****************************************************************************** * AMSAT NA News Service Bulletins * * NEWS065 05Mar88 * * [ Copyright 1988 by AMSAT NA, The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. ] * * [ Permission is granted for unlimited redistribution by electronic or ] * * [ other means provided credit is given to AMSAT NA News Service (ANS). ] * * [ Edited for AMSAT NA by WA2LQQ. ] * * [ (N)=New story; (U)=Updated story; (R)=Reprieved story ] * * [ This edition was forwarded by the W0RPK-AMSAT Bulletin Board System ] * * [ operating on 515-961-3325 24-hours Ralph Wallio, W0RPK SYSOP ] * ****************************************************************************** Headlines: 1.(N) Trekkers Push Out Onto Ice As UoSAT Marks Progress 2.(N) AMSAT To Brief PACSAT To U.N. Health Officials 3.(N) Short Bursts ****************************************************************************** 1.(N) Trekkers Push Out Onto Ice As UoSAT Marks Progress TRANSPOLAR SKITREK PROGRESS REPORT #6: March 3, 1988 The Russian-Canadian Transpolar Skitrek Expedition has begun its more than three month journey across the polar ice cap. The trek began on the afternoon of March 3 at 1331 hours local time (0731 hours March 3 UTC) as the small group, made up of nine Russians and four Canadians, moved northward onto the smooth land ice beyond Cape Arctic, at the top of the Severnaya Zemlya Islands. Equipped with only their skis, radios and heavily loaded backpacks, the skiers are heading for the North Pole and then directly on to Cape Columbia at the northern tip of Ellesmere Island in the Canadian Arctic. The following positions (in decimal degrees) will be helpful to those plotting the trek: Starting Point - Cape Arctic: 81 deg 25 min N, 95 deg 45 min E Ice Island North Pole 28: 87 deg 48 min N, 142 deg 00 min E (Communications Support Base) End Point - Cape Columbia: 83 deg 06 min N, 70 deg 35.4 min W The skiers' daily routine consists of a steady eight-to-ten hour trek followed by the setting up of their single twelve-man tent, a meal together, a few minutes on the HF radio and a well deserved night's rest. The morning routine includes a quick breakfast and tent take-down as they trigger their Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) during a SARSAT/COSPAS Search and Rescue Satellite pass. The Russian COSPAS Control Center will determine the latitude and longitude of the skiers and telex this information to the University of Surrey in the U.K. Surrey will then program the Digitalker on the UoSAT OSCAR 11 Satellite to articulate the skiers' position back to them. This unprecedented hybrid link-up, known as NORDSKI COMM, is the co-primary navigation tool for the skiers. Celestial navigation is the other (and more traditional) method. Later, as the trekkers cross the pole and finish the second leg of their journey to Canada, SARSAT responsibility will be picked up by the Canadian SARSAT control center at Trenton, Ontario. From there, the data will be flashed to a coordination center which has been established in Ottawa at the facilities of Telesat Canada, a commercial satellite company which has agreed to help with NORDSKI COMM. When SARSAT Tracking responsibility comes to the Canadians, engineers at Telesat will telex the trekkers' position to Surrey to insure navigation continuity. The format for the 145.825 MHz FM UoSAT Digitalker transmissions in plain English will include: Position Report Number Priority Code Date Time Latitude Longitude The UO-11 report on March 3 was: 01 Priority 000 3 March 1124 UTC 81 degrees 21.2 minutes North 90 degrees 12.8 minutes East It is thought, however, the actual longitude was 96 degrees, 12.8 minutes East yielding a first day's trek of about 15 km; about what could be expected. The initial reports sent to Surrey were done by voice rather than telex. Telex messages to Surrey from the COSPAS control center are expected to commence soon. It is thought the initial manual entry of the data may account for the difference. The voice radio report from Severnaya Zemlya to England was received in Norwich by Pat Gowen, G3IOR and relayed to Surrey by telephone. The report, originated by the Chief Radio Operator, Leonid Labutin, UA3CR, said conditions were difficult for the trekkers with the temperature at -45 degrees Celsius and high winds. He also reported the UoSAT Digitalker signals were "good copy" on the special ICOM micro 2AT radios being carried by the trekkers. All Digitalker transmissions will be placed in a log on the W0RPK AMSAT Bulletin Board to aid in plotting the skiers' progress. The Priority Code is for emergency communications feedback to the skiers should HF propagation between the Communications Support Bases and the skiers fail. Arctic Communications Support Bases are located at: Resolute Bay in the Canadian Arctic (CI8C) Sredny Island in the Soviet Arctic (EK0QCG) Soviet Ice Island North Pole 28 (4K0DCG) Current call signs of individuals at Resolute are Garth Hamilton (CI8HO) and, beginning Friday March 4th, Andy McLellan (CI8CW). Leonid Labutin (UA3CR) has been using the call EK0CR at the Sredny Island Support Base. Listen for these calls on the lower part of the 20 meter band after 1600 UTC. Remember, HF links are the skiers lifeline. Direct communication with them will not be possible. If expedition business is being discussed please wait until the operators are finished before attempting to contact them. All Support Base Operators (SBO's) are avid DX'ers and will be happy to set up a phone or CW QSO with you after their business is done. Resolute, and later Sredny and Ice Island SBO's are keeping weather logs for educators and will be happy to pass this data on to them via QSO. Weather logs will also appear on the W0RPK AMSAT Bulletin Board version of these Progress Reports. In press interviews before they began, both Expedition Leader Dimitri Shparo, UA3AJH, and Canadian Leader Richard Weber, VE8RW, spoke of the friendship and cross cultural nature of this adventure on the ice. We wish them well and appreciate this unique opportunity to involve Amateur Radio. Skitrek/Nordski progress reports are issued weekly by AMSAT's Science Education Advisor, Rich Ensign, N8IWJ. A continuing series of Progress Reports like this one may be accessed via packet BBS, AMSAT Nets and the main educator source, the W0RPK AMSAT Bulletin Board (1-515-961-3325). Comments and questions about the reports should be addressed to Rich Ensign, 421 N. Military, Dearborn, MI 48124, U.S.A. Progress Report #7 will be issued on March 12, 1988. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 2.(N) AMSAT To Brief PACSAT To U.N. Health Officials AMSAT has been invited to participate in a meeting near Geneva March 19 through March 21 to discuss possible applications of AMSAT-developed space systems and earth terminals to terrestrial health problems. AMSAT President Vern Riportella, WA2LQQ, and Engineering Vice President Jan King, W3GEY, will travel to the town of Annecy, France just south of Geneva, Switzerland, as special guests of the SatelLife. That's the "Space-For-Health" project instituted by Nobel Laureate Dr. Bernard Lown of the Harvard University School of Public Health. The Rockefeller Foundation has agreed to fund travel costs to the meeting. WA2LQQ travelled to Moscow last October for an initial series of SatelLife meetings. Since then, AMSAT has developed a technical proposal for SatelLife for a joint US-USSR project to fly a PACSAT with 12 months. This PACSAT would use Amateur Radio-developed technology but NOT on Amateur Radio frequencies. An Amateur Radio PACSAT would be constructed in parallel since the techniques involved would be identical and they could be built essentially side-by-side at a cost savings. The Annecy meetings later this month will involve representatives of the World Health Organization and SatelLife working groups from the UK, USSR and US. AMSAT's presentation will focus on the capabilities of a PACSAT and will emphasize the possibilities of very simple earth terminals. Portability and low cost are very important since the health workers using the projected SatelLife PACSAT will be working far afield often from small vehicles. As presently envisioned, a state-of-the-art PACSAT earth terminal will use small omni antennas and fit into an attache case. It will consist of two HTs, one micro TNC and a laptop computer. AMSAT will demonstrate packet radio at the meeting to show the basic technique and typical equipment. The hardware demonstration is being supported by three companies. Radio Shack is supplying the computers, Yaesu is providing the HTs and TASCO of Japan is supplying their ultra-miniature TNCs which are the size of a pack of cigarettes. If the SatelLife Project achieves its first major milestone, it will have a small number of PACSATs in orbit to provide electronic mail service to health workers in the field involved in such important projects as AIDS research in Africa and WHO's enhanced inoculation program. Should this milestone be reached, Amateur Radio will have again asserted its value to society and thus validated its use of spectrum. That is, technology and techniques developed in the Amateur radio context will have been employed in a vitally important public service mission. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 3.(N) Short Bursts UoSAT OSCAR 11 celebrated its fourth birthday last week. It was launched on March 1, 1984 and since then has completed more than 21,000 orbits. The bird continues in excellent health with many activities continuing to occupy it and its ground support team at the University of Surrey, England. AMSAT congratulates the Surrey team on the birthday bird! *** ZS6SAT is the newest Digital Communications Experiment (DCE) station on UO-11. The station is operated by ZS6IT. ***************************************************************************** RECENT NEWS IN REVIEW ===================== Headlines: 4.(R) Phase 3C Launch Campaign Update: May 26 It's Go! 5.(U) New Publications Emphasize Technical Aspects 6.(R) JAMSAT Elects New Officers 7.(U) FO-12 Operating Schedule ****************************************************************************** 4.(R) Phase 3C Launch Campaign Update: May 26 It's Go! AMSAT's Phase 3C spacecraft edged closer to launch as Arianespace has fixed the launch dates for the next three launches. A launch date of May 26 has been announced for the launch of Phase 3C, less than three months from now. In addition to announcing the launch date for the Ariane-4 launcher, Arianespace, the marketing arm of the European Space Agency, has added a new launch in the sequence and renumbered the mission that will carry Phase 3C. The new sequence is as follows: V-21 with SPACENET IIIR/GEOSTAR R01 and TELECOM 1C is scheduled for March 11. V-22 with Intelsat V is scheduled for May 11. V-23 with AMSAT Phase 3C, METEOSAT and PANAMSAT is scheduled for May 26. AMSAT launch support preparations will swing into high gear in early April with the dispatch to the launch site in Kourou, French Guiana, of support teams from AMSAT DL and AMSAT NA. If all goes well and the launch takes place as scheduled, the satellite may be available for general use towards the end of June. Springtime this year would thus me a great time to get your stations ready for the most powerful and capable OSCAR ever! A reminder is in order too. Many of the technical details of Phase 3C are being published in Amateur Satellite Report. ASR is a member service so you'll want to insure your membership is current. If you haven't renewed, you should do so immediately so you wont miss out on any of the information crucial to your getting your Phase 3C station up and running and ready for the commencement of operations. Renew you AMSAT membership today. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 5.(U) New Publications Emphasize Technical Aspects According to Bob Diersing, N5AHD, Editor of the AMSAT Technical Journal, Volume 2 of the Technical Journal is coming off the presses. Articles in Volume 2 include Spacecraft Technology Trends by WD4FAB, Phase 3 Propulsion Systems by W4PUJ, Phase 4 Spaceframe Design by WD4FAB, Initial Phase 3D Radio Link Concepts by DJ4ZC, RUDAK Traffic Control by DK1YQ, PSK Interface for the TNC-1 by DB2OS, NUSAT Software by WA3PSD, Antennas for Low Earth Orbit Missions by N5BF and the Phase 3 IHU by KE3D. Orders for the AMSAT Technical Journal, Volume 2, may now be placed with AMSAT Headquarters. The Proceedings of the 1987 AMSAT Space Symposium held in Detroit are now available. The publication contains an excellent collection of first-rate papers presented in Detroit by some of AMSAT's top technical experts on topics ranging from current projects to the far-out future concepts now coming into focus. The Proceedings may be ordered from Headquarters now. AMSAT Headquarters has received a limited supply of the UK IERE publication containing detailed UoSAT OSCAR 11 papers. This publication may also be obtained now directly from AMSAT HQ. Back issues of Amateur Satellite Report are also available. All issues going back to number 1 in 1981 are available to complete your library. Inquire at AMSAT HQ for prices on these back issues. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 6.(R) JAMSAT Elects New Officers JAMSAT has announced the election of its officers. The new president is Masao Tanikawa, JR1HAL. Harry Yoneda, JA1ANG, did not seek re-election as JAMSAT president. Mr. Yoneda continues to serve on AMSAT NA's Board of Directors. JAMSAT Vice Presidents elected included Mori Ohara, JK1VXJ, and Kimio Maekawa, JA9BOH. The full list of officials elected will appear in ASR #171. AMSAT NA joins with other AMSAT-affiliated organizations in congratulating the new officers and wishing them success. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 7.(U) FO-12 Operating Schedule JARL has announced the new FO-12 operating schedule as follows: Mode From (UTC) -------------------- [Net stations may JD 5 01:53 announce as many lines as D 6 03:01 seems appropriate] JA 8 01:13 D 9 04:25 JA 12 01:41 D 14 01:55 JD 17 05:22 DI 18 06:30 JD 19 03:33 DI 20 04:42 JD 21 03:47 DI 22 04:55 JD 23 04:01 DI 24 05:09 JD 26 03:21 D 27 04:28 JA 30 01:46 D Mar/31 02:54 Mode JA : Linear Transponder Mode JD : Mailbox Mode D : Charging mode Mode DI : Charging mode with CPU/MEMORY kept ON The transponders will be off at other times. This schedule may be changed at any time due to unexpected power situations. ***************************************************************************** S1.(N) AMSAT Announces Field Operations Appointments AMSAT Vice President of Field Operations, Doug Loughmiller, KO5I announces the following appointments: Ross Forbes, WB6GFJ has been named AMSAT Regional Coordinator for the Pacific region. Ross is replacing John Fail, KL7GRF who has resigned that position due to increased business commitments. KL7GRF will continue as an AMSAT Area Coordinator in the Los Angeles area. The Pacific region in the AMSAT Field OPS directorate is comprised of the states of California, Hawaii and Nevada. K.O. Learner, K9PVW of Kokomo,IN has been named acting Regional Coordinator for the Great Lakes region. K.O. will be acting on behalf of Larry Koziel, K8MU who is AMSAT's Great Lakes Regional Coordinator. Larry will be out of the country on business for the next several months. The Great Lakes region in the AMSAT directorate is comprised of the states of Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Ohio. Based upon nominations by acting Great Lakes Regional Coordinator K9PVW, two Area Coordinators have been added to the Field Operations team. Ronald M. Pogue, KD9QB of Noblesville,IN and Dr. David L. Filmer, WB9QPG of West Lafayette,IN have been appointed AMSAT Area Coordinators by AMSAT Vice President of Field Operations, Doug Loughmiller, KO5I. Mr. Pogue will represent AMSAT in the Indianapolis,IN area while Dr. Filmer,a professor at Purdue University, will coordinate AMSAT activities in the West Lafayette,IN area. Both individuals are highly active in AMSAT activities in their area and will be a welcomed addition to the Area Coordinator team. AMSAT congratulates all of the recent appointees and looks forward to their future involvement in our organization.