SB NEWS @ AMSAT $SPC0711 * SpaceNews 11-Jul-94 * BID: $SPC0711 ========= SpaceNews ========= MONDAY JULY 11, 1994 SpaceNews originates at KD2BD in Wall Township, New Jersey, USA. It is published every week and is made available for unlimited distribution. * UNAMSAT-1 NEWS * ================== David Liberman, XE1TU, reports that the UNAMSAT-1 spacecraft has not yet been launched. A postponment was announced through official correspondence from the Russian Space Agency just a few days before project officials had to depart for Russia, and no statement regarding the length of the delay was mentioned. It has now become apparent that the civil and military crew involved in the launch of UNAMSAT-1 are on summer vacation, possibly delaying the launch until September. In the mean time, project officials are experimenting with the satellite on the ground, making small adjustments, and testing the satellite for all possible situations. Through this experimentation, a problem with the fire code not resetting the CPU was discovered. All the operating software has been loaded on the satellite and is running well. The BBS is being used by local amateurs with microsat ground stations. [Info via David, XE1TU of the UNAMSAT-1 Team] * AO-13 ATTITUDE CHANGE * ========================= The AMSAT-OSCAR-13 satellite has undergone a recent attitude change. The following message issued by spacecraft controller G3RUH explains some of the details: L QST de G3RUH 1994 Jul 05. Magnetorquing from attitude 243/+5 to 180/0 commences on Jul 07 [Thu] 0510 utc, orbit 4642/224, and continues for 10+ perigees. Estimated interim attitudes are: Orbit Alon/Alat: 4643 235/+4: 4645 221/-2: 4647 211/-10: 4649 205/-10: 4651 193/-12: 4653 181/-13, then a final adjustment. For command purposes during this 4-day period mode-S beacon is ON MA 140-150, i.e. mode-B OFF for 26 mins. The new schedule will start orbit 4651 MA 150 Jul 11 [Mon] 0851 utc. 73 James. Magnetorquing (attitude changing) is not an exact science, and minor deviations from the above plan sometimes occurs. Please don't rely on gossip and rumour! Continuous up to date information about AO-13 operations is always available on the beacons, 145.812 MHz or 2400.664 MHz in CW, RTTY and 400 bps PSK. These bulletins are also posted to Internet, ANS, Packet, PacSats etc., and many international newsletters. A 400 bps PSK decoder is available from G3RUH and several DSP products; display software P3C.EXE etc. from many AMSAT groups. The active command stations are listed below, and constructive feedback about operations is always welcome. Peter DB2OS @ DB0FAU.#NDS.DEU.EU James G3RUH @ GB7DDX.#22.GBR.EU Graham VK5AGR @ VK5WI.#ADL.#SA.AUS.OC The above may also be reached via Internet (callsign@amsat.org) and KO-23. Please remember to state clearly a return address. [Info via James Miller, G3RUH @ GB7DDX.#22.GBR.EU] * LUSAT-OSCAR-19 NEWS * ======================= The LUSAT-OSCAR-19 satellite continues to operate without its file server running. The following beacon was received from LO-19 by KD2BD in New Jersey last week: LUSAT-1>AMARG : May 21. OBC crashed on May 17 at +/- 2:45 utc, lat 45s, lon 43 w. Only digipeater is available. LU8DYF, LO-19 command station. Although the file server is not available, the satellite does function as a digipeater, and other ground stations can be connected to via LUSAT-1. * DOVE DECODER AVAILABLE * ========================== A DOVE-OSCAR-17 satellite telemetry decoding program for the MS-DOS operating system has been created by KD2BD and is now available via anonymous FTP at pilot.njin.net. The program has been compressed into a file called "duvdec10.zip", and is located in the /pub/SpaceNews/software sub-directory at pilot.njin.net. The program will read and interpret ASCII telemetry transmissions made by DOVE-OSCAR-17 and generate reports based on that data. The software is free and is intended for non-commercial use. * THANKS! * =========== Thanks to all those who sent messages of appreciation to SpaceNews, especially: GM1SXX N2SMT N2WYU VU3KNA ZR6AIU N8BMA Jay Respler * 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