SB NEWS @ AMSAT $SPC0509 * SpaceNews 09-May-94 * BID: $SPC0509 ========= SpaceNews ========= MONDAY MAY 9, 1994 SpaceNews originates at KD2BD in Wall Township, New Jersey, USA. It is published every week and is made available for unlimited distribution. * SPACE CALENDAR * ================== May 10 - Annular Solar Eclipse, Visible from Mexico, USA, Canada May 20 - Resurs Launch (Russian) May 24-25 - Partial Lunar Eclipse May 25 - DSPSE (Clementine), 4th Earth Flyby May 27 - DSPSE (Clementine), Lunar Flyby [Info via LU7AKC] * WEBERSAT NEWS * ================= WEBERSAT (WO-18) is broadcasting new pictures and light spectrometer data weekly. Software for the extraction, decoding, and display of spectrometer data, written by Bob (KB7KCL), is available on LO-19 (file #s 371a/3739), or directly from Weber State University. Monday UTC continues to be the day for the broadcast of the most recent spectrum, along with the week's WOD. WeberWare 1.0, 1.2, 1.3, or a similar program is required for picture extraction, decoding, and display. WeberWare 1.3 is the current software version, and is available from Weber State University, AMSAT-NA, or AMSAT-UK. The most recent WeberSat double field image is number 10/14, which was taken of an as yet unidentified area of Northern Nigeria, Africa. The photo has very few clouds, and land features are clearly visible. Expect new photos sometime during the week of May 9th. WO-18 is currently sending spacecraft solar array current whole orbit data (WOD). This is an excellent opportunity for a student, group, or class to use this data for spacecraft motion studies, or for studying the long term effects of the space environment on solar cell effeciency. WOD collection and broadcast will adhere to the following schedule: 1 May/Week1: Array currents, Ch# 26 27 28 29 2A 2B 8 May/Week2: Array currents, Ch# 26 27 28 29 2A 2B during 10-May-94 eclipse 15 May/Week3: BCR, 21 22 29 2F 33 36 22 May/Week4: Temperatures and impact detector, Ch# 14 2F 30 35 3B 40 29 May/Week1: Array currents, Ch# 26 27 28 29 2A 2B [Info via EA2CLS] * MICROSAT DESIGN AT STANFORD * =============================== Over the years a number of Stanford researchers have been involved in the design and operation of dozens of different kinds of space vehicles. But, beginning this year, the Aeronautics and Astronautics Department has initiated a new program that involves students in designing, constructing and controlling small, simple and inexpensive "microsatellites" that are launched into orbit. On Thursday, April 21, two dozen engineering students involved in this program at Stanford University showed a mock-up of their first satellite design to a visiting Russian official, Yuri Plotnikov, professor of flight mechanics and control design at the Moscow Aviation Institute. If the project goes as planned, a year from now the 2-foot-wide hexagonal satellite will hitch a ride on top of a Delta rocket along with a commercial satellite. Once it goes into orbit, the satellite will begin beaming back digital pictures of Earth and broadcasting its position and status over ham radio channels with a synthesized voice. "The program has two major objectives," said Robert Twiggs, a visiting professor brought to Stanford from Weber State University in Utah to jump-start the new small satellite development laboratory. "First is to give graduate students in aero-astro and other departments practical, hands-on experience in designing and building something that can be launched into space in only a year on a very limited budget. Second is to provide faculty, students, space experimenters and industry with an opportunity to do inexpensive space experiments." Plotnikov's interest stems from the fact that the Moscow Aviation Institute is a professional school with 15,000 students devoted to aerospace design. "The name is historical. Actually, we design anything that flies," he said. The institute currently has a joint satellite program with Utah State University. When asked whether something similar is likely with Stanford, he shrugs and replies, "It's all a matter of funding." The students have nicknamed their design the Stanford (or Satellite) Quick Research Testbed, or SQUIRT. They hope that this could become a de facto standard for microsatellites, which are a growing phenomenon worldwide. Students at the University of Umea in Kirna, Sweden, are working on a parallel design. So far, about a dozen student-designed microsatellites have been built and launched. The watchwords for these satellites are simple and inexpensive. So the Stanford design uses powerful magnets to keep the satellite aligned perpendicular to the Earth's magnetic field, rather than employing complicated gyros and thrusters to control its position. "Usually, the reason for a satellite is its payload. But we are doing things backward. Our purpose is to get the experience of designing the satellite, so what it carries is of secondary importance. However, we've tried to come up with a payload that will be interesting and worthwhile," said Christopher Kitts, a graduate student in mechanical engineering. The payload the students have agreed upon is a digital camera, voice synthesizer and global positioning satellite system receiver. The GPS receiver will allow student controllers to determine the satellite's position. Simple photocells will determine when the camera is pointing toward the Earth. That will allow the Logitech digital camera to snap images of different parts of the globe that will be transmitted by radio to interested ham radio operators. According to Kitts, participants hope that the pictures and synthesized messages from the satellite can be used in elementary schools, middle schools and high schools to help interest students in science. [Info via Axel, CE3AFC] * FO-20 MALFUNCTION * ===================== FO-20 command station had confirmed that the FO-20 satellite has experienced a malfunction. The operating schedule previously announced has been cancelled. More details will be available next week. [Info via Kazu Sakamoto, JJ1WTK] * RS-12 NEWS * ============== Bandi, HA5WH reports that his friend, Sanyi, XU7VK is active on RS-12 from Cambodia and is looking for contacts. XU7VK is active during his local daytime hours and is using CW. * OSCAR-11 NEWS * ================= During a conversation with Doug, G0SYX at the Dayton Hamvention, Eric, WB1HBU was informed that UoSAT-OSCAR-11 now has its S-band beacon transmitting continuously on 2401.5 MHz. [Info via Eric, WB1HBU] * 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.de.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