****************************************************************************** * AMSAT NA News Service Bulletins * * NEWS318A 14Nov87 * * Revision A * * [ Copyright 1987 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) AMSAT OSCAR 10 Returns To Service November 16 2.(U) AMSAT Annual Meeting and Space Symposium Held In Michigan 3.(N) AMSAT Board Authorizes PACSAT Project 4.(N) Atlanta To Host 1988 AMSAT Annual Meeting and 6th Space Symposium 5.(N) Phase 3C Launch Preparations Accelerate 6.(N) JARL Bandplan Would Jeopardize 70cm Satellite Activity Summary: 1. AMSAT OSCAR 10 is ready for its return to general use on November 16 says the command and control team. Very long eclipses will moderate use but generally favorable results are expected. 2. The AMSAT Annual Meeting, Space Symposium and Board Meeting was held near Detroit recently. New Board members were announced. Re-elected were W3GEY and W6SP. Newly elected were W3XO and N4HY. The 1988 AMSAT Officers were elected. 3. A "crash program" to develop, build and launch an Amateur Radio PACSAT has been authorized and funded by the Board. Operations could begin in less than a year. 4. Atlanta Georgia will be the site of the 1988 AMSAT Annual meeting, the Board has said. The Board ruled after hearing from organizer Byron Lindsey, W4BIW, of Georgia. 5. Preparations for the launch of Phase 3C are speeding up as the long-sought launch approaches early next year. 6. A draft 70 cm bandplan could spell trouble for Mode B satellite users if it's put into effect by JARL. ****************************************************************************** 1.(N) AMSAT OSCAR 10 Returns To Service November 16 As previously announced, AO-10 will return to service November 16. Only Mode B operation will be possible. Very long eclipses will be occurring and operation during those periods is expressly prohibited to protect the spacecraft battery. The timing of the eclipses will vary in the coming weeks. This will, in turn, cause changes in the operating schedule. Users will need to keep in close contact with official news sources to insure they are aware of current and planned operating schedules. Here is the AO-10 operating schedule for the next few weeks: AMSAT OSCAR 10 Transponder Operating Schedule ============================================= +---------------------+--------------------------------+ | Time Frame (1987) | Mode B Operating Times in MA | +---------------------+--------------------------------+ | Nov 16 thru Nov 23 | 0 thru 59 and 131 thru 255 | | Nov 24 thru Nov 30 | 0 thru 69 and 141 thru 255 | | Dec 01 thru Dec 07 | 0 thru 89 and 161 thru 255 | | Dec 08 thru Dec 14 | 0 thru 99 and 171 thru 255 | +---------------------+--------------------------------+ As always, please insure you use the lowest uplink power levels so as to insure satellite health as well as good communications. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 2.(U) AMSAT Annual Meeting and Space Symposium Held In Michigan The AMSAT NA Annual Meeting and Space Symposium was held the weekend of November 7th and 8th at the Southfield Hilton Hotel in Southfield, Michigan just north of Detroit. Nearly 200 space enthusiasts attended the meeting which is the high point in the AMSAT NA annual calendar. The 1988 Board of Directors election results were announced as follows: Mr. Jan King, W3GEY, 908 votes (Re-elected) Mr. John Browning, W6SP, 745 (Re-elected) Mr. William Tynan, W3XO, 680 (Elected) Dr. Robert McGwier , N4HY, 606 (Elected) Dr. John Henry, VE2VQ, 578 (First Alternate) Mr. Andy MacAllister, WA5ZIB, 450 (Second Alternate) Dr. John Champa, K8OCL, 425. Awards for meritorious achievement were presented to, KO5I, WB5PMR, W5IU, AA0P, W3IWI, N4HY WD4FAB and N5AHD. Among the major prize winners were: Dr. Junior DeCastro, PY2BJO, won the ICOM 275A radio for having the highest score in the member recruitment contest. Winner of the ICOM 475A Grand Banquet prize was Greg Barr of the National Space Society. The winner of the drawing for the autotracking system prize raffle for member renewal was Fred Rollyson, WB6CNO, or Moorpark, California. Fred had renewed for 2 years and won an autotracking system worth over $1,000 including computer, Encomm interface, Mirage/KLM antennas and Kenpro rotors. Prize donors, in addition to ICOM, included Mirage/KLM, Advanced Receiver Research, Henry Radio, Advanced Electronic Applications, Cushcraft and ARRL. The Board of Directors met on November 7 and 8. Many major decisions were taken which will affect AMSAT significantly in both the short and long terms. These matters will be covered in ASR as soon as the meeting minutes are ready for publication. Here are some highlights. Officers elected included: John Browning, W6SP, Chairman of the Board Vern Riportella, WA2LQQ, President John Champa, K8OCL, Executive Vice President Jan King, W3GEY, Vice President, Engineering Ralph Wallio, W0RPK, Vice President, Operations Bill Tynan, W3XO, Vice President, Manned Space Projects Doug Loughmiller, KO5I, Vice President, Field Operations Art Feller, KB4ZJ, Treasurer Martha Saragovitz, Secretary A major Bylaws review presentation was made by Ray Soifer, W2RS. Some final refinement will be made by Ray at the Board's request and the final draft will be reviewed for approval in the Spring 1988 Board Meeting. A member dues increase will be necessary in 1988, the Board said. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 3.(N) AMSAT Board Authorizes PACSAT Project On November 8, the AMSAT Board of Directors learned from Vice President of Engineering Jan King, W3GEY, that it may be possible for AMSAT to develop and provide an Amateur Radio packet radio satellite much more quickly than previously thought. The Board responded by authorizing an extraordinary program to take advantage of any one of several "target of opportunity" launches that may present themselves within the next 24 months. A packet radio satellite, generically called a PACSAT, has been an objective for nearly a half decade since AMSAT and TAPR developed the concept around the time the TAPR TNC was being developed 5 years ago. Since then the PACSAT concept has been exploited in military, scientific and commercial payloads. Recently, VITA announced it had received a grant to develop and operate a PACSAT in the private sector, public service domain. It does not at this time appear the VITA/PACSAT will be in the Amateur Radio service according to reliable sources. According to W3GEY, several fertile launch opportunities are now evident. These include opportunities within calendar 1988 and 1989 he said. The Board authorized the formation of a PACSAT Team and funded a virtual "crash program" at $50,000 to take advantage of any feasible launch that may be compatible with the PACSAT system and mission designs. In allowing pursuit of the "target of opportunity" launch, the Board said, in effect, that AMSAT wants to develop a PACSAT on a priority basis for a short term project. According to Tom Clark, W3IWI, one of the original architects of the PACSAT concept, a major portion of the PACSAT design is already complete and prototype hardware construction will begin immediately. An immediate need for support for this crash program is now evident. All packet radio enthusiasts will be welcome to use PACSAT when it is launched possibly within the next year. But attainment of this very ambitious schedule hinges on sufficient financial support up front. A special AMSAT/PACSAT Fund has been established to finance this important program. AMSAT, P.O. Box 27, Washington D.C. 20044. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 4.(N) Atlanta To Host 1988 AMSAT Annual Meeting and 6th Space Symposium In its meeting recently in Southfield, Michigan, AMSAT's Board of Directors heard a proposal of its Southeastern Regional Coordinator Byron Lindsey, W4BIW, to hold the 1988 Annual Meeting in Atlanta. The Board voted favorably on the proposal. Thus, the 1988 Annual Meeting and the 6th Annual AMSAT Space Symposium will be held in Atlanta at a date to be determined shortly. Target date is around veteran's day, November 11, 1988. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 5.(N) Phase 3C Launch Preparations Accelerate The Phase 3C spacecraft will undergo an intensive series of tests in the second half of November. The tests are being performed in the facilities of AMSAT DL in Marburg and other facilities AMSAT DL has obtained in West Germany. The tests include the critical shake and vibration tests, the spin balance procedure and an additional thermal vacuum test. The tests are being performed now based on an estimated launch date of March 15 for the Ariane V-22 mission. On paper, V-22 remains scheduled for February 1988. In AMSAT-NA, AMSAT Launch Information Network Service (ALINS) plans are going ahead full speed under VP Operations Ralph Wallio, W0RPK. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 6.(N) JARL Bandplan Would Jeopardize 70cm Satellite Activity A preliminary draft of a Japanese Amateur Radio League (JARL) 70 cm bandplan has raised the hackles of satellite operators in Japan and elsewhere. The plan would permit FM terrestrial operation in the 435 to 438 MHz range in Japan. This sub-band is widely recognized as a satellite-use only band. Use by terrestrial FMers could cause widespread disruption especially to Mode B satellites like AO-10 and Phase 3C. Mode B uplinks are in the 435 to 436 MHz range. The move by JARL staff was puzzling to many because JARL is both a signatory of the IARU Region 3 bandplan which recognizes the satellite sub-band and because JARL is thought to be a strong supporter of the Amateur Satellite Program. The International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) Secretary Dave Sumner, K1ZZ, is looking into the situation at AMSAT's request. A progress report will be issued next week. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * RECENT NEWS IN REVIEW ===================== Headlines: 7.(R) FO-12 Schedule 8.(U) Short Bursts * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 7.(R) FO-12 Schedule Here is the operating schedule for FO-12 for the next few days: Operating schedule for the FUJI/FO-12 Mode From (UTC) To (UTC) -------------------------------- JA Nov14 8:41 -- 16 6:53 JD 18 9:09 -- 19 6:13 JD 20 7:21 -- 21 6:26 JD 22 5:32 -- 23 6:40 JA 26 6:00 -- 27 5:05 JA 28 4:11 -- 29 5:19 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 8.(U) Short Bursts AMSAT members are urged to dig in and support the Phase 3C Insurance Fund Campaign as explained in ASR 160. AMSAT urgently needs to raise $10,000 to insure Phase 3C and assure this most powerful of Amateur satellites does not fly unprotected. Please help now. Read ASR 160 and support this effort now. As of November 14, the fund had nearly reached the $4,000 level. Don't miss out on this opportunity to support your future hopes on Phase 3C! *** Arianespace had planned to launch its next mission, V-20, November 18. If this is accomplished and the V-21 launch is accomplished in January as scheduled, AMSAT's Phase 3C, manifested aboard V-22, could be launched as early as February of next year. Late word from Europe suggests V-20 may be delayed slightly due to problems at the ground control facility possibly associated with the primary V-20 payload, Europe's TV-SAT. ***************************************************************************** END