************************************************************************** * * * THIS IS THE WD0GML-AMSAT-ST.LOUIS BBS 24HR 7DAY AT (314)447-3003 * * 300/1200/2400 BAUD * * Mike Parisey WD0GML SYSOP * * Norm Newman NZ0Z Co-SYSOP * * * ************************************************************************** NOTICE! Due to a coincident set of unfortunate circumstances, Dave Cowdin will be unable to produce an edition of ANS this weekend and the backup group has also been unable to respond in time. Doug has instructed that Net Control stations should use last week's bulletins again this week, using editorial judgment concerning what is still timely and appropriate. Also, be sure to mention that OSCAR-10 is now unavailable for use until at least November. We regret any inconvenience or difficulty that this may cause. Please understand that it is just another symptom of the very hectic situation that many AMSAT personnel including Dave and most of the other managers are currently experiencing. ANS will resume next week. Thanks for your understanding and 73, Courtney Duncan, N5BF, VP Operations OSCAR 10 NEWS: OSCAR 10 is now in eclips and is out of service untill on or around the 1st of NOV 89. OSCAR 13 NEWS: OSCAR 13 Element Set No. 45 appears to be in error, we are looking into this problem. This weeks elements include set #46. NEW ITEMS ON THE BBS: Check the Applications Section of the Download/Upload Area for a Weather Satellite Image Processing Program Demo. Its in 5 parts, the Main Program, and 4 Photo files you only need the one that matches the type of display you have ie CGA, EGA, VGA. Check the Ham Forum Section of the Download/Upload Area for a contest dupeing program, some may find it of interest. UoSAT 9 NEWS: The following report is from Rich Ensign, N8IWJ, AMSAT-NA's Science Education Advisor: The first of the English University of Surrey Amateur Radio Satellites UoSAT 1, or OSCAR 9, is continuing its slow fall to Earth. At launch (October 6, 1981) OSCAR 9 was in a polar orbit some 554 kilometers high. Now, almost 8 years later, OSCAR 9's circular orbit has dropped to less than 343 kilometers. At launch, OSCAR 9 completed one orbit in 95 minutes. Now, at its lower altitude, the satellite orbits in 91 minutes. Atmospheric drag is the culprit that has destined this longest operating of amateur radio satellites to a meteoric fate this fall. When OSCAR 9 was launched, the Sun had passed the peak of the last solar activity cycle. These solar activity cycles of eleven years raise the temperature of the Sun's photosphere slightly due to increased numbers of flares and accompanying sunspots. This, in turn, increases the number of solar wind particles reaching the Earth. Earth's upper atmosphere is heated and expands outward, bringing low Earth orbiting satellites within its frictional envelope. The satellite slows and begins to curve downward into higher air densities. Unless the satellite has some means of boosting its orbit, it is doomed to burn up in the atmosphere. Since there is no kick motor on board the satellite, its controllers and users, will have to accept its fate. It has been interesting to compare the drag numbers in the weekly orbital elements with the number of sunspots on the sun at corresponding times. Graphs of both sets of data have matching dips and peaks and the slope of OSCAR 9's descent rate also correlates. You can follow this yourself by using the NASA orbital element information provided by AMSAT each week and looking up corresponding sunspot numbers for the same epoch day in the monthly astronomy publication, Sky and Telescope. These numbers are published with a three month delay so the most recent numbers go to the end of June. AO-9's descent rates recently have varied between 0.4 and 1.1 kilometers per day. This rate will increase as the spacecraft falls to depths of ever increasing density. The spacecraft should reach a point where it literally falls out of the sky in a blazing streak in mid-October. The spacecraft will most probably be totally consumed in its descent. Exactly when and where this will happen depends on a number of factors and will be of great interest to many OSCAR watchers. Stay tuned AMSAT Nets and publications for further information. An excellent information source is also the weekly bulletins on UO-11, another Surrey satellite. NEWS FROM SA AMSAT: New Committee: At the recently held Annual General Meeting Hans van de Groenendaal ZS6AKV was re-elected as President of SA AMSAT for a period of two years. Vice President is Tony Reumerman ZS6AOG, Treasurer Theo Swart ZR6SG , Secretary Willem Nel ZS6ALL , Transvaal Regional Co-ordinator Gerald Klatzko ZS6BTD. The SA AMSAT committee appointed Hennie Rheeder ZS6ALN as Satellite Project Engineer, Dave Woodhall as BACAR Project Engineer and Piet van Schie ZS6AQC as Editor of Satellite News Update. SATELLITE PROJECTS: SA AMSAT has in principle agreed to work with AMSAT DL and will be developing an AM compatable SSB mode A Transponder for educational use on the planned Phase 3D satellite. In addition the group is also planning to build a microsat with digital store and forward capability to provide data traffic flow between various PBBS's in Southern Africa. A mode A transponder is also under discussion. After the initial announcement various South African universities have expressed interest in the projects. BACAR TO FLY 6 M Transponder: On September 23 BACAR mission 2/89 will include a 6 metres transponder. Frequencies are : Uplink: 51,400 MHz, downlink: 145,925 MHz . The transponder will operate between 06h00 and 08h00 UTC . 73 Hans ZS6AKV.