karn@petrus.UUCP (Phil R. Karn) (03/13/86)
Posted: Mon Mar 3, 1986 5:19 PM GMT Msg: PGIG-2405-3207
From: JFLASKA
To: Amsat
Subj: IIIC Status #3
The Amsat DL team of DJ5KQ, Werner Haas and DK1YQ, Hanspeter
Kuhlen wpent the weekend at the Amsat lab in Golden, Colorado.
Purpose of their trip was to exchange information,
particularly for the Rudak experiment, as well as other matters.
DK1YQ also met Sunday with a Tapr representative. 16mm and photo
documentation of the construction activities andw the team will
return to Germany on 3 March.
The RF Power Amplifier module will be slightly larger than
projected. As a result the mounting points on the stringers are
no longer valid, and new ones are being made to accomodate
the changed dimensions.
The Arm Safe Plug has been prewired and is installed.
The Export License Application forms were not received by
W3GEY prior to the weekend. The originals are complete and
the entire file with all needed copies will be in his hands
in a couple of days.
The Main Battery Pack was wired and the battery case was
assembled and closed. The main battery is now mounted in the
spacecraft, but will likely be removed one more time to
allow installation of the last mounting screw for the fuel tank.
No progress was made on mounting the Helium Bottle Bracket.
That awaits the manufacture of additional mounting parts. An
alternative mounting plan has been decided upon.
A milestone of sorts has been achieved. The Main Fuel Tank
has been mounted and all mounting ascrews except one have been
installed. That will require temporary removal of the main
battery as noted above. The fit of the Main Tank was unusually good
and the installation was relatively routine. The reaction from W3GEY
was "somethingmust be wrong...that was too easy". Those familiar
with the build of the two prior Phase III satellites will
remember that the nylon spacers which mount between the tank
and the center core of the spacecraft had to be of various
different thickness. In the present instance all the nylon spacers
are identical.
The Thermal-Vac schedule remains unchanged. Presently a feed
through connector for the Vacuun chamber is being sought and
hopefully will be promptly located. There is at least a
chance that the Vibration test may also be done at the
Martin-Marietta facility. That question is presently undecided.
Again, as in the past, the contents of this report should be
made available to Packet and Bulletin Board systems.
More next week.
WB0RLY
Posted: Mon Mar 10, 1986 1:14 AM GMT Msg: AGIG-2414-3346
From: JFLASKA
To: AMSAT
Subj: IIIC STATUS #4
IIIC Status #4 9 March 1986
Since our Project Manager, W3GEY, was out of the country this weekend
construction activities were under the leadership of W8FAR, Hal
Hebert, who has been acting as Construction Manager for the last
several months at the Amsat lab in Golden, Colo.
On our Wednesday evening net W3GEY made several announcements that
may be of profound importance. The first was that based on reports
from usually reliable sources our launch date may have slipped by a
month . This is unconfirmed, but is passed along for whatever it may
be worth.
The second announcement was a good one. Martin-Marietta has
reportedly given us clearance to radiate from the Thermal-Vac unit
during the 2 week test now scheduled to begin 23 May, 1986. The
decision has not yet been made as to whether the transponders will
be turned on during the test, but those of us in the Denver area may
have the opportunity to work IIIC during that time. Final decision
on this awaits the pleasure of Amsat USA and Amsat DL.
The revised mounting stringers to accomodate the enlarged dimension
power amplifier have been completed and await the anodizing process.
Fit checks with the revised Amplifier module template were
satisfactory today.
The Rudak connector in the wiring harness was changed in accordance
with the request of DK1YQ, Hanspeter Kuhlen, and is ready.
Two of the three 2M antenna boxes were installed. The third awaits
the installation of other parts. These are for the reflector
elements of the 2M antenna system.
The Torque magnets are installed. These consist of rod magnets in the
upper and lower parts of each arm. In addition, the mounting rings,
which join these magnets are installed for both the upper, as well
as the lower units. While this had been predicted to be a knuckle-
skinner, and plenty of bandaids were on hand, it turned out not to
be much of a problem. This system is used to control, and change, the
attitude of the spacecraft.
The Export License Application forms were delivered to W3GEY prior to
his leaving on his trip, and should have been delivered to Amsat
Headquarters before he departed these friendly shores enroute to UK.
Copy the next report next week. We're told that this info is getting
on packet systems and that the reaction is favorable. Our only
purpose is to keep Amsat members informed of what is going on with
their satellite.
WB0RLY