gamorris@lescsse.jsc.nasa.gov (Gary A. Morris) (03/22/91)
STS-37 SAREX
Shuttle Amateur Radio EXperiment
Information Summary
Table of Contents
-----------------
o Introduction
o Keplerian Element Set
o SAREX Uplink/Downlink Frequencies
o SAREX Packet Operating Hints
o Mission Audio Retransmissions
o W5RRR Special Event Station
o W1AW Voice Bulletins
o AMSAT Net Operations
o JSC INFO BBS
o NASA Select Video Broadcast
o STS-37 SAREX Timeline
Revised: 910321 N5QWC
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SAREX Introduction
STS-37 Crew:
N5RAW, Steve Nagel, Mission Commander
KB5AWP, Ken Cameron, Pilot
N5QWL, Jay Apt, Mission Specialist
N5RAX, Linda Godwin, Mission Specialist
N5SCW, Jerry Ross, Mission Specialist
SAREX equipment on this flight includes a 2m (144-146 Mhz) Motorola radio
(output 2.3 watts), Robot 1200C slow scan convertor, Heath HK-21 packet TNC,
a 70cm FSTV receiver, a video camera, and a Monitor/VCR. Planned operations
include voice contacts, packet robot, downlinking orbiter video via SSTV,
uplinking FSTV video to the orbiter.
During sleep periods and when no other SAREX activities are scheduled the
equipment will be left on in packet robot mode. If time permits the crew
will setup SAREX to transmit SSTV using orbiter video cameras during the GRO
satellite release and during the EVA. The GRO satellite release is
scheduled for MET 2/03:00 (2 days 3 hours after launch) for 1 hour. The EVA
is scheduled for MET 2/22:00 thru MET 3/05:00. With 5 hams on the flight
there may be many unscheduled opportunities for operation, I suggest you
monitor both downlink frequencies on all passes starting with orbit 1 until
landing, even during sleep periods you could hear something other than
packet. Contacts between the shuttle and school children will be
retransmitted by W5RRR, see timeline for times, and W5RRR frequency
information below.
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Keplerian Element Set
STS-37
1 00037U 91 94.64868056 .00023000 17236-3 0 49
2 00037 28.4683 237.6443 0006982 279.6613 80.3332 15.37985111 23
Satellite: STS-37
Epoch time: 91094.64868056
Element set: JSC-004
Inclination: 28.4683 deg Space Shuttle Flight STS-37
RA of node: 237.6443 deg Keplerian Elements
Eccentricity: .0006982 from pre-launch post OMS-2 vector
Arg of perigee: 279.6613 deg Launch: 04 APR 91 14:20 UTC
Mean anomaly: 80.3332 deg
Mean motion: 15.37985111 rev/day W5RRR
Decay rate: 2.30E-04 rev/day^2 NASA Johnson Space Center
Epoch rev: 2
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SAREX Uplink/Downlink Frequencies
Downlink/Uplink Frequencies for Voice/Packet/SSTV to be used on Upcoming
Mission
Get out your HTUs and HT programming manuals. You will want to program your
2 meter FM transceivers with the following information. Note that only
stations with prior arrangements can uplink FSTV signals (special
authorization is required from the FCC). It is expected that uplinking FSTV
will require about 15kw ERP. FSTV ops and 2m can occur simultaneously.
Mode Downlink Freq Uplink Freq
-------------- ------------- -----------
Voice/SSTV 145.55 144.95 (primary), 144.91, 144.97
Packet 145.51 144.91 (primary), 144.93, 144.99
FSTV none 70cm band
Please note that the frequencies they will be listening for stations ARE
DIFFERENT than the one they will transmit on. This is a very important fact
to understand. They will transmit to earth (downlink) on a single frequency
145.55 MHz for voice and SSTV. They will listen for stations transmitting
to the shuttle (uplink) on the other frequencies listed. This "split"
operation is used quite successfully by DXers when operating in an
environment where large pile ups are expected.
There will be no simplex operation with SAREX on either voice or packet.
Although packeteers are not accustomed to operation with a TX/RX offset, in
this case, it is the only way to connect to SAREX. If you transmit on
145.55 or 145.51 MHz the only people who will hear you are those other Hams
in your area trying to hear the shuttle.
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SAREX Packet Operating Hints
FULLDUP OFF
DWAIT 0.1 - 0.5 seconds
FRACK > 3.0 seconds
C KB5AWP
The packet call sign on board the shuttle is KB5AWP (SSID=0). Your TNC
should be in half-duplex mode (FULLDUP OFF) with CD active just like you do
for normal VHF packet operations. If you can compensate for doppler shift
it is worth the extra effort. The bandwidth of the SAREX radio is +/-4Khz,
maximum doppler is around 3.3Khz. If you canUt compensate for doppler your
best chance for contact is when the shuttle is at peak elevation at your
site.
You should be careful with the setting of two of your TNC's timers: DWAIT
and FRACK. DWAIT is the time interval after your Carrier Detect light goes
out and before your transmitter turns on. You want to make sure your
connects requests and ACKs are contained in the 3 second FUDtimer window.
If everybody runs the same DWAIT (like the typical 0.1 - 0.5 second values
used for terrestrial packet), then everybody will be transmitting at the
same time. Part of the key to your success when uplink QRM is heavy is to
pick a DWAIT that nobody else is using! (sort of like picking a lottery
number!)
FRACK sets the time interval between your transmissions. After you send a
frame, your TNC waits for the FRACK time, and then waits for the Carrier
Detect signal to drop, then waits DWAIT, and then tries again. You should
make sure your FRACK is at least 3 seconds so that you are not transmitting
when the robot's FUDtimer decides it is time for it to transmit -- if you
are transmitting at the same time, you will miss any packets the shuttle is
addressing to you and you won't have a successful QSO.
Note that your DWAIT (how soon do I transmit?) and FRACK (then how long do I
wait?) parameters and the need to stop transmitting so you can hear a reply
are just like you encounter when working a DXpedition pileup on HF. If the
DX station has a pattern of listening for a few seconds (=FUDtimer) before
transmitting, you may have better luck being the LAST station they hear,
after the din dies down. The differences are that (1) the robot is a
computer and is very predictable and (2) the robot can be working several
stations at one time.
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Mission Audio Retransmissions
The following stations will retransmit the mission audio from the shuttle
and ground controllers.
WA3NAN - Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), Greenbelt, Maryland.
W5RRR - Johnson Space Center (JSC), Houston, Texas
W6VIO - Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Pasadena, California.
W6FXN - Los Angeles
K6MF - San Francisco
W4MWG - Mebane, NC
Station VHF 10m 15m 20m 40m 80m
------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ----- -----
WA3NAN 147.45 28.650 21.395 14.295 7.185 3.860
W5RRR 146.64
W6VIO 224.04 21.340 14.270
W6FXN 145.46
K6MF 145.58 7.165 3.840
NASA/JSC 171.15
W4MWG 14.230 (SSTV)
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W5RRR Special Event Station
W5RRR - Johnson Space Center (JSC) ARC, Houston, TX. Special event station
with bulletins, updated element sets, and current flight information will be
making contacts and answering questions using SSB on the HF bands. The
frequencies are listed below. The special event station will start after
launch and run up thru landing. W5RRR will also retransmit the audio from
the contacts between STS-37 and schools. Three of the 5 bands will be in
use at any given time, band selection will be determined by propagation
(usually 10/15/20m daytime, 20/40/80m night).
Station 10m 15m 20m 40m 80m
----- ------ ------ ------ ----- -----
W5RRR 28.400 21.350 14.280 7.227 3.850 (+/- QRM)
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W1AW Voice Bulletins
W1AW will be broadcasting daily bulletins with updated information on SAREX
during the flight. Voice bulletins are transmitted daily at 0230 UTC and
0530 UTC on the following frequencies:
Station 10m 15m 17m 20m 40m 80m
----- ------ ------ ------ ------ ----- -----
W1AW 28.590 21.390 18.160 14.290 7.290 3.990
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AMSAT Net Operations
Information will also be available from the AMSAT net, tune in for
bulletins. The net operates every week on:
Sunday 1800-2100 UCT (international) 14.282 Mhz USB
Tuesday 0130-0300 UCT (USA) 3.840 Mhz LSB
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JSC INFO BBS
The Public Affairs Office at the Johnson Space Center operates a BBS to
provide information to the public. Check this board for updates to the
keplerian element sets during the flight.
To access the BBS, call +1-713-483-2500 using 1200 baud, 8-N-1, at the ENTER
NUMBER: prompt, enter "62511" and you will be connected to the BBS. Check
file area 30 or 99 for latest element sets.
NASA JSC's Electronic Space Information BBS is intended to provide 24-hour
access to biographies of NASA officials and astronauts, news releases, space
flight mission presskits and television schedules, space shuttle systems
information, flight manifests and schedules, and other information about the
space program.
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NASA Select Video Broadcast
The continental United States will receive NASA Select television, 24 hours
a day throughout the mission, via:
SATCOM F2R
Transponder 13
72 degrees West Longitude
3960 MHz (Video)
6.8 MHZ (Audio)
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STS-37 SAREX Timeline (unofficial summary)
MET (ST/DST)**
UTC D H M Rev Event PT CT ET
----------- ------- --- ----------------------------------- ---- -------- ----
4/4/91 1420 0 00 00 1 LAUNCH 0620 4/4 0820 0920
4/4/91 2115 0 06 55 5 Start SAREX Setup 1315 4/4 1515 1615
4/4/91 2120 0 07 00 5 Begin Pre-Sleep Activity 1320 4/4 1520 1620
4/4/91 2140 0 07 20 5 Finish SAREX Setup 1340 4/4 1540 1640
4/5/91 0020 0 10 00 7 Begin Sleep Period 1620 4/4 1820 1920
4/5/91 0820 0 18 00 12 Begin Post-Sleep Activity 0020 4/5 0220 0320
4/5/91 1120 0 21 00 14 End Post-Sleep Activity 0320 4/5 0520 0620
4/5/91 1210 0 21 50 15 Cabin depress to 10.2 PSI 0410 4/5 0610 0710
4/5/91 1332 0 23 12 16 AOS FSTV w/N9AB, US Bridge 0532 4/5 0732 0832
4/5/91 1350 0 23 30 16 LOS FSTV w/N9AB, US Bridge 0550 4/5 0750 0850
4/5/91 1511 1 00 51 17 AOS School #1 via US Bridge 0711 4/5 0911 1011
4/5/91 1529 1 01 09 17 LOS School #1 via US Bridge 0729 4/5 0929 1029
4/5/91 1649 1 02 29 18 AOS School #2 via US Bridge 0849 4/5 1049 1149
4/5/91 1707 1 02 47 18 LOS School #2 via US Bridge 0907 4/5 1107 1207
4/5/91 1829 1 04 09 19 AOS School #3 via US Bridge 1029 4/5 1229 1329
4/5/91 1845 1 04 25 19 LOS School #3 via US Bridge 1045 4/5 1245 1345
4/5/91 2020 1 06 00 20 Begin Pre-Sleep Activity 1220 4/5 1420 1520
4/5/91 2020 1 06 00 20 AOS School #4 via SA Bridge 1220 4/5 1420 1520
4/5/91 2041 1 06 21 20 LOS School #4 via SA Bridge 1241 4/5 1441 1541
4/5/91 2320 1 09 00 22 Begin Sleep Period 1520 4/5 1720 1820
4/6/91 0720 1 17 00 27 Begin Post-Sleep Activity 2320 4/6 0120 0220
4/6/91 1020 1 20 00 29 End Post-Sleep Activity 0220 4/6 0420 0520
4/6/91 1120 1 21 00 30 GRO Grapple 0320 4/6 0520 0620
4/6/91 1130 1 21 10 30 GRO Unberth 0330 4/6 0530 0630
4/6/91 1230 1 22 10 30 GRO Solar Array Deploy 0430 4/6 0630 0730
4/6/91 1350 1 23 30 31 GRO High Gain Antenna Deploy 0550 4/6 0750 0850
4/6/91 1431 2 00 11 32 AOS FSTV w/W5RRR, KE4PT w/US Bridge 0631 4/6 0831 0931
4/6/91 1451 2 00 31 32 LOS FSTV w/W5RRR, KE4PT w/US Bridge 0651 4/6 0851 0951
4/6/91 1730 2 03 10 34 GRO Release 0930 4/6 1130 1230
4/6/91 2020 2 06 00 35 Begin Pre-Sleep Activity 1220 4/6 1420 1520
4/6/91 2320 2 09 00 37 Begin Sleep Period 1520 4/6 1720 1820
4/7/91 0720 2 17 00 42 Begin Post-Sleep Activity 2320 4/7 0020 0120
4/7/91 1020 2 20 00 44 End Post-Sleep Activity 0120 4/7 0320 0420
4/7/91 1020 2 20 00 44 Begin EVA Prep 0120 4/7 0320 0420
4/7/91 1210 2 21 50 46 Unscheduled SSTV/Packet 0310 4/7 0510 0610
4/7/91 1235 2 22 15 46 Airlock Depress/Egress 0335 4/7 0535 0635
4/7/91 1340 2 23 20 47 Unscheduled SSTV/Packet 0440 4/7 0640 0740
4/7/91 1510 3 00 50 48 Unscheduled SSTV/Packet 0610 4/7 0810 0910
4/7/91 1640 3 02 20 49 Unscheduled SSTV/Packet 0740 4/7 0940 1040
4/7/91 1850 3 04 30 50 Airlock Ingress/Repress 0950 4/7 1150 1250
4/7/91 1935 3 05 15 50 Begin Pre-Sleep Activity 1035 4/7 1235 1335
4/7/91 2235 3 08 15 52 Begin Sleep Period 1335 4/7 1535 1635
4/8/91 0535 3 15 15 57 Begin Post-Sleep Activity 2035 4/7 2235 2335
4/8/91 0835 3 18 15 59 End Post-Sleep Activity 2335 4/8 0135 0235
4/8/91 0835 3 18 15 59 Cabin repress to 14.7 PSI 2335 4/8 0135 0235
4/8/91 1314 3 22 54 62 AOS School #5 US Bridge 0414 4/8 0614 0714
4/8/91 1333 3 23 13 62 LOS School #5 US Bridge 0433 4/8 0633 0733
4/8/91 1452 4 00 32 63 AOS Backup FSTV or w/W5RRR US Bridg 0552 4/8 0752 0852
4/8/91 1512 4 00 52 63 LOS Backup FSTV or w/W5RRR US Bridg 0612 4/8 0812 0912
4/8/91 1925 4 05 05 66 Begin Pre-Sleep Activity 1025 4/8 1225 1325
4/8/91 1930 4 05 10 66 Start SAREX Stow 1030 4/8 1230 1330
4/8/91 2000 4 05 40 66 Finish SAREX Stow 1100 4/8 1300 1400
4/8/91 2225 4 08 05 68 Begin Sleep Period 1325 4/8 1525 1625
4/9/91 0625 4 16 05 73 Begin Post-Sleep Activity 2125 4/8 2325 0025
4/9/91 0925 4 19 05 75 End Post-Sleep Activity 0025 4/9 0225 0325
4/9/91 1325 4 23 05 77 Deorbit Burn 0425 4/9 0625 0725
4/9/91 1430 5 00 10 78 EDW Landing 0530 4/9 0730 0830
** PT (Pacific Time), CT (Central Time) and ET (Eastern Time) starts as stan-
dard time then changes to daylight savings time on April 7, 0200 local time.
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--
Gary Morris Internet: garym@telesoft.com
Lockheed, Houston, Texas UUCP: lobster!avocado!gamorris
N5QWC/W5RRR Phone: +1 713 283 5195