AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 318.01 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, NOVEMBER 13, 2000
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-318.01

PHASE-3D   Launch News

This Ariane 5 flight will prove to be a record setting mission, marking the first use of the ASAP-5 platform. The ASAP-5 enables the launcher to carry auxiliary micro and mini satellite payloads. If successful, this launch will place into orbit the largest commercial communications satellite ever built (PAS-1R) -- and the largest Amateur Radio satellite ever built (P3D). P3D will be ejected from the launcher by three spring-loaded arms pushing on the bottom of the satellite. As it now sits ready for launch the satellite is being restrained from this happening by explosive nuts attached to bolts holding P3D in place. The Ariane 5 launcher will be spinning at the time of separation (which in turn means) P3D will also be spinning when it's ejected.

A view of the entire payload can be found at the following URL:
http://www.arianespace.com/news_missionupdate.html

The complete Phase 3-D frequency band plan is available at:
http://www.amsat-dl.org/p3dqrg.html.org

AMSAT's Ken Ernandes, N2WWD, provided ANS with estimated Keplerian Elements for the Phase 3D spacecraft. Ken reports the vector data was computed from Arianespace orbital parameters at the time P3D is scheduled to separate from the Ariane 5 upper stage.
The elements were computed, in turn, from the vector.

Catalog number: 93400
Satellite: Phase 3D
Catalog number: 93400
Epoch time: 00320.07636550
Element set: 1
Inclination: 6.5034 deg
RA of node: 246.6469 deg
Eccentricity: 0.7357988
Arg of perigee: 175.9296 deg
Mean anomaly: 13.3886 deg
Mean motion: 2.02435417 rev/day
Decay rate: 7.71000e-09 rev/day^2
Epoch rev: 1
Checksum: 283

N2WWD also notes that 93400 is a temporary catalog number and the Keplerian elements represent a pre-launch estimate of Phase 3D's initial orbit.

North American P3D Command Station operator Stacey Mills, W4SM, has placed a zip file containing his P3D telemetry decoding program (P3T.exe) as well as some additional supporting files at the following URL:
www.cstone.net/~w4sm2/software2/P3t_AP.zip

The program will run on Windows 95/98/NT/2000 platforms. W4SM reports additional programs are under development for Mac and Linux platforms. A 400 baud PSK is required. Additional information regarding demodulators, and the telemetry format can be found at:
http://www.amsat-dl.org/p3d/

Russ Tillman, K5NRK, AMSAT Journal Editor, told ANS "we plan to devote two pages in the November/December issue of The AMSAT Journal to show photographs of what our members were doing during the launch of Phase 3D." For example said Russ, "if you are hosting a Galaxy 4 viewing or HF net party for local ham radio club members, take a photo of the get-together and send it in." Photos can be e-mailed to k5nrk@amsat.org or sent via the K5NRK postal mail address.

The Radio Club of Kourou's FY5KE has announced plans to broadcast the Phase 3D launch on 14.315 MHz in French ''and probably in English.'' The FY5KE transmission will start at approximately 15 minutes prior to launch and will end about 45 minutes later when the satellite reaches orbit.

Closer to home, AMSAT-NA Vice President of Operations Keith Pugh, W5IU, reports that details are being worked out for an AMSAT-NA P3D Launch Information Net to run "live" during the launch. Keith told ANS that "at a minimum, the net will include several HF stations and bands." The current plan is to start about 15 minutes before launch and carry through separation of P3D. The U.S. net will be based on the live Arianespace satellite feed from the launch site and will also contain commentary by key AMSAT officials associated with the launch.
Participating commentators will include newly elected AMSAT-NA President Robin Haighton, VE3FRH, Andy MacAllister, W5ACM, Pat Kilroy, N8PK, (at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center), launch team second-in-command Chuck Green, N0ADI, Stacy Mills, W4SM, and IARU Satellite Coordinator Hans van den Groenendaal, ZS5AKV.
Others will be added as the launch approaches.

According to W5IU, "dissemination of the launch information will be by the Houston AMSAT Net connection and by key HF stations, led by WA3NAN on their Shuttle re-transmission frequencies. Additional HF stations and frequencies will be added to fill in North American coverage." W5IU reports the plan is to monitor Arianespace for real time information and then communicate the information. Keith reports the group will not re-transmit Arianespace audio to avoid possible problems with the FCC.

WA3NAN will re-transmit launch reports on 3.860, 7.185, 14.295, 21.395, and 147.450 MHz. Other HF frequencies used will be 3.840, 7.279, and 14.282 MHz. These frequencies will be used by W5RRR or alternates.

The plan for WA3NAN participation in the overall AMSAT Launch Information Net Service (ALINS) is to conduct standard, independent Amateur Radio nets on each of the HF bands noted above during the hour before launch. Callsign check-ins will be accepted and traffic listed. Then, at about 15 minutes prior to launch, NCS will switch over to simulcast the AMSAT audio. Shortly after Phase 3D separation from the launch vehicle (L+42 minutes) the nets will close in the absence of any additional traffic.

W5IU is still in need of additional HF stations (with phone patch capability) to participate in the P3D AMSAT Launch Information Net. If interested, contact Keith at w5iu@amsat.org.

The Houston AMSAT Net connection will also be available via the Internet using the Real Audio format. Visit the net web site at:
http://www.amsatnet.com/

Bob Arnold, N2JEU, is also planning to make the Arianespace audio available on the Internet. Details are available at:
http://www.ralabs.com/livep3d/

The page currently contains information on the live audio stream that N2JEU will be providing to the Internet along with a test stream to check out your system.

CQ Amateur Radio magazine will offer continuously-updated coverage of the upcoming launch on its web site:
www.cq-amateur-radio.com

These updates will be made every few minutes, or more often if events require. In addition, there will be a link provided from the CQ web site to one of two sites featuring live video of the launch.

ANS has been informed that live video of the launch will be available via the C-band Galaxy 4 satellite. In addition, the Arianespace web cast can be found at:
http://www.arianespace.com/news_livevideo.html

The AMSAT-UK launch net operated by Richard, G3RWL, will not operate during the launch. G3RWL reports that "the AMSAT-UK net will happen the following evening so that people can find out what happened. This will be on Wednesday, 15 November at 19:00 UTC on/about 3.780 MHz.

Stay tuned to ANS for additional bulletins from AMSAT, the official source of information on the Phase 3D satellite.

[ANS thanks the ARRL, AMSAT-DL and AMSAT-NA for this information and congratulates the AMSAT launch team on their outstanding work]