========= SpaceNews =========
MONDAY JANUARY 29, 2001
* SpaceNews FINAL EDITION * =========================== It is with great sadness that after over 13 years of service to the amateur radio and amateur satellite communities, I have decided to bring SpaceNews publication to a graceful close. The reason for my decision centers on the fact that it takes a tremendous amount of time, effort, and dedication to publish an electronic newsletter single-handedly every week for over 13 years, and that it is becoming increasingly difficult to keep up with the demands of publishing SpaceNews along with the increasing demands of my job, and my growing desire to spend what little spare time I have left on activities I have neglected for many years.
SpaceNews started out as effort to increase the awareness of advancements being made by the Amateur Radio Service through the use of amateur radio communication satellites by reporting on some of the more "interesting" events taking place in the world of satellites using electronic media.
SpaceNews was originally edited on a Commodore 64 home computer, and distributed locally via the NN2Z-4 Packet Radio BBS in Neptune, New Jersey using an MFJ-1270B Packet Radio Terminal Node Controller (still in use, but now only used for Pacsat communications) and a terminal program written in hand-assembled 6510 machine language. It was also posted to several amateur radio and space-related Usenet newsgroups and mailed out to several distributors around the world via the KA2QHD Unix-based packet radio to "early Internet" gateway.
Distribution grew rapidly, as did interest in the material carried in SpaceNews reports judging by the feedback received from many loyal readers. Although archives of SpaceNews issues prior to 1993 were never maintained by the author, the following is the earliest edition of SpaceNews I have on record. It probably was issued in late November 1987. It is interesting to see just how much progress has been made in the amateur satellite program since that time period.
*************************************** **** **** *** * Space News de KD2BD * *** **** **** ***************************************
* SPACE NEWS * -------------- * "SPACE NEWS" is a report of specialized communications techniques and space technology in the amateur radio service. These bulletins originate at KD2BD, in Wall Township, New Jersey, and are available on the following packet radio bulletin board stations in the Northeastern United States: W1AW KB1BD NN2Z WA2SNA KB3UD KD6TH.
* OSCAR 10 RETURNS TO SERVICE * ------------------------------- * AMSAT-OSCAR 10 has returned to limited service now that sun angles have improved. Solar cell illumination is expected to reach 100 % on December 28, 1987. QRP operation is imperative, and users are asked to use 100 watts or less EIRP. Keep abreast of the latest AO-10 developments via W1AW bulletins or via one of the many AMSAT nets.
* PHASE 3C LAUNCH DATE SET * ---------------------------- * AMSAT's new Phase 3 satellite is undergoing pre-launch tests at AMSAT-DL, in West Germany. If all goes well, this new OSCAR will be launched on the European Space Agency's (ESA) V-22 mission, planned for March 15, 1988. Like OSCAR-10, this new satellite will also be placed in a highly elliptical orbit (hence the name "Phase 3"). It is expected to carry three linear transponders, and a single frequency, digital "RUDAK" transponder. Satellite operations include:
Mode B : 435 MHz up, 145 MHz down. Mode JL : 1269 MHz, 145 MHz up, combined 435 MHz down. Mode S : 435 MHz up, 2400 MHz down. RUDAK: 1269.675 MHz up, 435.675 MHz down.
* RS10/11 NEWS * ---------------- * Recently, G3IOR, provided the following information regarding RS10/11 telemetry and transponder sensitivity.
CHANNEL 2A: Indicates -20 dB attenuator in or out of both 145 MHz and 21 MHz uplinks. CHANNEL 3A: Indicates -10 dB attenuator in/out on 145 MHz and 21 MHz uplink.
4N, 5N, 6N: Indicate I.F. volts, nominally 9 V (eg. receiver activation and not actual A.G.C. voltages). 13N: Shows the 9 V supply to alternate transponder receivers.
* UOSAT NEWS * -------------- * Information from UoSAT mission control indicates the 21.002 MHz HF CW beacon on OSCAR 9 will remain ON, while the 2.041 GHz SHF FM beacon will remain OFF. * Wednesdays (UTC) are being reserved for the CCD camera imaging experiment on OSCAR 9. A picture showing the edge of the earth was recently taken by OSCAR 9's CCD camera and transmitted to hams around the world via the General Data Beacon (145.825 MHz FM). The CCD video resolution is 256x256x16 (256 horizontal pixels, 256 vertical pixels with 16 shades of gray). The camera's field of view is 60 degrees and provides detailed earth photos over a 500x500 km area of the earth's surface below the spacecraft. * New "DIARY" software is being tested on UoSAT-2 (OSCAR 11) this week. Written in FORTH, this is the first time a high-level language has been used on either OSCAR 9 or OSCAR 11. * OSCAR 11's Digital Communications Experiment (DCE) continues in operation with selected users around the world. DCE software version V3.2 is now in operation. * ASCII transmissions from the UoSATs on 145.825 MHz FM provide the following information in the order listed :
UoSAT-1 (OSCAR 9) ::::::::::::::::: * Computer status information and news bulletins (60 seconds). * Computer generated telemetry (60 seconds). * Whole Orbit Display (WOD) (150 seconds).
UoSAT-2 (OSCAR 11) :::::::::::::::::: * Computer status information and news bulletins (180 seconds). * Whole Orbit Display (WOD) (200 seconds). * Digital Communications Experiment (DCE) message system (60 seconds). * Computer generated telemetry (60 seconds).
* PACKET IN SPACE * ------------------- * For over 5 years, a digital, packet radio-type satellite has been in the works at AMSAT. Recently, a PACSAT team has been put together to build and launch PACSAT in 24 months. Across the pond, the University of Surrey is using the results of experiments conducted on their UoSATS to design a digital store-and-forward satellite, (UoSAT-3) that will use error correcting codes and special software to build their own PACSAT-like spacecraft.
* FEEDBACK WELCOMED * --------------------- * Got a question or comment? Send me packet mail at NN2Z. If your question is of general interest, I'll answer it via a "Space News" bulletin!
* THANK YOU! * -------------- * The news contained in this bulletin was obtained via OSCAR 11, Westlink, Amateur Satellite Report (#162), and the East Coast 75 meter AMSAT net.
* MESSAGES de KD2BD * --------------------- To all: HAPPY THANKSGIVING !! ---------------------------------------
73 de KD2BD @ NN2Z John in Wall Township, NJ.
Over the years, SpaceNews helped contribute to the creation of the sci.space.news Usenet newsgroup. It was also read by several crews living on the Russian space station Mir. It led to an Amateur Radio Satellites column in "Satellite Times" magazine, and was used in the classroom by countless educators around the world who used the reports to promote learning through OSCAR satellites and amateur radio. SpaceNews also led to even greater exposure of the Amateur Satellite Program through several radio interviews as well as a feature article in the Asbury Park Press (New Jersey's second largest newspaper) several years ago.
All in all, I'd say this "labor of love" called SpaceNews has been a pretty good success!
My sincere thanks go to all my good friends who encouraged me to publish SpaceNews, and helped in the distribution of the newsletter from the very beginning. My thanks also go out to all the dedicated individuals who translate SpaceNews from English to other languages to help get the news out to an even wider audience.
Bringing SpaceNews publication to a close does not signal an end to my dedication and service to the Amateur Satellite Program by any means. As time permits, I intend to continue my hardware and software developments, and do whatever I can to further my support of this fascinating aspect of the Amateur Radio Service.
Keep in touch!
73, de John, KD2BD kd2bd@amsat.org http://www.qsl.net/kd2bd/ KD2BD @ KO-25
/EX
-- -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- John A. Magliacane, KD2BD -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Internet : kd2bd@amsat.org | Video : 426.250 MHz/439.250 MHz Satellite : KITSAT-OSCAR-25 | Morse : -.- -.. ..--- -... -.. Voice : +1.732.224.2948 | WWW : http://www.qsl.net/kd2bd/ -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Linux Doesn't Cost. It Pays. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
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* Origin: ---=== RA9LO Station at MO27SC ===--- (2:5077/39) _______________________________________________________________________
Alexander
RZ6HGG Stavropol E-mail:rz6hgg@skiftel.ru FidoNet: 2:5064/11.30 29 января 2001 г. 20:47:57
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