
SB NEWS @ AMSAT $SPC0814
* SpaceNews 14-Aug-95 *


BID: $SPC0814


                               =========
                               SpaceNews
                               =========


                          MONDAY AUGUST 14, 1995


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


* AMSAT CALL FOR PAPERS *
=========================
There is still time to get papers in for the upcoming AMSAT Symposium in
Orlando, Florida on October 6, 7, and 8, but Bob Walker, N4CU must be
notified immediately.  The original deadline for papers is August 12, but
could be extended.  

Papers can be submitted electronically by FTP or mail.  FTP to
ftp.amsat.org:/amsat/presentations/incomming.  This is a read only
directory.  Use binary FTP for all documents such a Word for Windows.  If
you want to mail Bob something with pictures, use a 1 inch bottom margin
with 3/4 inch on 3 sides.  Do not paste pictures in but leave them loose
and mark the location.  This should be photocopy ready print.  Bob can
print out Word for Windows documents, Windows Write, postscript and a few
others.  Do not delay with your submissions!  Bob's mailing address is as
follows:

        Bob Walker
        6601 SW 16th St.
        Plantation, FL 33317-5150

        Home phone: 305-792-7015
 
[Info via Bob Walker, N4CU]


* AMSAT-UK COLLOQUIM NEWS *
===========================
This year's Colloquium was attended by 113 people from five continents.
The weather was hot, as usual (it only seems to rain on about one
colloquium in five); but about three hours after everyone went home there
was a cloudburst with lightning (some accommodation was hit) and HEAVY
rain ..... the area outside the lecture theatre was under about six inches
of water and there was subsequently almost as much water INSIDE (the roof
couldn't stand the strain).

The event did not provide as much in the way of hot news as in the past but
the lectures were all well received and very informative.  As a consequence
of this the "usual" presentation of this report has been temporarily
shelved in place of a format imparting the news more or less in the
sequence which it emerged.

UoS staff performed their usual sterling service; UoS plans for mini-sats
(a new class of about 200 Kg with onboard propulsion) are well advanced.
This type of spacecraft will be compatible not only with Ariane but also
Russian and Chinese launch vehicles; first launch is hoped to be in 1996.
There are some plans for a topside sounder mission amongst other commercial
uses.  Much insight into other UoS projects (momentum wheels, imaging,
power systems, propulsion, antennas) was also discussed.

Amsat-UK Committee were re-elected with the exception of Doug Loughmiller
who was unavailable for re-election; there were no new members (but we
would like to attract some).

Geoff Perry reported that, with launch costs being high, it appears that the
Russians are bringing old satellites back into use rather than launching new
ones.  In the past they were switched off after a period of time but several
of these have now been re-activated. Geoff won the prize for best lecture.

Phase-3D will have a KA band transmitter on 24.048 GHz, bandwidth will be
25 KHz.  The link budget (one watt tx power to a horn antenna) is good for
a single user but will be weaker due to power sharing if many folks use the
system.  Of course, this transmitter will only be switched on at apogee
where doppler shift will be minimal. 

(We also learned that Ariane-5 delivers a GTO launch with perigee = 500 Km
instead of the Ariane-4 figure of 200 Km.)

4X1AS brought a video of the integration and launch of Techsat and Unamsat.
Even though the launch vehicle failed later on in the flight, everyone was
impressed by the actual launch where the rocket raised from horizontal to
vertical in a matter of a second or two and then was expelled from the
launcher tube and then appeared to hover momentarily before the motor
ignited.

The social side of the event was up to the usual standard with the addition
of a space-related quiz organised by Doug Loughmiller as well as the usual
banquet and auction of "previously enjoyed" equipment.  The barbecue beside
the University lake was also much appreciated.

Did you know that, two weeks before the event, only FIVE papers had been
submitted ? this is why the programme was not published in advance because
there was no programme.  We feel let-down by the satellite community when
there is such a poor response to a call for papers. As a result of this,
some consideration is being given to making next year's Colloquium a
three-day (instead of four-day) meeting.

An event such as this needs a lot of organising. Amsat-UK thank Doug
Loughmiller G0SYX/KO5I for his efforts without which the Colloquium would
have failed.

See you next year.

Richard Limebear G3RWL
Communications Officer, Amsat-UK.


* RS-15 NEWS *
==============
Dave G4CUO and John G4ZHG are doing well in pursuit of WAS RS-15, both
having now worked 45 states.  The latest, Wyoming, was kindly supplied by
K0BLT/7's recent RS-12-DX-Pedition.  Dave and John are invariably active on
the satellite during the 'wee hours', e.g. optimum North America employment
times, and would really appreciate skeds and contacts with the needed
states, viz North Carolina, North Dakota, Alabama, Delaware and Hawaii.
(The latter is theoretically impossible from England, but knowing the level
of enthusiasm demonstrated by the pair, could well come about in practice.)

RS-15 is suffering from severe power supply problems at this time, as it
now goes off almost immediately upon entering earth eclipse, not to return
until is 'sees' sunlight again.  Using GM4IHJ's SATSUN program, G3IOR
calculates that the satellite is currently suffering from some 28 minutes
of zero battery charge per orbit, a whole orbit charge efficiency of only
some 78%, which is insufficient to maintain either beacon or transponder
operation from the obviously limited battery capacity.  While G4CUO and
G4ZHG fear terminal loss of the functional system, G3IOR optimistically
beleives that it will again return back to normal operation when the period
of solar illumination increases soon now.

[Info Pat Gowen, G3IOR] 



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

                VE2JDR    WA3GOS    DU9BLO    W9HGI


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===========================
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            Department of Engineering and Technology
            Advanced Technology Center
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