_                    
                                                         |_|                   
      V   V   SSSS   OOO   PPPP                 \__      |_|      __/          
      V   V  S      O   O  P   P                   --____/ \____--             
      V   V   SSS   O   O  PPPP                    _ _ _ --- _ _ _             
       V V       S  O   O  P                      |_|_|_|  @|_|_|_|            
        V    SSSS    OOO   P                             o-o                   
                                                          /                    
      ***  N    E    W    S  ***                        <)                     
 

MUSES-B ANTENNA FABRICATION

VSOP Project Manager, H. Hirosawa, and VSOP Project Scientist, H. Hirabayashi, visited the Mitsubishi factory recently to check on progress of the fabrication and testing of the VSOP satellite antenna. The antenna, a gold coated molybdenum mesh, is fabricated in 6 segments, which are deployed in orbit from six extendible masts. Construction and testing of the antenna is progressing on schedule, with tests of the antenna deployment scheduled for later this year.

COMMEMORATION CEREMONY

A commemoration ceremony to mark the occasions of 40th anniversary of the firing of the Japan's first test `pencil' rocket, and the 25th anniversary of the first successful satellite launch will be held on Sunday 23rd April at Tokyo University. Both were launched by predecessors to ISAS at Tokyo University. Special public lectures by Professors Itokawa, Matsuo and Oda will be held on the same day.

VSOP OPERATIONS

Although April marks the beginning of the new fiscal year in Japan, the VSOP Project is currently in the midst of preparing its operating budget for the next fiscal year, which is when MUSES-B will be launched. In the past, ISAS Low Earth Orbit satellites, such as the series of successful X-ray satellites, have used only the Kagoshima Space Center for telemetry, whereas ISAS Deep Space missions, such as Geotail and Sakigake, have relied upon the Usuda Deep Space Tracking Station. The VLBI Space Observatory Programme's requirement for support from both the Kagoshima Space Center (for commanding and S-band telemetry) and the Usuda Tracking Station (for reference frequency up-link and real-time data down-link with the 10 m, and occasional co-observing with the 64 m) results in operating costs roughly double those of other missions! Negotiations are underway to ensure the VSOP project receives the full support it needs.

USER SOFTWARE

Subscribers to the JPL Space VLBI Project Newsletter would have learnt from last month's issue that the beta test version of the space VLBI simulation package FAKESAT is now available. The FAKESAT package, developed by the JPL space VLBI project, is a UNIX based package with a mouse-driven point-and-click Xwindows interface. Further details on the package are available from the JPL Space VLBI Project WWW Home page (URL: http://sgra.jpl.nasa.gov ).

 
 
       Editors: Phil Edwards and Hirax Hirabayashi