
SB NEWS @ AMSAT $SPC0221
* SpaceNews 21-Feb-94 *
 
BID: $SPC0221
 
 
                               =========
                               SpaceNews
                               =========
 
 
                        MONDAY FEBRUARY 21, 1994
 
 
SpaceNews originates at KD2BD in Wall Township, New Jersey, USA.  It is
published every week and is made available for unlimited distribution.
 
 
* OSCAR SKN BEST FISTS *
========================
Many thanks to all who participated in our 22nd Annual Straight Key Night
on OSCAR, 1 January 1994.  The following "Best Fist" nominations have been
received: W1NU, WQ3Y and W6HDO.  Although we didn't ask that logs be
submitted, several participants also reported working AMSAT-NA's esteemed
president, W3XO/5, in one of Bill's rare appearances on CW (PVRC members
especially will appreciate the significance of this occasion).  An
"honorary" Best Fist nomination goes to you, Bill; let's hope that more SSB
ops will follow your fine example, dust off their old pump handles, and
enjoy the fun.
 
See you all next year!
 
[Info via Ray, W2RS]
 
 
* STS-62 PRE-LAUNCH ORBITAL DAT
==================================
STS-62
1 00062U          94062.63664409  .00073440  00000-0  22129-3 0    29
2 00062  39.0115 247.8629 0006644 298.2691  61.7477 15.90695888    27
 
Satellite: STS-62
Catalog number: 00062
Epoch time:      94062.63664409   =    (03 MAR 94   15:16:46.05 UTC)
Element set:     002
Inclination: 39.0115 deg
RA of node:       247.8629 deg           Space Shuttle Flight STS-62
Eccentricity: .0006644              Prelaunch Element set JSC-002
Arg of perigee:   298.2691 deg          Launch:  03 MAR 94  13:54 UTC
Mean anomaly:      61.7477 deg
Mean motion:   15.90695888 rev/day              G. L. Carman
Decay rate:     7.3440e-04 rev/day^2      NASA Johnson Space Center
Epoch rev:               2
Checksum: 310
 
[Info via Gil Carman]
 
 
* OSCAR-13 ZRO TEST SKED *
==========================
The ZRO Memorial Technical Achievement Award Program, or just "ZRO Test" 
has a new schedule for February and March, 1994, 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 will 
no longer occur due to the failure of AO-13's 70-cm transmitter.
 
Day       Date (UTC)     Time      Areas covered
 
Sunday    Feb. 20, 1994  0330 UTC  NA, NW SA, Japan, Pacific
Saturday  Feb. 26, 1994  1930 UTC  NA, SA, Europe, Africa, ME
Saturday  Mar. 19, 1994  1930 UTC  NA, SA, Europe, Africa
Saturday  Mar. 26, 1994  2315 UTC  NA, SA
 
Note that the dates and days are shown in "UTC", thus the first test listed
occurs at 9:30 PM CST
announced as soon as possible via the AMSAT HF and AO-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]
 
 
* DISCOVERY-MIR RADIO LINK *
============================
The Space Shuttle Discovery's crew and the MIR Russian space station made an
Amateur Radio contact on 08-Feb-94 during a period of time when Discovery 
was over the south Pacific and MIR was over the Caribbean.
 
"We fly during a lot of time with Sergej and I wish a good work with his
North American collegues, and a not problems return to the Earth", said
Valery Polyakov one of the MIR cosmonauts. "Thanks, I heard you perfect",
replied Krikalev in Russian.
 
[Info via Gustavo, LW2DTZ of AMSAT-LU]
 
 
* AMSAT HF PBBS *
=================
WT0N-3 in St. Paul, MN, USA will be on 10.127 LSB (30 meters) Monday 
through Saturday from 1600 UTC until 23OO UTC.  This station will carry 
all AMSAT bulletins and Keps.  It will also carry other satellite related
items such as "SpaceNews".  This PBBS will be set up on 300 baud HF packet, 
but will also be available for AMT
to do so.  At this time, the PBBS will be set up as an experiment and any 
comments and suggestions should be directed to the sysop, BJ Arts, WT0N, at 
any one of the following addresses:
                                                
PACKET: WT0N@WB0GDB.#STP.MN.USA.NOAM
INTERNET: BJARTS@STTHOMAS.EDU
 
[Info via WT0N]
 
 
* FO-20 SCHEDULE *
==================
The FO-20 command station announced that a slight malfunction in the onboard 
command system had been detected.  As a result, analog mode operation 
arranged from 09-Feb-94 will be performed on schedule, but there is a 
possibility of interruption due to satellite ground station control.
 
The present schedule is as announced before:
       
Analog mode:
             09-Feb-94 07:15 -to- 16-Feb-94 07:40 UTC
             23-Feb-94 08:05 -to- 02-Mar-94 06:40 UTC
             09-Mar-94 07:05 -to- 16-Mar-94 07:30 UTC
             23-Mar-94 07:52 -to- 30-Mar-94 08:15 UTC
 
Digital mode: Unless otherwise noted above.
 
[Info via Kazu Sakamoto, JJ1WTK]
 
 
* THANKS! *
===========
Thanks to all those who sent QSL cards, letters, and messages of 
appreciation regarding SpaceNews, especially:
 
    N2WPW       EA4RCT      VK4STS       G7MJL       XX9AS       KY0R
 
 
* 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.ocpt.ccur.com  -or- kd2bd@amsat.org
 
MAIL     : John A. Magliacane, KD2BD
           Department of Engineering and Technology
           Advanced Technology Center
           Brookdale Community College
           Lincroft, New Jersey  07738
           U.S.A.
 
 
       <<=- SpaceNews: The first amateur newsletter read in space! -=>> 
 
/EX

