karn (05/18/82)
Here's some information from the Amsat net this evening: The payload booted out the door of Salyut-7 is identifying itself as "RK02" on 29.58 mhz. [What happens when they get to RK05, 6, etc? Do they have clearance from DEC? -hi-] It is not yet known if this payload has a communications transponder. Telemetry format is similar to the RS-[3-8] series already in orbit: 5 groups of 4 characters each. The current orbital period of RK02 is 91.349464 minutes and it is crossing the equator 22.226506 degrees further west on each orbit. Due to the VERY low orbit, this period will decay rapidly. For example, the average period tomorrow will decrease to 91.345922 minutes. Equator crossing times and longitudes: 18 May 00:32:29 UTC @ 237.1 W 19 May 00:54:02 UTC @ 248.7 W Phil Karn, KA9Q Bell Labs, Murray Hill PS. I would like to get some guidance as to whether information on amateur radio satellites should be double-posted to net.space and net.ham-radio, since the amateur space program spans both subject areas. Reply directly to ME, please, and I will abide by the majority opinion; I don't want to start up a big public controversy. Thanks.