
SB NEWS @ AMSAT $SPC0815
* SpaceNews 15-Aug-94 *
 
 
BID: $SPC0815
 
 
                               =========
                               SpaceNews
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                         MONDAY AUGUST 15, 1994
 
 
SpaceNews originates at KD2BD in Wall Township, New Jersey, USA.  It is
published every week and is made available for unlimited distribution.
 
 
* STS-68 LAUNCH DATE SET *
==========================
NASA managers have selected August 18 as the official launch date for 
Shuttle mission STS-68, the second Space Radar Laboratory flight.  Liftoff 
is planned for 6:54 AM EDT at the opening of a two hour, 30 minute window. 
The mission is scheduled for 10 days, with a planned landing on August 28.
 
STS-68 will be the seventh flight of orbiter Endeavour, and the 64th mission 
of the Space Shuttle program.  Commander Mike Baker heads a six person crew 
which will operate in two shifts for continuous scientific data gathering 
during the mission. Other crew members are pilot Terry Wilcutt, and mission 
specialists Steve Smith, Dan Bursch, Jeff Wisoff and Tom Jones who flew on 
the first successful SRL mission in April.
 
Endeavour's primary payload will be the Space Radar Laboratory, part of a 
comprehensive effort under NASA's Mission to Planet Earth program, to 
understand how the Earth's environment is changing.
 
[Info via NASA]
 
 
* MIR NEWS *
============
The Soyuz-TM20 spacecraft will be launched to the Mir space station on
03-Oct-94 carrying a European cosmonaut who will remain on Mir for 30 days.  
The visiting cosmonaut will conduct experiments relating to life sciences 
including the monitoring of the human body in microgravity conditions.
 
The launch of the Progress-M24 cargo vehicle to Mir that was originally 
supposed to be launched during the July/August 1994 time frame has been 
postponed because of economic reasons.  Progress-M24 is now expected to be 
launched on 24-Aug-94 and will deliver the normal cargo to the Mir complex 
in addition to equipment to be used by the European cosmonaut (Ulf Merbold 
or Pedro Duque) during the EuroMir94 mission in October 1994. 
 
[Info via Chris v.d. Berg, NL-9165/A-UK3202]
 
 
* DC-X TO BE REPAIRED * 
=======================
The DC-X launcher has been in limbo since it was damaged in a ground 
equipment induced explosion.  According to Charles "Pete" Conrad, who is 
with the McDonnel-Douglas test program, the DC-X vehicle is to be returned 
to California for repairs so that the flight test program can be resumed.
 
[Info via Andy Reynolds, WD9IYT] 
 
 
* VE3ONT ADDS 50 MHz EME * 
==========================
As a result of discussions at the recent meeting of the Central States VHF
Society, the Toronto VHF Society (VE3ONT) has added 50 MHz to the list of 
bands to be used in the upcoming EME contest.  50 MHz will on the air on a 
non-interference basis simultaneously with 1296 MHz on Sunday of the first 
EME contest weekend.
 
VE3ONT will use the 46m (150') dish operated by the Institute for Space and
Terrestrial Science at Algonquin Park (FN05xw).  On 50 MHz, the antenna will 
be linearly polarized, and output power will be 1 kW.
 
UTC Date       VE3ONT TX freq      listening range          approx. times
 
Oct 29         432.050 MHz         432.050 - 432.060        0645 - 1815 UTC
Oct 30        1296.050            1296.050 - 1296.060       0754 - 1844
Oct 30          50.100              50.100 -  50.105        0754 - 1844
 
Nov 26         144.100             144.100 - 144.110        0538 - 1645
Nov 27         144.100             144.100 - 144.110        0646 - 1713
 
Because the Algonquin dish has a 9 degree lower elevation limit, stations 
with horizon-only antennas in eastern North America will have a limited 
chance to work VE3ONT.  VE3ONT requests that az-el capable stations in 
Europe and North America delay their QSOs with VE3ONT until after moonrise/
moonset windows.  This will allow the many horizon-only stations a better 
chance of making an EME QSO during the limited time available.
 
Link budget calculations show that 50 MHz stations with 10 dBd (6 elements 
or so) beams and 1 kW should be able to work VE3ONT off the Moon; smaller 
stations are urged to try as well.
 
Use of the dish at the Algonquin Space Complex is always subject to last 
minute preemption for non-Amateur purposes.
 
QSLs with an SAE to Dennis Mungham VE3ASO, RR 3, Mountain, Ontario, Canada, 
K0E1S0.  Reception reports are also welcome.  Send your log to the ARRL.
 
For further information contact Peter Shilton VE3VD, (905) 774-8766.  
Latest developments will be provided at the International EME Conference, 
Gottskars, Sweden, August 26-28.
 
[Info via Michael Owen, W9IP]
 
 
* THANKS! *
===========
Thanks to all those who sent messages of appreciation to SpaceNews,
especially:
        
     NS1Z    K5YFW    N5XMH    KE6FJU    KB9DFE    Passarello Espedito
 
 
* 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
SATELLITE : AMSAT-OSCAR-16 
 
MAIL      : John A. Magliacane, KD2BD
            Department of Engineering and Technology
            Advanced Technology Center
            Brookdale Community College
            Lincroft, New Jersey  07738
            U.S.A.
 
 
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