M I R E X - U P D A T E 19 September 1998 MIR HAM RADIO BACK ON THE AIR Some of you might have noticed that R0MIR-1 has not been on the air. This is because of the IVA that was done in MIRs Spektr module, which houses the ham radio equipment. Here is a clip from MIRNEWS.439 by Chris van den Berg ----------------------------------------------------- Internal Spacewalk (IVA) crew 26th Main Expedition MIR: The IVA inside the module Spektr began on 15.09.1998 at 2000UTC (opening hatches between P.Kh.O. -transition section- and the module). The estimated duration of the IVA was 3 hrs but already at 2030UTC, so after 30 minutes, the cosmonauts closed the hatches behind them. The task during the IVA was relatively easy. The cosmonauts had to connect a few cables to an interface for the steering of solar battery number 3 of Spektr. However the work was not limited to these 30 minutes for an IVA requires a lot of preparations. For instance the crew had to prepare the transport ship Soyuz-TM28 for an eventual emergency departure. And after the IVA the S-TM28 had to be conserved again. Radiotraffic: During the pass in orbit 71828, 2251-2257UTC, when MIR came in range for the first time after the IVA, radiotraffic revealed that the cosmonauts had accomplished the IVA itself and that they already worked on preparations to check the restored cable connections. During the following pass on 16.09.98 between 0021-0031UTC they discussed this cablework before continuing the reactivation of those systems which had been switched off during the IVA and the conservation of the ship S-TM28. During the pass between 0156-0207UTC this work was still in progress and they already had conserved the S-TM28, deployed airhoses and programmed computers with commands , among which those for the attitude control by gyrodynes. After this pass with a stable air pressure in the complex (735MM) the cosmonauts went asleep. --------------- R0MIR-1 MAILBOX INFORMATION There seems to be some confusion between using SB and SP commands on R0MIR-1 SB is for Sending Bulletins to everyone SP is for Send Private messages to a ham callsign like WA6LIE When you send a message, please make sure you use the right format. Here is an EXAMPLE on how to send a Bulletin to ALL or everyone. *** CONNECTED to R0MIR-1 [08/20/98 17:20:17] [KPC9612P-8.1-HM$] 40833 BYTES AVAILABLE THERE ARE 74 MESSAGES NUMBERED 6401-6782 Welcome to R0MIR-1 MIR Space Station. Please KILL your & read messages! ENTER COMMAND: B,J,K,L,R,S, or Help > SB ALL 40833 BYTES AVAILABLE SUBJECT: Greetings from California ENTER MESSAGE 6783--END WITH CTRL-Z OR /EX ON A SINGLE LINE Hello MIR fans! From Scott in Aptos California. E-Mail: wa6lie@juno.com or Packet: wa6lie@wa6lie.#wcca.ca.usa.noam 73, Scott MESSAGE SAVED ENTER COMMAND: B,J,K,L,R,S, or Help > This message now has been sent to ALL as a Bulletin with a subject and message. To send a message to another ham, use the Send Private command SP instead of SB SP CALLSIGN, Enter Subject of Message, then the message. --------------- MIR FREQUENCY INFORMATION 145.985 1200 baud packet and voice. (Voice is only when the crew might talk) 437.950 rx/435.750 tx - PL 141.3 SAFEX repeater 437.925 rx/435.725 tx - PL 151.4 SAFEX crew QSO mode. Callsigns: R0MIR Keyboard callsign. NO CONNECTIONS ARE ALLOWED. Please don't try. R0MIR-1 Packet mailbox RR0DL SAFEX UHF repeater callsign --------------- R0MIR/R0MIR-1 QSL INFORMATION QSLs must be sent along with a business-sized self-addressed stamped envelope (the card will not fit in a regular-sized envelope). A "green stamp" to cover postage would also be appreciated. USA ONLY Please include two IRC's for international QSL requests. The IRC must be dated 1998 because the post office will NOT accept IRC's over one year old! QSLs World Wide (EXCEPT EUROPE) should be sent to: Dave Larsen N6CO P.O.Box 1501 Pine Grove, California 95665 U.S.A. =============== European QSLs go to: Radio-Club "F5KAM - QSL Manager de "R0MIR" " Carrefour International de la Radio" 22, Rue BANSAC - 63000 - CLERMONT-FERRAND - FRANCE ---------------- MIREX WEB SITE INFORMATION Additional information can be fornd at the MIREX web site at: http://www.ik1sld.org/mirex.htm -or- http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Lab/3431/mirex.htm --------------- 73, Scott WA6LIE wa6lie@juno.com wa6lie@wa6lie.#wcca.ca.usa.noam