Announcement of EOSS-23

Air Force Academy Test Flight

LAUNCH DATE: 21-May-1995
LAUNCH SITE: Air Force Academy Parade Grounds
Launch coordinates:

• 39'00.56 N
• 104'52.90 W

Shuttle I FREQUENCIES:

• Telemetry:
  • 144.340 MHz FM (1 Watt output) - The Packet telemetry stream is in ax.25 format at 1200 baud and is readable in plain English for the most part. Included in each telemetry frame is an APRS position string (APRS users see note below). Every few minutes a CW ID is transmitted on this frequency.
• Cross Band Repeater:
  • 446.000 MHz FM Input Frequency
  • 147.555 MHz FM (250 milliWatt output) Output Frequency
• ATV:
  • 426.250 MHz AM (1 Watt output) -NTSC video
• Foxhunters:
  • Pikes Peak FM Association 448.450 MHz

1.) The Air Force Academy is planning a Space Shuttle Get Away Special Experiment (GAS). GAS experiments are flown inside containers in the orbiter's payload bay and are activated once the Shuttle has reached orbit (or at a predetermined time during the flight).

The Academy's satellite measures approximately 18" on a side. It is equipped with solar panels and is outfitted with an attitude control system. This balloon flight will be a test of that attitude control system's ability to keep the satellite oriented on the sun using a solar sensor.

2.) EOSS will be flying a crossband repeater to assist the tracking and recovery teams. If the frequency is not being used for recovery efforts we may invite remote stations to use the repeater under the direction of net control. However, tracking and recovery operations will take priority on the repeater.

notes:

This balloon will hover at 107,000 feet until the payload is commanded to cut down. The duration of the flight is undetermined at this time. However, it is hoped that the flight will remain within the borders of Colorado as our fox hunting teams will be quite busy recovering two payloads this day.

The Academy flight is entirely their work. They are offering EOSS payload space (we tie onto their support cable) in exchange for our recovery efforts.

Automatic Position Reporting System (APRS):

• EOSS Shuttle controllers now beacon on the packet telemetry frequency with an APRS position string. If you are running APRS you should be able to graphically track the progress of the flight on the "CODENVER.MAP" map file. The Shuttle is not a TNC equipped packet station. It only reads data from various sensors and experiments and formats and transmits that data in AX.25. Therefore, beacons from other APRS stations will NOT be retransmitted (digi). So, in order to minimize possible interference with hams in your area, we request you turn off the position beacons in APRS. Thanks!

• The Amateur Video Signals from the payload may be picked up by a cable ready TV set on channel 58. However, you need to be very close to the balloon, and have a directional antenna to do this as cable receivers do not have much sensitivity (why should they?). If you don't have a cable ready set, try tuning DOWN from UHF channel 14. Some sets can receive the signal there too.

• Almost all our transmitters are on VHF or above frequencies. Therefore, you need to be line of site to the payload to hear/see it. Since the payload rises to an altitude of over 90,000 feet on most missions, reception is usually possible for folks in most of Kansas, most of Nebraska, most of Wyoming, extreme south eastern Idaho, eastern Utah, north eastern Arizona, most of New Mexico, northern Texas, and western Oklahoma. DO NOT BE DISCOURAGED by the apparent low power of our signals. I usually monitor the Beacon with an HT from the ground station throughout the flight. The signal is strong even at 130 miles and I only lose it when the balloon descends below my horizon.