SB NEWS @ AMSAT $SPC1219
* SpaceNews 19-Dec-94 *


BID: $SPC1219


                               =========
                               SpaceNews
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                        MONDAY DECEMBER 19, 1994


SpaceNews originates at KD2BD in Wall Township, New Jersey, USA.  It is
published every week and is made available for unlimited free distribution.


* NOAA-J NEWS *
===============
The launch of NOAA-J has been scrubbed several times over the past few
weeks.  The latest information I have received indicates the next launch
attempt is scheduled for 20-Dec-94 at 2:05 Pacific Standard Time, or 5:02
Eastern Time.


* ZRO TEST SCHEDULE *
=====================
The ZRO Memorial Technical Achievement Award Program, or just "ZRO Test"
has a new schedule for December 1994 through February 1995, via
AMSAT-OSCAR-13.  This activity is a test of operating skill and equipment
performance.

During a typical ZRO run, a control station will send numeric code groups
using CW at 10 words-per-minute.  At the beginning of the run, uplink power
from the control station is set to match the general beacon downlink
strength.  This is level "zero".  The control operator will send and repeat
a random five-digit number, then lower his uplink power by 3 dB (half
power) and repeat the procedure with a new random number (level "1").  This
will continue to a level 30 dB below the beacon (level "A").

A participating listener monitors the downlink signals till he can no
longer copy the numbers.  Those who can hear the beacon will qualify for
the basic award by copying the code group heard at level "zero".  The
challenge is to improve home-station performance to a point where the
lower-level downlink signals can be copied (levels 6 through A).  To date,
only one station (Darrel Emerson AA7FV) has successfully copied level "A".

The following schedule of Mode "B" tests were chosen for convenient
operating times and favorable squint angles.  The tests can be heard on
145.840 MHz.  Andy WA5ZIB will conduct all the tests.  Mode "JL" tests are
no longer possible due to the failure of A-O-13's 70-cm transmitter.

Day       Date (UTC)     Time      Areas covered

Saturday  Dec. 31, 1994  2045 UTC  E. NA, SA, Europe, Africa
Sunday    Jan.  8, 1995  0030 UTC  NA, SA
Sunday    Jan. 15, 1995  0400 UTC  NA, Japan, E. Australia
Saturday  Jan. 21, 1995  2030 UTC  NA, SA, Europe, Africa
Saturday  Feb. 11, 1995  2000 UTC  NA, SA, W. Europe & W. Africa

Note that the dates and days are shown in "UTC", thus the second test
occurs at 6:30 PM CST Saturday evening (the 7th).  Any changes will be
announced as soon as possible via the AMSAT HF and A-O-13 Operations Nets.

All listener reports with date of test and numbers copied should be sent to
Andy MacAllister WA5ZIB, AMSAT V.P. User Operations, 14714 Knights Way
Drive, Houston, TX 77083-5640.  A report will be returned verifying the
level of accurate reception.  An S.A.S.E. is appreciated but not required.

Information about the AMSAT Awards Program can be found on page 197 of the
"Proceedings of the AMSAT-NA Tenth Space Symposium" (1992).  This paper,
covering all the AMSAT-NA awards including specifics on the ZRO Test, was
reprinted on page 10 in the March/April 1993 issue of "The AMSAT Journal".
The ZRO Test information provided in the article covers test procedures,
means for obtaining certificates and gives some historical background about
the program.  Reprints of the article can be obtained for an S.A.S.E. to
WA5ZIB at the address above.

[Info via WA5ZIB]


* AUSTRALIA IN MOTION *
=======================
BOULDER, Colorado, Dec 6 (Reuter) - Satellite measurements show Australia
creeping north-northeast two to three inches (five to eight cm) a year,
meaning it will travel about one mile (1.6 km) over the next 20,000 to
30,000 years, according to a university study released on Tuesday.

"All these measurements provide direct evidence of tectonic motion that we
simply did not have before," said Kristine Larson, assistant aerospace
engineer at the University of Colorado at Boulder, Colorado.

Measurements were made by the Global Positioning System, a group of 25
military satellites that beam radio signals to receivers on Earth.  The
satellites, operated jointly by the U.S. Department of Defense and the
Department of Transportation, can measure the distance between two points
100 miles (161 km) apart to an accuracy roughly equal to the thickness of
two credit cards, Larson said.

Larson will present her study this week at the American Geophysical
Meeting. The paper was co-authored by Stanford University researcher
Jeffrey Freymueller.

[Info via UA3APH]


* THANKS! *
===========
Thanks to all those who sent messages of appreciation to SpaceNews,
especially:

                KZ1Z    N1MFK    N2JUX    SM6OOB


...and Merry Christmas to all!  de kd2bd


* 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 @ KS4HR.NJ.USA.NA
INTERNET  : kd2bd@amsat.org -or- magliaco@pilot.njin.net
SATELLITE : AMSAT-OSCAR-16, LUSAT-OSCAR-19, FUJI-OSCAR-20

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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