February 2007 - AMSAT-BB - mailman.amsat.org

Re: Ham Radio Astronaut procedures.
by Mike and Paula Herr 09 Feb '07

09 Feb '07

I would like to second what Bob said. Having worked with NASA for the past 20 years, (mostly Shuttle escape system) The safety review can be extremely laborious and difficult to reason out. In fact, I've often seen in safety reviews where minor concerns get elevated way out of their importance and important ones ignored. At best it is frustrating. Here we are, 20 years into use and 3 years before end of flight and we are still reviewing the escape system safety documentation. Make's one's head spin. ...Mike WA6ARA > From: "Robert Bruninga" <bruninga(a)usna.edu> > >Subject: [amsat-bb] Ham Radio Astronaut procedures. > >To: <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> > >Message-ID: <035401c74c56$ff9e95b0$42577a83@SGSbb> > >Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" >> > What made the man-safety issues of PCSAT2 costly? >> > Didn't you just agree to power PCSAT2 off for long >> > periods of time whenever the need arose? > > I'll answer this on the AMSAT-BB to share the pain. > > This should be a real eye-opener as to what the space business > is like from the inside out... > > A 2W TX on shuttle or ISS is considered a catastrophic safety > hazard due to potential for loss of life due to interference or > reset of the space suit, or shuttle ISS control systems or > anything else.

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Re: Florida Newspaper Story
by Thomas Webb 09 Feb '07

09 Feb '07

Yup....weird isn't it? ----- Original Message ----- From: "Trevor" <m5aka(a)yahoo.co.uk> To: "AMSAT BB" <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Sent: Tuesday, February 06, 2007 12:08 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] Florida Newspaper Story I am correct in thinking the astronaut mentioned in this story is KC5ZTB ? http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/orl-bk-nasaastronaut050… 73 Trevor M5AKA ___________________________________________________________ All New Yahoo! Mail - Tired of unwanted email come-ons? Let our SpamGuard protect you. http://uk.docs.yahoo.com/nowyoucan.html _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb

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Re: AMSAT-BB Digest, Vol 2, Issue 93
by Geoff Clark 09 Feb '07

09 Feb '07

At 00:26 09/02/07, Bob wrote: >And we still need good ANDE data from the Southern Hemisphere so >we can detect the spin rate. Right now, ANDE is in the dark in >the Northern Hemisphere. We need data from the Southern >Hemisphere. ANDE only wakes 2 seconds every 16 seconds to >listen for activity. IF it hears any packets, then it will stay >awake for the next minute. While it is awake, it can be used >just like PCSAT-1 as an APRS digipeater by all users. And while >it is awake, we will also be able to hear telemetry which is >what we need. Hi Bob, What are the minimum station antenna requirements to trigger/access ANDE? 73, Geoff ZL3GA -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.441 / Virus Database: 268.17.31/676 - Release Date: 08/02/07 15:04

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fasincating stuff
by Nate Duehr 09 Feb '07

09 Feb '07

Sorry it's a bit off-topic, but I bet a number of folks here will find this article and the mysteries -- fascinating. http://space.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=mg18524911.600 Nate WY0X

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Grid conversion for PALM OS
by Paulo Pinto 09 Feb '07

09 Feb '07

Hello all, I am trying to find a software to use with my PALM M515 and to find Grid Locator with Lat/Long coordinates. So far I didn't find it. Does anyone knows where to find it, if exists. 73 CT1ETE Paulo Pinto AMSAT #36408

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New Satellite Downlink
by Robert Bruninga 09 Feb '07

09 Feb '07

AMSAT RF designers Note: We may get another opportunity for a PCSAT3 on ISS, (with ARISS approval of course) but DOD has told us it must be lower power than PCSAT2 to avoid all the very costly man-safety issues we had on PCSAT-2. But on VHF and UHF this lower power would be nearly impossible to hear without really big beams. So I wonder about using a 10 meter SSB downlink. We must be below 4 volts per meter (4 V/m). I wonder how hearable that would be on a 10 meter SSB receiver with a vertical omni antenna at 1000 km? Bob

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Realtime satellite pointing angles on the WEB
by Stan,WA1ECF 09 Feb '07

09 Feb '07

Hello The Net: Can anyone point me to a website that will give me az and el to a specific satellite from a specific location ? Thanks, a local satellite event was looking for info. Stan, W1LE Cape Cod FN41sr ZZZZZ

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RAFT in Packet-Voice mode
by Robert Bruninga 08 Feb '07

08 Feb '07

DK3WN and PA3GUO, report that they have successfully -enabled- RAFT VOICE Mode and tested it over Europe. Enabled, this means that any station may TURN ON voice mode over his country with a single CONNECT RAFT packet. The voice synthesizer will remain on for 2.5 minutes. Only the CONNECT packet is required of that station. After his connect packet brings up RAFT, then he can force a disconnect so he can try an APRS MESSAGE to TALK. But he must force the disconnect without RAFT hearing it, or it will disable the voice and no one will know. Once the VOICE synthesizer is ON, then anyone can send a UI APRS formatted MESSAGE to the callsign of "TALK" and RAFT will speak it (if it decodes it)... For those without APRS, a message can be typed into the CONVERSE mode of a TNC as follows ":TALK.....:Speak this if you get it..." and RAFT will speak the part after the second colon. Note that the 5 dots shown, are actually 5 required SPACES. RAFT is very weak and hard to hear except on HIGH overhead passes, even with beams. Please do NOT attempt to turn on RAFT or to send TALK messages if you cannot hear it. You may be QRMing other stations. Thanks Bob Bruninga, WB4APR US Naval Academy Satellite Lab

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PocketSat+ for Palm
by Jerry Clement 08 Feb '07

08 Feb '07

Hi All I have used PocketSat+ for a number of years in several Palms and consider it a great little tracking program. I could use my laptop when mobile, however it is a pain to have in my mobile. Also I carry my Palm Tungsten E with me and the alarms for the various satellite passes alert me as to when to head out to my mobile to work the pass. I download the keps required off of Amsat's website via a wireless card in the cardslot on my Palm at any hotspot that I run into if not at work or at home. I have a lot of photos on my website. Jerry VE6AB www.ve6ab.blogspot.com www.stormchaser.cjb.net

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AO-07 Downlink Antenna
by sraas＠optonline.net 08 Feb '07

08 Feb '07

Im having really poor luck with my inverted V antenna.. its not very high up but only on a very high pass will it hear the beacon on 29.502. What is every one else using? -Steve Raas N2JDQ FN20vg AMSAT 36396

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