SB SPACE @ ARL $ARLS006 ARLS006 AMSAT-OSCAR 7 returns to life ZCZC AS06 QST de W1AW Space Bulletin 006 ARLS006 From ARRL Headquarters Newington, CT June 25, 2002 To all radio amateurs SB SPACE ARL ARLS006 ARLS006 AMSAT-OSCAR 7 returns to life The AMSAT-OSCAR 7 satellite suddenly has come back to life after being dormant for more than 20 years. First heard June 21 by Pat Gowan, G3IOR, AO-7 subsequently has been monitored and used by several other amateurs. AO-7 was launched November 15, 1974. It remained operational for more than six years before succumbing to battery failure in 1981. ''I'm blown away,'' was the reaction of AO-7 Project Manager Jan King, W3GEY. ''So, this old war horse of a spacecraft seems to have come back from the dead if only for a few moments.'' Exclaimed satellite enthusiast and AMSAT Vice President for User Services Bruce Paige, KK5DO, ''This is really awesome.'' Paige said the latest turn of events makes AO-7 is the oldest amateur satellite that's still working. AMSAT-NA has now listed AO-7 as ''semi-operational.'' AMSAT says it seems certain the satellite is running only off its solar panels, not from the onboard batteries, so it will be operational only while it's in sunlight. King speculates that the batteries, which shorted as they failed two decades ago, now are ''un-shorting'' and causing the satellite to come back to life. For those attempting to use AO-7, Mode A (2 meters up/10 meters down) is not a problem, but Mode B (70 cm up/2 meters down) is. Because of changes in the international Radio Regulations that went into effect in the 1970s as AO-7 was under construction, the 432.1 MHz uplink frequency is no longer authorized for space communications. AMSAT advises potential users that when uplinking to a satellite, they are operating in the Amateur-Satellite Service. AMSAT says uplinking to AO-7 ''is possibly illegal since the Amateur Satellite Service is not permitted at 432.1 MHz.'' The current band plan earmarks the 432.1 MHz range for weak signal work. Section 97.207(c) of the FCC's rules authorizes space station operation only in the 435-438 MHz segment. Built by a multinational team under the direction of AMSAT-NA, AO-7 carries Mode A (145.850-950 MHz uplink; 29.400-500 MHz downlink) and Mode B (432.180-120 MHz uplink; 145.920-980 MHz downlink) linear transponders plus beacons on 29.500 and 145.700 MHz. A 2304.1 MHz beacon was never turned on because of international treaty constraints. AMSAT has additional information on AO-7 on its Web site, http://www.amsat.org. NNNN /EX