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Aihnss.920 net.columbia utzoo!decvax!ucbvax!ihnss!karn Sat Dec 19 16:28:26 1981 SIX Soviet Amateur Satellites Launched! Six (count 'em) Soviet Amateur Satellites Launched!

Six amateur radio satellites were launched from the Soviet Union on Thursday, December 17, 1981 at about noon UTC. Three are mode-A communications transponders (2m up, 10m down), and the other three are the automated "robot" qso machines.

The spacecraft are named RS-3 through RS-8. The odd-numbered units are the "robots", and the even-numbered units are communications transponders. Frequencies are as follows:

Robots: RS-3 145.820 up, 29.320 down RS-5 145.830 up, 29.330 down RS-7 145.840 up, 29.340 down

Communications transponders: RS-4 145.86 - 145.90 up, 29.36 - 29.40 down, beacons at 29.36 & 29.40 RS-6 145.91 - 145.95 up, 29.41 - 29.45 down, beacon at 29.41 RS-8 145.96 - 146.00 up, 29.46 - 29.50 down, beacon at 29.46

The spacecraft are in orbits with periods ranging from 118 to 119.33 minutes, with an inclination of 82.9 degrees. Average altitude is 1700km, and the maximum duration of a pass is 26 minutes.

Further information when it becomes available.

Phil Karn, KA9Q

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