SB SAT @ AMSAT   $ANS-077-03
SHUTTLE LINUX USE

HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 077.03 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD March 17, 1996
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-077.03

Discussions heard between Space Shuttle "Columbia" and mission control on
NASA TV during STS-75 indicate that computers running under the Linux
operating system.  Linux is powerful 32-bit multi-user, multi-tasking
operating system similar to Unix in many ways except cost and licensing.

Linux can run on most 386, 486, and Pentium-based personal computers in
addition to Amiga and Atari computers.  It is currently being ported to the
ARM, MIPS, PowerPC, and PowerMac computers, and a 64-bit version is
available for the DEC Alpha.

Linux was designed a few short years ago by Linus Torvalds, a graduate
student at the University of Helsinki in Finland who took his first courses
in `C' and Unix in the Fall of 1990.  By October 1991, Linux version 0.02
was announced and this attracted the attention of thousands of programmers
and software developers
on the Internet.  International collaboration in the development of Linux
has resulted in a very powerful operating system whose capabilities are
growing faster than those of commercial operating systems.

Part of the enthusiasm behind Linux development is rooted in the fact that
like Unix, the Linux operating system is hardware independent.  As a
result, it is possible to author software for Linux that will operate
equally well under many hardware platforms, whether they be a powerful
mainframe or a small
laptop.  Its growth and development are reminiscent of the
telecommunication innovations brought to the world through the efforts of
Amateur Radio Operators over the years.  Linux also supports a wide variety
of networking protocols, including AX.25 used on Amateur Packet Radio, at
the kernel level, a feature not
many other operating systems can claim.

There already exists quite an extensive list of Amateur Radio and Amateur
Satellite related software applications for the Linux operating system. 
That list will grow later this week with the release of the following
programs written by KD2BD:

     predict: A multi-user satellite orbital prediction program
              that also provides optical visibility information

     dove   : A simple DOVE-OSCAR-17 telemetry decoding program

     uo11   : A simple UoSAT-OSCAR-11 ASCII telemetry decoding
              program

     kepgen : A program that allows the creation of Keplerian
              data files in the NASA 2-line format from data      
              entered through the keyboard

These programs are free for the asking and must be used for non-commercial
purposes only.  They were written in `C' and compiled using the highest
level of optimization possible from GCC compiler version 2.5.8. The
resulting executable files are in an a.out binary format.  These programs
will be made available via anonymous FTP at pilot.njin.net in the
/pub/SpaceNews/linux subdirectory or uploaded to the AMSAT-OSCAR-16 or
LUSAT-OSCAR-19 satellites by request.  All programs include on-line manual
pages with the exception of "predict" which contains a built-in help
option.

Further information on the Linux operating system may be obtained through
the World Wide Web at: http://sunsite.unc.edu/mdw/linux.html and many other
sites around the world.  A link to a HAM-HOWTO page describing other free
Amateur Radio software available for Linux may also be accessed through
this site.

Incidentally, the Linux operating system has been used exclusively for the
creation and circulation of SpaceNews since the release of "Windows 95" in
August of 1995.  Perhaps SpaceNews can also be referred to as the first
Amateur newsletter edited and circulated entirely under Linux. 

ANS thanks John Magliacane KD2BD of SpaceNews for this information.

/EX
                                                                  
SB SAT @ AMSAT   $ANS-077.04
MIR EVA AND SHUTTLE NEWS

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 077.04 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD March 17, 1996
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-077.04                               

1st Spacewalk (EVA) for the MIR 21 Crew:

MIR Cosmonauts Onufriyenko and Usachov performed a 5 hour, 51 minute EVA on
March 15, 1996. The hatch of the Module-D airlock was opened at 0104 UTC
and closed at 0655 UTC. During the EVA, the cosmonauts accomplished all
tasks including:

a. Installing a second Strela crane on the Basis Block. Since this EVA, the
new Strela has been tested and found operational.

b. Connecting cables and electrocontacts to the outer surface of Kvant-1
(Module-E) for the near future installation of a solar battery on that
module.

A second EVA by the MIR 21 Crew is not scheduled before May 1996.

STS-76, Atlantis: 

The launch of Atlantis is still planned for March 21, 1996 at 0835 UTC;
docking with MIR 43 after launch. Atlantis will remain docked at MIR for 5
days; landing on KSC scheduled for March 30, 1996 at 1305 UTC. During the
period in which Atlantis and MIR docked, 1 or 2 EVA's will be made by
American astronauts. (NASA
speaks about 1 EVA; the Russians about 1 or 2). 

ANS thanks Chris van den Berg, NL-9165/A-UK3202 for this valuable
information.

/EX


