[amsat-bb] Re: RAFT Commanding URGENTLY needed

Wed May 23 12:10:12 PDT 2007

Latest KEPS from SPACE-TRACK:

RAFT
1 29661U 06055C   07143.55030918  .00600829  11828-4  32586-3 0  2883
2 29661 051.6350 212.9694 0011732 341.8186 018.2763 16.18884346 24488

On 5/23/07, Robert Bruninga <bruninga at usna.edu> wrote:
>
> URGENT RAFT COMMANDING NEEDED:
>
> Tonights two RAFT Radar passes are:
> The first is over Alabama at 05:40:50 UTC
> That is 01:40 AM EDT and 00:40 AM CDT (just after midnight)
>
> The second Radar penetration is over New Mexico
> At 07:09:35 UTC or 02:09 AM CDT and 01:09 MDT
>
> The web page now has a sign up post for commanders and
> monitoring stations.  But it is manual, so send me an email of
> you can do this.  And read the page in detail.  Just check to
> see if you have a better than 10 degree shot at RAFT in the
> minute prior to that instant.  Use LATEST keps, since drag is
> HIGH on re-entry.  Thanks, Bob, WB4APR
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > Sent: Tuesday, May 22, 2007 5:32 PM
> >
> > * We still URGENTLY need a command station in the
> > * Southern USA From Arizona to Georgia, or from Texas
> > * to 40 deg or so N.LAT to command RAFT.
> >
> > See Map:
> > http://www.ew.usna.edu/~bruninga/craft/save-raft.html
> >
> > Reentry is in 8 days and we still need to perform this Radar
> > Fence test.  Passes are uncomfortably between 2 and 4 AM.  I
> am
> > preparing a web page as fast as I can so that I don't have to
> > answer as many emails.  Here is the WEB page (work in
> progress).
> > But at least it now has a MAP of where stations can be.
> >
> > If you have a good 2m beam station with preamp and are in the
> > footprint as shown above, then check the web page later this
> > evening as the web page develops and start getting ready if
> you
> > think you can do it.  We really need an all hands effort here.
> >
> > Thanks
> > Bob, WB4APR
> > US Naval Academy Satellite Lab
> >
> >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: amsat-bb-bounces at amsat.org
> > > [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces at amsat.org] On Behalf Of Robert
> > Bruninga
> > > Sent: Tuesday, May 15, 2007 6:15 PM
> > > To: amsat-bb at amsat.org
> > > Subject: [amsat-bb] RAFT Packet Operator assistance
> > Desparately needed
> > >
> > > We desperately need some AMSAT OSCAR class stations in the
> > > Central USA to complete the RAFT radar fence test ASAP.
> > >
> > > Deorbit is in the next two weeks, much earlier than previous
> > > predictions, and so we will not get another comfortable
> > evening
> > > pass window.  Prime passes now are occurring around 4 AM and
> > > moving earlier (sorry).  Before, we asked for Southern USA.
> > Now
> > > we realize that someone in most central states have command
> > > potential.  Anyone within about 1000 miles E/W of North
> Texas
> > or
> > > 600 miles north and south are ideal!
> > >
> > > Station requirements:
> > > 1) OSCAR class tracking 2m beam for up/downlink 145.825
> > > 2) Standard AX.25 1200 baud packet
> > > 3) Simple HYPERTERM text commanding
> > > 4) Familiarity with TNC's and TNC commanding
> > > 5) Prepared to record 1 minute of audio heard on downlink
> > >
> > > Unfortunately I am going to Dayton this weekend, but we have
> > to
> > > really be ready for this next week and get this test done.
> > None
> > > of the principals involved in this design can do it because
> we
> > > all live too far away from the 216.98 MHz RADAR fence
> > > transmitter in North Texas.
> > >
> > > See WEB:
> http://www.ew.usna.edu/~bruninga/ande-raft-ops.html
> > >
> > > Thanks, WB4APR, Bob
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > Sent: Tuesday, April 24, 2007 1:23 PM
> > > Subject: RE: [amsat-bb] RAFT Packet Operator assistance
> needed
> > >
> > > We only have 7 days left in this operating period and really
> > do
> > > need a good OSCAR station in the Southern USA in a line from
> > AZ
> > > to GA to conduct this test of RAFT flying through the 80
> > > megawatt radar transmitter beam originated in north Texas.
> > >
> > > There is only one viable pass per day per command station
> > > location in the early evening....  The trick is to command
> the
> > > satellite to turn on its downlink carrier and Radar receiver
> > > exactly 30 seconds prior to passing
> > > through the fence and then having an audio recorder running
> to
> > > "hear" (record) the tone when we pass through the radar
> beam.
> > >
> > > Commands are a simple CONNECT XXXX at the cmd: propt, then
> an
> > > exchange of passwords, and then sending a simple typed
> command
> > > at the right time.
> > >
> > > RAFT can he HEARD just fine on ALL FIVE passes leading up to
> > > this last pass per day, so you can test your RECEIVE
> > capability
> > > on any pass, but can only command in the dark (due to
> > > overcharging on batteries makes uplink receier deaf)...
> > >
> > > If anyone can conduct this test please let us know.  Only
> one
> > > person per pass can attempt this, so we want the best gun at
> > the
> > > stick.  Fully conversent at the TNC "cmd:" prompt and
> > preerably
> > > with experimence with the KPC3+ remote-sysop command mode.
> > >
> > > Bob, WB4APR
> > > USNA Satelite Lab
> > >
> > >
> > > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > > Sent: Monday, April 23, 2007 12:32 PM
> > > > Subject: [amsat-bb] RAFT Packet Operator assistance needed
> > > >
> > > > > We need AMSAT operator help with the RAFT satellite
> > > > > Test.  We need somone with a 2m beam and familiarity
> > > > > with packet that lives in the Southern USA from
> > > > > Arizona to Georgia (AZ, NM, TX, OK, MS, ALA, GA).
> > > > >
> > > > > RAFT is past its mission life time half-way point,
> > > > > and we have not been able to find anyone in the above
> > > > > footprint to help us conduct the primary mission which
> > > > > was for the satellite to detect its own passing through
> > > > > the DOD's radar fence.  When it flies through the
> > > > > North American Space-Object fan beam, we should hear
> > > > > about 1 second tone that anyone can hear on the
> downlink.
> > > > >
> > > > > Due to its low orbit and small footprint, turning on
> > > > > the Radar Transponder can only be done in the shared
> > > > > footprint between the radar transmitter in North Texas
> > > > > and the command station.  The ideal command station has
> > > > > these atributes:
> > > > >
> > > > > 1) Lives in AZ, NM, TX, OK, AK, LA, MS, AL, GA, W.FLA
> > > > > 2) A reasonable 2m beam for ops on 145.825
> > > > > 3) A packet TNC
> > > > > 4) Familiar with dumb-terminal TNC operations such as
> > > > >   A. Connections, Converse, UNPROTO, etc
> > > > >   B. Remote sysop logon to a Kantronics TNC
> > > > >
> > > > > The objective of these southern command stations is to
> > > > > logon, send the command to activate the RAFT Radar
> > > > > receiver for 1 minute in anticipation of passing
> > > > > through the fence.  Then hopefully recording any audio
> > > > > heard on the downlink (145.825).  Of course, once the
> > > > > radar receiver is on, everyone in the footprint should
> > > > > be able to hear it.
> > > > >
> > > > > For info, see the ANDE-RAFT operations page:
> > > > > http://eng.usna.navy.mil/~bruninga/ande-raft-ops.html
> > > > >
> > > > > Several AMSAT hams built this tiny Radar receiver as a
> > > > > possible common device for all future HAMsats, and we
> > > > > would like to get feedback on its performance.  But
> > > > > they all live up North.  If you have a beam and
> > > > > familiarity with TNC's please let us know.
> > > > >
> > > > > Bob, WB4APR.
> > > > > US Naval Academy Satellite Lab
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of
>
> > > the author.
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> > >
> >
> >
>
> _______________________________________________
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-- 
David Goncalves