SB NEWS @ AMSAT $SPC0103 * SpaceNews 03-Jan-94 * BID: $SPC0103 ========= SpaceNews ========= MONDAY JANUARY 3, 1994 SpaceNews originates at KD2BD in Wall Township, New Jersey, USA. It is published every week and is made available for unlimited distribution. * SUPERPRESSURE BALLOON LAUNCH * ================================ A cooperative group from Utah State University, Logan, Utah, members of the Amateur Radio community, and Winzen International plan to launch SuperBall 1-94 at approximately 10:00 A.M. MST (17:00 UTC) on January 5, 1994 from the Logan Municipal Airport. The nylon superpressure balloon for this flight is 76 feet in diameter and was manufactured and donated by Winzen International of San Antonio, Texas. The expected daytime float altitude of this helium filled balloon will be 120,000 ft (36,660 meters), with some loss of altitude expected at night. Superpressure technology is capable of maintaining a payload at such an altitude for long periods of time, potentially years. The initial track of SuperBall will depend on upper air conditions at the time of launch, but is expected to be in the semicircle east from Utah. Possible scenarios might then take it over the Atlantic Ocean or into the polar regions within a few days. The payload will be limited to a gross weight of 4 kilograms, or 8.8 pounds. It will consist of the following subsystems: 1) An instrument package containing a five channel Magellan GPS receiver, an external air temperature sensor, an internal payload temperature sensor, a battery voltage sensor, and a differential pressure gauge. 2) A 1/2-watt VHF MCW beacon operating on 145.871 MHz with the callsign N7YTK. Every minute it will transmit data from instruments listed above. (This transmitter will also operate through the Russian RS-10 Amateur satellite, which has a downlink frequency of 29.371 MHz, plus or minus Doppler.) 3) A one-watt CW 15-meter beacon operating on 21.229 MHz with a call sign of WB8ELK. Every five minutes it will transmit data identical to that sent on the 145.871 MHz beacon. (This signal will also be relayed through the Russian RS-12 Amateur satellite, which has a downlink frequency of 29.429 MHz, plus or minus Doppler.) 4) An ATV system consisting of a black-and-white CCD camera and associated one-watt transmitter operating on 434.00 MHz in continuous bursts on command. 5) A cutdown package containing a VHF command receiver, DTMF decoder and barometric switch, and 6) Several Lithium battery packs. Depending on weight availability, two additional beacons are possible: 7) A one-watt VHF AFSK beacon transmitting ASCII data at 1200 baud on 145.968 MHz every two minutes in alteration with the beacon in (2) above, with the call sign of WB8ELK (also operating through the Japanese FO-20 satellite, which has a downlink frequency of 435.832 MHz), and 8) A 60-milliwatt 10-meter CW beacon operating on 28.322 MHz every minute, with a call sign of WB8ELK, transmitting pressure altitude, internal temperature, external temperature and battery voltage. Item (8) will contain either a 9-volt lithium pack that should last a month, or a 9-volt, 150 ma solar panel, lasting indefinitely. The purpose of the SuperBall 1-94 mission is to certify this superpressure balloon technology for long-duration flight and to test the ability to control and receive data from a high-altitude research balloon for an extended period of time. The first plateau of success will be achieved if it is possible to operate through a complete sunset/sunrise cycle at a constant pressure altitude. The second plateau will be a flight lasting a week. The third plateau will be a complete circumnavigation of the globe. Anything after that is gravy. The float path of the balloon is very difficult to predict since the polar breakout that usually occurs this time of year frequently results in strong north-south currents. Observers from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Martin Marietta and Utah State University's Space Dynamics Laboratory will be present at the launch. These people are potential users of the superpressure balloon for a future Martian mission. An HF net will be conducted by John Luker, WB7QBC, (Internet: WB7QBC@uugate.aim.utah.edu) on the day of the launch and subsequent days on 7230 KHz +/- QRM. This net will alert interested hams downrange of the balloon's path, and coordinate the collection of telemetry. The Utah Balloon Team would appreciate the forwarding of any telemetry copied to John's address along with pertinent information, including the receiving station's location, UTC date and time, signal report, and receiving equipment. Video tapes of any received ATV transmissions from the balloon would also be appreciated. The camera is only expected to be turned on during the first two days of the mission. Questions should be directed to Bruce Bergen, KI7OM, via his Internet address: KI7OM@uugate.aim.utah.edu. [Info via N2NRD] * FO-20 OPERATION SCHEDULE * ============================ The following is the current operating schedule for FO-20: ANALOG MODE: 15-Dec-93 7:41-to-22-Dec-93 8:05 UTC 29-Dec-93 8:30-to-05-Jan-94 8:50 UTC 12-Jan-94 7:30-to-19-Jan-94 7:50 UTC 26-Jan-94 8:20-to-02-Feb-94 6:50 UTC 09-Feb-94 7:15-to-16-Feb-94 7:40 UTC The digital (Mode JD) transponder is available at all other times. [Info via Kazu Sakamoto, JJ1WTK] * NASA SELECT TV IS MOVING! * ============================= The satellite feed for NASA Select Television will be moving soon. To obtain details on the new location for NASA Select, please contact Patsy Respess at (202) 358-1701. The reason for this contact is that NASA is trying to determine how NASA Select material is being used and by whom. If you are a NASA Select user, please call NASA and let them know. [Info via Mark Perew] * THANKS! * =========== Thanks to all those who sent messages of appreciation regarding SpaceNews, especially: KA3UIU VE3WPB VK6KI G7DLI K7YHA * 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, NJ 07738 <=- SpaceNews: The first amateur newsletter read in space! -=> /EX