SBSATELL@AMSAT UA3CR
AO-21 has finished it's life.
R:941114/1233Z @:RK3KP.RUS.EU #:11276 [Moscow] FBB5.15c $:11276_RK3KP
From: UA3CR@RK3KP.RUS.EU
To : SATELL@AMSAT
AO-21/RS-14 HAS FINISHED ITS LIFE !!!
The Space Flight Control Centre in Golitsino-2 near Moscow has
informed the AMSAT-R Group that since September 16, 1994 the command
radioline of INFORMATOR-1 is to be switched off and the ground control
system of the regimes of the on-board equipment finishes its
functioning. Several other space objects that are of non-profitable
character but that create only a headache for the Military Department
have the same destiny. Thus the financial difficulties of the Defense
Ministry have influenced in their turn the radioamateurs.
Previously there was an agreement between AMSAT-R and Golitsino-2
according to which the control of the satellite was done by the jointly
worked out programme.
INFORMATOR-1 - an experimental artificial Earth satellite made by the
production amalgamation "POLYOT" by the order of the Ministry of Geology
according to routine technology similar to those satellites that
launched RS3-8, RS10/11, RS12/13, Cospas and many others. The geologists
could not find a professional organization to make the transponder fit
to their requirements and the question has not been settled until the
radioamateur group AMSAT-U-ORBITA (Molodechno, Byelorus) took the
responsibility. As a payment for their work the geologists have agreed
to install the radioamateur equipment on board the satellite.
The design of the radioamateur equipment consisted of two sets of
linear transponders of Mode B (70 cm uplink, 2 m downlink), CW, packet
telemetry and the command radioline equipment, the secondary power
supplies. At the same time since the spring of 1989 by the initiative of
the German side the "secret" talks between the RUDAK AMSAT-DL group and
the Moscow AMSAT group have been carried out without telling the
leadership of DOSAAF about a joint project of a radioamateur satellite
with the use of the most advanced methods of digital signal processing.
A similar system called RUDAK-1 was worked out and installed in OSCAR-13
satellite but it did not operate because of the technical defects.
This idea has found a good response at the AMSAT-U-ORBITA
designers. The preliminary minutes on the joint project were signed
during Amsat-UK Colloquium at the University of Surrey in August 1989.
Their final version was agreed and singed in the autumn of the same year
when the considerable part of the equipment has already been made.
According to the minutes AMSAT-U-ORBITA is to work out and make the
linear transponder, receiver, transmitter, command link, telemetry,
secondary power supplies and to settle with the authorities all the
questions concerning the installation of the equipment and the
launch of the satellite to the orbit. RUDAK AMSAT-DL group is working
out and making the digital part called RUDAK-2 which includes a digital
transponder, AX25 mailbox and its own command link. The equipment has
large possibilities for various experiments that finally made the
satellite one of the most popular radioamateur satellites and gave
the opportunity to make a series of important experiments of testing
new ideas for the "satellite of the century" Phase-3-D.
The ground control stations were organized in Molodechno (UC1CWA) and
in Moscow (RK3KP). The command stations of RUDAK were established in
Munich (DG2CV) and not far from Hannower (DB2OS). The Space Flight
Control Center in Golitsino-2 made the general control of the on-board
systems. Some of the life important commands of the radioamateur
equipment were also duplicated there.
The agreement was signed on behalf of AMSAT-U-ORBITA by the technical
head of the project called RADIO-M1 (also RS14 and AO-21 ) Mr. V.
Chepyzhenko (RC2CA) and on behalf of AMSAT-DL it was signed by its
President Mr. K. Meinzer (DJ4ZC). Mr. G.Kuhlen (DK1YQ) was appointed as
a technical head of the equipment for RUDAK-2. The coordinators of the
project were Mr. P.Gultzow (DB2OS) and Mr. L.Labutin (UA3CR).
Here I would like to sing the praises of the packet communications. In
those years (1989) the facsimile communications, the means of copying, the
"non-sanctioned" telephone talks with the foreign colleagues have been
strictly prohibited in this country, there were also much difficulties
with the use of the e-mail. The radioamateurs of the USSR have not yet
lived up to that day when it was permitted for them to use the packet
communications. But to coordinate all technical questions, to solve
hundreds of schematic and construction problems, to coordinate the
actions of the sides were possible only by means of regular, almost
daily, intercourse with the people involved. And such a means was
finally found between DB20S and UA3CR. That was the packet
communications under the disguise of the third countries (the socialist
countries). With the help of the packet exchange not only texts but also
drawings have been sent. In short, if there were no packet
communications there would be no the satellite AO21/RS14. At first the
launch was scheduled for the beginning of 1990. There was too little
time left and only the radioamateurs enthusiasm let finish the
fantastic amount of work in time. Our German friends even had to
postpone the Christmas for further time...
The equipment RUDAK-2 was delivered first to Moscow then to
Molodechno. The designers of the AMSAT-U-ORBITA group headed by V.
Chepyzhenko (RC2CA), L. Maksakov (RA3AT) and L. Labutin (UA3CR) of the
Moscow AMSAT group and S.Eckart (DL2MDL) of AMSAT-DL took part in the
adjustment and complex testing of the equipment in Molodechno.
But as it often happens in space mazes after the equipment was sent to
the PA "POLYOT" it appeared that the production of a non-radioamateur
equipment was delayed and thus the launch of the satellite had to be
postponed for an indefinite period of time.
On the 29-th of January 1991 the first international satellite created
in cooperation with the Soviet and German radioamateurs was successfully
launched to the orbit from the Northern space launching site of
Plesetsk. After launching to the orbit it was given the name of
AMSAT-OSCAR 21 in commemoration that it was created by the radioamateurs
of different countries. We have experienced many dramatic moments. But
all that was to the good. And not only from the technical point of view.
May be the most important result of it was the establishing of durable
international contacts between the enthusiasts of satellite
communications of Russia and many other countries.
The AMSAT-groups are continuing their cooperation.
73 L.Labutin, UA3CR
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