AMSAT-France tells ANS they have delivered a new model of mini-Sputnik

satellite to the Mir space station. Tentatively, this version will be hand

launched during a space walk scheduled for November 11, 1998. The

announcement of this new 'bird' comes almost one year to the day after the

launch of Sputnik 40/RS-17, which commemorated the launch of the first

artificial Earth satellite by the USSR in 1957.



Called Sputnik 41 (and possibly RS-18), this new satellite is the same size

as its predecessor, about 8 inches in diameter. At almost 9 pounds, this

latest version will carry a 150-200 mW transmitter that will transmit on

145.812 MHz (plus/minus 5 kHz and Doppler shift). The new satellite does

not have any solar cells; the expected operational lifetime is about 30

days.



AMSAT-France is cooperating with the educational department of the Russian

Aeronautic Federation to bring about this latest Sputnik encore. Gerard,

F6FAO, tells ANS that Sputnik 41 is completely new and not the spare model

of Sputnik 40 that is still on board Mir. F6FAO hopes there will be an

opportunity to have this spare model launched sometime in 1999.



Gerard tells ANS that in addition to the 'bip-bip' beacon plus audio-

frequency telemetry (indicating internal temperature), Sputnik 41 will also

broadcast pre-recorded voice greetings in three languages; French, English,

and Russian. One message, read by 14-year-old Constantin Sambourov,

declares in Russian-accented English: "1998 was the International Year of

Air and Space." Sambourov is the son of Sergei Sambourov, RV3DR, who

manages Amateur Radio activity aboard the Mir station. Another English

message read by Project Chief Victor Kourilov of the Russian Aeronautic

Federation, states "International Space School Sputnik Program."



The French and Russian messages convey the same greetings.



A QSL manager for this newest Sputnik has yet-to-be determined.



Stay tuned to ANS for further developments.



The 1998 International Year of Air and Space web page is available at

the following URL:

http://www.ccr.jussieu.fr/physio/Satedu/sputnik41.html



[ANS thanks AMSAT-France, Serge Samburov, RV3DR, Gerard Auvray,

F6FAO, and the ARRL for this information]