be available for AMT to do so. At this time, the PBBS will be set up as an experiment and any comments and suggestions should be directed to the sysop, BJ Arts, WT0N, at any one of the following addresses: PACKET: WT0N@WB0GDB.#STP.MN.USA.NOAM INTERNET: BJARTS@STTHOMAS.EDU [Info via WT0N] * FO-20 SCHEDULE * ================== The FO-20 command station announced that a slight malfunction in the onboard command system had been detected. As a result, analog mode operation arranged from 09-Feb-94 will be performed on schedule, but there is a possibility of interruption due to satellite ground station control. The present schedule is as announced before: Analog mode: 09-Feb-94 07:15 -to- 16-Feb-94 07:40 UTC 23-Feb-94 08:05 -to- 02-Mar-94 06:40 UTC 09-Mar-94 07:05 -to- 16-Mar-94 07:30 UTC 23-Mar-94 07:52 -to- 30-Mar-94 08:15 UTC Digital mode: Unless otherwise noted above. [Info via Kazu Sakamoto, JJ1WTK] * THANKS! * =========== Thanks to all those who sent QSL cards, letters, and messages of appreciation regarding SpaceNews, especially: N2WPW EA4RCT VK4STS G7MJL XX9AS KY0R * 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 PACKET : KD2BD @ N2KZH.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