SB SPACE @ ARL $ARLS031
ARLS031 Functional Sputnik model set for Mir launch

ZCZC AS31
QST de W1AW
Space Bulletin 031  ARLS031
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington, CT  October 3, 1997
To all radio amateurs

SB SPACE ARL ARLS031
ARLS031 Functional Sputnik model set for Mir launch

Plans remain in place to launch a functioning mini-Sputnik from Mir
October 4--the 40th anniversary of the launching of Sputik 1 by the
USSR. Sputnik 1 was the first manmade satellite put into orbit
around Earth.

Earlier this year, an agreement was signed between Russia and France
to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the launch of Sputnik 1, and
two groups of high school students cooperated in building the
one-third scale model of the original Sputnik 1. Students in Russia
built the satellite itself, while students in France built the
2-meter transmitter that will ''beep'' from space following its launch
from Mir. The mini-satellite flew as cargo to Mir last month aboard
a Progress rocket. According to Miles Mann, WF1F, of MIREX, the Mir
crew will place the satellite in an airlock on Mir and push it out
the door on October 4.

Following launch, the scale model of Sputnik will remain close to
the Russian space station. It's estimated that its batteries will
hold up for up to two months.

The transmitter will put between 100 and 200 mW into a circularly
polarized antenna. The transmitter frequency is expected to be
between 145.81 and 145.85 MHz (FM). The audio tone will be at 1.3
kHz but vary with temperature. For more information, see
http://www.oceanes.fr/~fr5fc/angspoutnik.html.
NNNN
/EX