SB ALL @ AMSAT $ANS-121.01 Phase 3C Poised For launch HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 121.01 FROM AMSAT HEADQUARTERS WASHINGTON, DC April 30, 1988 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT All is in readiness for the launch of AMSAT's Phase 3C satellite in the first week of June. The fueling operation of the joint AMSAT-NA and AMSAT-DL teams was completed without incident and the spacecraft stands ready for launch as soon as the launcher itself is ready. Sources indicate June 7 or June 8 are the most likely launch dates. The actual launch date will firm when the next launch, that of an Intelsat spacecraft on the V-23, has been accomplished. That launch is currently slated for May 17 or 18. If the launch of Phase 3C on mission V-22 does occur on or about June 7 as now planned, the launch window will be about 1200 UTC which is morning in Kourou, French Guiana, the launch facility of the European Space Agency. The new Ariane 4 launcher was due to be rolled out for its first public display, virtually a coming out party for the big new rocket, on Friday, April 29. The fueling team, team 2, returned to its home bases recently. Monitoring of the spacecraft telemetry which is a major task of Team 3, will continue through until launch day. Phase 3C will be placed into general operation about one month after launch depending on the number and timing of on-orbit kick motor burns implemented. The operating frequencies have been published in ASR and will be repeated periodically in these bulletins. ASR is a member service of AMSAT-NA. A launch information net will provide pre-launch, launch day and post-launch coverage of the launch week. The exact launch net schedule will be known only as we approach launch day. Watch for announcements in these bulletins throughout May and early June. /EX SB ALL @ AMSAT $ANS-121.02 Skitrek Progress Report #14 HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 121.02 FROM AMSAT HEADQUARTERS WASHINGTON, DC April 30, 1988 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT The Amateur Radio supported Transpolar Skitrek got underway on April 28th after an event filled 2 day stay at the North Pole. Media coverage increased as Russian TV, the Cable News Network and CBC-TV covered activities at the Pole. As of April 30th, the skiers were at 89d 37.9m N and 94d 29.8m W. During the Trek the UO-11 Digitalker has been steadly reporting the "moving groups" position. The buzzing sound heard alternating with the Digitalker is the digital data which encoded the latest bulletin from the University of Surrey. The digital data carries telemetry as its other major function but this was temporarily suspended during the special program established for the press conference. Here is the latest bulletin, as transmitted by UO-11: **** UoSAT-OSCAR-11 BULLETIN - 132 28 April 1988 **** UoSAT MISSION CONTROL CENTRE, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 5XH, England ** UoS TEAM MEMBER JOINS SKITREK AT NORTH POLE ** The joint Canadian-Soviet SkiTrek reached the North Pole on 26th April 1988, 54 days and 1000 km after setting out on their "Transpolar Ski-Trek." Since departing from northern USSR on 1 March, the team has received daily progress updates of their exact location from the UoSAT-2 DIGITALKER. Arrival at the North Pole marks the half way point in the 2000 km trek from Cape Arktichesky on the Severnaya Zemlya archipelago, USSR, to the Cape of Columbia on Ellesmere Island, Canada. The team was joined at the Pole by journalists from around the world - flown in to a unique North Pole press conference. In recognition of the assistance that UoSAT-2 continues to provide for the skiers, Michael Meerman (G0/PA3BHF), member of the University of Surrey's UoSAT Spacecraft Engineering Research Unit, was invited by the Soviet Ski-Trek leader to attend the press conference at the North Pole. Michael is the UoSAT Team member in charge of the daily operation of both UoSATs, and has been responsible for loading the Ski-Trek reports to UoSAT-2. Michael travelled to Moscow on 24 May, and travelled from there to Sretney Island on the 25th. From Sretney, he made contact with G3YJO at UoS via 20-metre SSB. On the 26th after some delays caused by bad weather, Michael arrived at the pole, where he was able to interview members of the Ski-Trek team. Thousands of school children throughout the world have been tracking the skiers by listening to the UoSAT-2 DIGITALKER, and learning about polar exploration through weekly Ski-Trek updates authored by AMSAT-NA member Rich Ensign (N8IWJ). Michael Meerman carried a list of their questions with him to the pole, to get the answers directly from the skiers themselves. As the Ski-Trek continues towards its final destination in Canada, UoSAT-2 will also continue to provide daily position updates, demonstrating the value of the UoSAT-OSCAR satellites to education and polar communications. ** DIGITALKER ON UOSAT-1 ** Many of those listening to the Ski-Trek DIGITALKER reports will be interested to know that the UoSAT-OSCAR-9 spacecraft (UoSAT-1) also carries a DIGITALKER, which is activated every week. From 0000 to 1500 GMT on Thursdays, the UoSAT-1 DIGITALKER "speaks" spacecraft telemetry values in plain language. The best UoSAT-1 passes usually occur around 8 or 9 o'clock local time each morning and evening. Pass this information on to those who have only been listening to UoSAT-2, but would like to try more experimentation with satellites. ** SEND ACTIVITY REPORTS ** As always, we at UoS are interested to hear what you are doing with the UoSAT satellites. If you have been using the DIGITALKER to follow the Ski-Trek, please send us (address above) a brief description of your activity. You can send reports to UoS through amateur packet radio if you are in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa or the USA. Just address your messages so that they will be forwarded to your local UoSAT-2 DCE gateway station. This report has been prepared by Rich Ensign, N8IWJ, AMSAT Science Education Advisor For Use With The AMSAT Teachers Guide "Exploring The High Arctic From Your Classroom" Michael Meerman's report from the Pole will appear in our next Progress Report to be issued on May 6, 1988. /EX SB ALL @ AMSAT $ANS-121.03 Record Crowds Flood Dayton HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 121.03 FROM AMSAT HEADQUARTERS WASHINGTON, DC April 30, 1988 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT Early reports suggest record crowds have made the 1988 Dayton Hamvention the largest in history. Reports are circulating that upwards of 30,000 attended by Saturday, April 30. If so, this would be at least 20% above the previous high attendance mark of 25,000. Traffic at the AMSAT booth was brisk throughout the weekend. Interest in Phase 3C was high and a significant proportion of visitors were well familiar with the progress towards launch of the new satellite. Questions concerning suitable equipment for Phase 3C and where to find it predominated the discussions at the booth. Doug Loughmiller, KO5I, led a team of AMSAT volunteers working the double booth. The new AMSAT Phase 3C poster was on display for the first time. The booth also included a strong TAPR contingent. AMSAT held two forums over the weekend. The Saturday forum moderated by KO5I featured Chairman Jan King, W3GEY who spoke on Phase 3C progress, Phase 4 and PACSAT. President Vern Riportella, WA2LQQ, gave a presentation on future projects and Garth Hamilton, VE3HO, gave an update on the SKITREK project. A packed house of at least 250 attended the forum on Saturday. An additional forum was planned for Sunday and was expected to be well attended too. Member renewals were strong through press time on Saturday suggesting interest levels are increasing with the approach of the Phase 3C launch. Equipment suitable for Phase 3C was much in evidence with some entries present even for Mode S. Downeast Microwave, Spectrum International, PX Shack and Microwave Modules were among those offering off-the-shelf equipment for 24 and 13 cm. The auto-tracking interface called the "Kansas City Tracker" which works with the IBM series of computers was also on display as was the Mirage autotracking system. Near-perfect weather and a very upbeat crowd at Dayton's Hara Arena punctuated the generally optimistic feeling which seemed very much in evidence. This is in contrast to some years in which a general pall hung over the event for reasons which remain unclear. In this year's event, however, there was a good feeling about the overall event and both attendees and vendors seemed to reflect a generally buoyant atmosphere. This optimism was very much in evidence at the AMSAT booth which stayed pleasantly crowded virtually from the opening bell and throughout the weekend. /EX SB ALL @ AMSAT $ANS-121.04 Short Bursts HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 121.04 FROM AMSAT HEADQUARTERS WASHINGTON, DC April 30, 1988 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT AMSAT is deeply saddened to note the passing of one of its most devoted members, Cy Williamson, VE3TW, who became a silent key in mid-April. Cy had been an active AMSAT member for many years and was a familiar voice on the AMSAT 75 meter East Coast net and his distinctive fist was easily recognized on AO-10. He will be deeply missed. AO-10 should be ready for use by mid-May according to control stations polled recently. The improving sun angles will allow a return to general operations in a couple of weeks they say. Since the attitude control system on AO-10 is inoperative, it is necessary to await the natural changes in geometry between AO-10 and the sun for sufficient power to operate the satellite. The season of favorable sun angles will begin soon say the command stations. Watch for an announcement soon on the availability of AO-10 for operation. Gordon and Molly Hardman (KE3D and N3CHZ respectively) recently became the proud parents of of lovely son Edward Ryan. Gordon is a key member of the Phase 3C and PACSAT engineering team in Boulder, Colorado. /EX