AMATEUR RADIO SATELLITE INFORMATION ELMERS - These AMSAT Area Coordinators will be glad to help out. Keith Pugh, W5IU Fort Worth, TX 817-292-5633 Rusty Reeve, KT5U Lucas, TX 214-442-1217 Keith Berglund, WB5ZDP Fort Worth, TX 817-244-5176 Richard Ruhl, WD5GLD Kingfisher, OK 405-375-4843 Roger Ley, WA9PZL/5 Bossier City, LA 318-746-0356 Jack Douglas, KA5DNP Kingwood, TX 713-358-5172 R. G. Maniago, KA5RMT Vernon, TX 817-553-1447 Harold Bulmahn, W5DSG Waco, TX 817-754-2732 Ken Blanton, W5CBT Amarillo, TX 806-355-3234 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ON THE AIR HELP - News plus technical guidance. Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex Wed., 8:00 PM CST 146.02/62 Mid American AMSAT Net Tue., 9:00 PM CST 3840 khz International AMSAT Net Sun., 1900 UTC 14.282 mhz Novice/Technician Net Sun., 1900 UTC 28.460 mhz ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ AMSAT BBS - Satellite Info St. Charles, MO 314-447-3003 * * * * HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 049.01 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD FEBUARY 18, 1989 10 Meter Downlink Passband Being "QRM'ed" By FM Stations In recent months there has been a growing awareness among OSCAR satellite users that the 10 Meter downlink spectrum of 29.300-29.500 MHz is being disrupted by 10 Meter FM stations. All radio amateurs are reminded that this spectrum has been set aside by international agreement for use as a downlink passband for Mode A satellites, eg., RS 10/11. By operating within this spectrum, 10 Meter FM stations "wipe-out" a considerable portion of the downlink spectrum and render it useless for RS 10/11 satellite users. All RS 10/11 users who do encounter this situation should politely remind the QRM'ing station about the vital role this portion of the 10 Meter spectrum plays in the Amateur Satellite Service. Amateurs not involved in using OSCAR satellites are requested to honor this "gentlemen's agreement" and avoid using 29.300-29.500 MHz. N8IWJ Is Recognized By ARRL And Fellow Teachers For SKITREK Efforts Rich Ensign, N8IWJ, AMSAT-NA Science Education Advisor, was recently recognized by the ARRL Board of Directors for the outstanding job he did in bringing the world of amateur radio into school class rooms last year. Rich produced the AMSAT Teachers Guide: "Exploring The High Arctic From Your Classroom"; teachers from all around the world used it as a guide in teaching lessons about the North Pole. With the help of amateur radio operators, thousands of school children heard the DIGITALKER aboard UOSAT-OSCAR-11 as it "spoke the position" of the ski-trekers as they made their way across the North Pole. In addition to the the Teachers Guide, Rich also generated a weekly progress report on the status of the trekers and he made sure that the reports arrived in a timely manner to teachers who were involved in this program. The ARRL Board of Directors recently recognized Rich for his efforts in this endeavor. Also, Rich's colleges have likewise recognized him -- he was voted "Teacher Of The Year" at Crestwood Highschool in Dearborn Heights, MI. AMSAT-NA congratulates Rich and feels the recognition he has recieved is very much deserved. U4MIR COMES TO LIFE! Stations around the world have been reporting hearing and working U4MIR. According to Hans, ZS6AKV, stations in southern Africa worked the new MIR station as early as Thursday, Feb. 9. Pat, G3IOR, worked U4MIR on Friday the 10th. By Saturday, Feb. 11, many stations in eastern Canada and in Europe were reporting contacts, including Bill, VE3EFX, and his XYL, VE3HIR. W2RS had one at 19:38 UTC on Sunday, Feb. 12, and another the same day at 21:13 UTC. VE3EFX reports that the new operator's name is Alexander. His English is quite poor and he does seem to be having some trouble with call signs. But he is trying, so please speak slowly and distinctly, sticking to standard ICAO phonetics. Most of these contacts, including those of W2RS, were made on 145.550 MHz simplex. Alexander also seems to be using 145.650 MHz as a secondary frequency; several simplex contacts were made there as well. So far at least, Alexander seems to be keeping the same general hours as did Musa, U2MIR, in that most contacts are being made at about 19:00 UTC or later, in the period between the cosmonauts' dinner hour and lights-out. Mir's operations schedule is on Moscow time, which is three hours ahead of UTC. Pat, G3IOR, reports that a new crew will be going up in April, and is receiving Amateur Radio instruction on the ground. We look forward to more Amateur operation from the spacecraft as time goes on. No new QSL information has been received, so until further notice cards should probably still go via Boris Stepanov, UW3AX, P.O. Box 679, Moscow 107207, USSR. Please continue to report any information concerning MIR to AMSAT Net Control Stations so that it may be passed on to others. [We would like to thank Ray, W2RS, for compiling this information and making it available to the AMSAT-NA News Service.] UPDATE: U4MIR CONTINUES ACTIVE U4MIR continues to be very active. On Friday, Feb. 17, he came up on four passes over North America, 17249 through 17252, working stations rapid-fire on 145.55 MHz FM simplex. He was worked here at times ranging from 1533 to 2017 UTC. Contacts generally consist of a simple exchange of call signs, with an occasional "please repeat" or "dos vedaniya" thrown in. When calling U4MIR, best results will be had if you keep calls short, listen frequently and stick to standard ICAO phonetics. He seems to understand those readily although his English is fragmentary at best. As with other manned spacecraft, use of the latest Keplerian elements is generally necessary because of the rapidly-changing orbit. A directional antenna also helps to hear the spacecraft through other callers, as well as immproving your own signal in U4MIR's receiver. Good luck. 73, Ray, W2RS Space Education Net Schedule (SEN019) The next session of the Space Education Net (SEN) has been scheduled for Saturday, February 25, 1989. The Mode B session will run from 15:00 to 16:00 UTC. The downlink frequency will be 145.960 MHz. No Mode L session has been scheduled because of the lack of a Mode L Net Control Station. Slow Scan TV will be transmitted for approximately the first 10 minutes of the bulletins on 145.965 MHz. After the SEN bulletins, an informal SSTV net will convene on the SSTV downlink frequency of 145.965 MHz. Additional Net Control Stations are needed, particularly those which have Mode L capability. Also, stations who can act as NCS for the SEN and who are located on the west coast of the US are especially needed. If you would like to assist the SEN in this important position please volunteer today. Contact K.O. Learner, K9PVW, at P.O. Box 5006, Kokomo, IN 46904 or via packet @KD9QB with your SEN questions or comments or to volunteer to assist the SEN. Check-ins and particip- ants are invited for both net sessions. Short Bursts All AO-13 satellite users are invited to participate in the next ZRO Test and earn "endorsement stickers" by copying test signals sent by WA5ZIB on a downlink frequency of 145.840 MHz. All test signals consist of CW code groups sent at 10 WPM. There will be no voice operation with the ZRO Test Control Station. The following dates have choosen for participant convenience and fairness: Saturday February 25, 1989 at 15:00 UTC Saturday March 4, 1989 at 07:00 UTC If there are any changes to the above list of ZRO Test Times, those changes will be announced immediately. If you would like to receive your copy of the ZRO Test brochure, send a s.a.s.e with two units of postage to: Andy MacAllister, WA5ZIB, 14714 Knightsway Dr., Houston, TX 77083. OSCAR satellite enthusiasts are reminded of the new AMSAT "Novice/Technican" Net every Sunday at 19:00 UTC at 28.460 MHz. This weekly net is conducted by Vinne, WB2YGA. This Net is intended for helping beginners get started on OSCAR satellites. WB2YGA reported for his first session of this "Novice/Technican" Net that he had over twenty check-in! Vinnie requests that those looking for him on Sundays at 19:00 UTC consider the effect that QRM will have on his start-up requency -- look around 28.460 MHz. All newcomers and "old pro's" are welcomed to join help make this an informative Net for all. HR AMSAT ORBITAL ELEMENTS FOR OSCAR SATELLITES FROM W0RPK INDIANOLA, IOWA FEBRUARY 18, 1989 Satellite: UO-9 Catalog number: 12888 Epoch time: 89045.05722778 Element set: 452 Inclination: 97.5800 deg RA of node: 92.1548 deg Eccentricity: 0.0002151 Arg of perigee: 185.2805 deg Mean anomaly: 174.8760 deg Mean motion: 15.44274521 rev/day Decay rate: 5.3918e-04 rev/day^2 Epoch rev: 40989 Satellite: AO-10 Catalog number: 14129 Epoch time: 89043.29488920 Element set: 377 Inclination: 26.6278 deg RA of node: 280.4398 deg Eccentricity: 0.6053625 Arg of perigee: 17.0180 deg Mean anomaly: 356.7274 deg Mean motion: 2.05880749 rev/day Decay rate: -1.6e-07 rev/day^2 Epoch rev: 4264 Satellite: UO-11 Catalog number: 14781 Epoch time: 89040.10736581 Element set: 404 Inclination: 98.0213 deg RA of node: 102.5744 deg Eccentricity: 0.0013880 Arg of perigee: 8.9875 deg Mean anomaly: 351.1659 deg Mean motion: 14.62939048 rev/day Decay rate: 2.017e-05 rev/day^2 Epoch rev: 26381 Satellite: FO-12 Catalog number: 16909 Epoch time: 89038.07742442 Element set: 129 Inclination: 50.0179 deg RA of node: 338.2722 deg Eccentricity: 0.0011061 Arg of perigee: 13.5524 deg Mean anomaly: 346.5603 deg Mean motion: 12.44397497 rev/day Decay rate: -2.5e-07 rev/day^2 Epoch rev: 11320 Satellite: AO-13 Catalog number: 19216 Epoch time: 89021.67169254 Element set: 29 Inclination: 57.3622 deg RA of node: 222.9543 deg Eccentricity: 0.6646232 Arg of perigee: 197.5144 deg Mean anomaly: 118.7893 deg Mean motion: 2.09700975 rev/day Decay rate: -1.09e-06 rev/day^2 Epoch rev: 466 Satellite: RS-10/11 Catalog number: 18129 Epoch time: 89044.85341954 Element set: 669 Inclination: 82.9304 deg RA of node: 329.2615 deg Eccentricity: 0.0012789 Arg of perigee: 39.3810 deg Mean anomaly: 320.8312 deg Mean motion: 13.71941710 rev/day Decay rate: 1.88e-06 rev/day^2 Epoch rev: 8248 Satellite: MET-2/14 Catalog number: 16735 Epoch time: 89041.84631399 Element set: 277 Inclination: 82.5372 deg RA of node: 346.8758 deg Eccentricity: 0.0015664 Arg of perigee: 10.3925 deg Mean anomaly: 349.7569 deg Mean motion: 13.83848906 rev/day Decay rate: 2.53e-06 rev/day^2 Epoch rev: 13698 Satellite: MET-2/15 Catalog number: 17290 Epoch time: 89036.98407380 Element set: 221 Inclination: 82.4678 deg RA of node: 259.0124 deg Eccentricity: 0.0012387 Arg of perigee: 271.8885 deg Mean anomaly: 88.0889 deg Mean motion: 13.83664810 rev/day Decay rate: 3.00e-06 rev/day^2 Epoch rev: 10547 Satellite: MET-2/16 Catalog number: 18312 Epoch time: 89041.77348822 Element set: 241 Inclination: 82.5593 deg RA of node: 319.7003 deg Eccentricity: 0.0011661 Arg of perigee: 186.0118 deg Mean anomaly: 174.0910 deg Mean motion: 13.83420134 rev/day Decay rate: 3.64e-06 rev/day^2 Epoch rev: 7503 Satellite: MET-2/17 Catalog number: 18820 Epoch time: 89042.03198358 Element set: 84 Inclination: 82.5384 deg RA of node: 20.7952 deg Eccentricity: 0.0015557 Arg of perigee: 263.9626 deg Mean anomaly: 95.9766 deg Mean motion: 13.84090209 rev/day Decay rate: 2.14e-06 rev/day^2 Epoch rev: 5223 Satellite: MET-3/1 Catalog number: 16191 Epoch time: 89039.65228076 Element set: 803 Inclination: 82.5509 deg RA of node: 326.6335 deg Eccentricity: 0.0018441 Arg of perigee: 260.7677 deg Mean anomaly: 99.1415 deg Mean motion: 13.16859281 rev/day Decay rate: 4.3e-07 rev/day^2 Epoch rev: 15860 Satellite: MET-3/2 Catalog number: 19336 Epoch time: 89039.05906047 Element set: 126 Inclination: 82.5365 deg RA of node: 267.0285 deg Eccentricity: 0.0015534 Arg of perigee: 141.7355 deg Mean anomaly: 218.4817 deg Mean motion: 13.16854155 rev/day Decay rate: 3.91e-06 rev/day^2 Epoch rev: 2591 Satellite: NOAA-9 Catalog number: 15427 Epoch time: 89041.43112783 Element set: 333 Inclination: 99.1327 deg RA of node: 25.9792 deg Eccentricity: 0.0014881 Arg of perigee: 312.5249 deg Mean anomaly: 47.4947 deg Mean motion: 14.11821401 rev/day Decay rate: 1.069e-05 rev/day^2 Epoch rev: 21456 Satellite: NOAA-10 Catalog number: 16969 Epoch time: 89041.58262838 Element set: 190 Inclination: 98.6510 deg RA of node: 74.4169 deg Eccentricity: 0.0012704 Arg of perigee: 257.6903 deg Mean anomaly: 102.3104 deg Mean motion: 14.22804260 rev/day Decay rate: 7.86e-06 rev/day^2 Epoch rev: 12593 Satellite: NOAA-11 Catalog number: 19531 Epoch time: 89034.31541485 Element set: 43 Inclination: 98.9253 deg RA of node: 339.0838 deg Eccentricity: 0.0011131 Arg of perigee: 251.6699 deg Mean anomaly: 108.2990 deg Mean motion: 14.10792410 rev/day Decay rate: 5.93e-06 rev/day^2 Epoch rev: 1859 Satellite: MIR Catalog number: 16609 Epoch time: 89044.56559894 Element set: 691 Inclination: 51.6221 deg RA of node: 266.8741 deg Eccentricity: 0.0011774 Arg of perigee: 270.7082 deg Mean anomaly: 89.2202 deg Mean motion: 15.71251869 rev/day Decay rate: 6.3569e-04 rev/day^2 Epoch rev: 17185 Satellite: SALYUT-7 Catalog number: 13138 Epoch time: 89044.54814483 Element set: 439 Inclination: 51.6098 deg RA of node: 201.0171 deg Eccentricity: 0.0000795 Arg of perigee: 304.5016 deg Mean anomaly: 55.5987 deg Mean motion: 15.37328816 rev/day Decay rate: 1.8273e-04 rev/day^2 Epoch rev: 38914 Satellite: AJISAI Catalog number: 16908 Epoch time: 89009.42214283 Element set: 115 Inclination: 50.0129 deg RA of node: 66.1499 deg Eccentricity: 0.0011053 Arg of perigee: 301.1525 deg Mean anomaly: 58.8225 deg Mean motion: 12.44374466 rev/day Decay rate: -3.6e-07 rev/day^2 Epoch rev: 10964