July 21, 2000

Attention: Kevin Tan

Prema advised that you wanted another letter regarding our completion of the work in Shanghai…

This is to inform you that Audrey simulator was in working condition when we left Shanghai on July 14, 2000.

Sincerely,

Jason Reskin

President and co-founder

Argus Foundation

July 20, 2000

Attention:Kevin Tan

Prema advised that you wanted a letter regarding our completion of the work in Shanghai…

1)                  We verified that the shipment of the Audrey simulator (including components and spare parts) was complete.

2)                  We repaired approximately $200 USD in damage to the frame, ceiling, and interior caused by shipping.

3)                  We successfully tested the systems, installed the software, and found it fully functional.

4)                  We successfully trained and tested ten (10) pilots and dock-masters to operate the simulation for the public.

We advised your staff there (Henry Lee) of the following problems…

1)      The temperature was out of specifications for a long period of time.  This not only delayed us in our work, but it may be the cause of numerous equipment problems that developed during our stay.

2)      The power supplied to the Audrey simulator was delayed in being hooked up and then voltages supplied were out of specifications.  This not only delayed us in our work, but it may be the cause of numerous equipment problems that developed during our stay.

3)      The staff we trained was not as good at English as we had hoped and were not technically inclined.  The training, therefore took longer but our instructor (Ian Lambert) felt that we were leaving it in “adequately capable hands.”

4)      There was some theft and vandalism that occurred while we were there.  Two cellular telephones were stolen, one from our site and one from Space Camp next door.  One morning we found that our power boxes had been smashed and needed replacement.  Our breaker box had a short when someone cut the wires, which almost resulted in a fire.  Our tape measure we brought disappeared but was replaced by your staff there.

The following known problems were left in the hands of the staff there…

1)      The flexible ducting we required was installed as flexible aluminum ducting that was not designed for continuous motion and was ripping when we left.  I advised the staff that the “flexible ducting” required was of a vinyl composition used for A/C on aircraft.  This ducting can be shipped for $200 USD.

2)      The APU failed when it was insisted that we attempt to train when temperature was out of specification.  A Mr. Wong was reportedly trying to fix it and was shown where to install it.  A temporary unit was installed from Mars Base’s spare parts collection, but this unit is only at half the capacity.  Several systems have been placarded inoperative for the crew until this is replaced.  A replacement unit can be shipped for $400 USD.

3)      The hard disk drive on the dock-master station was showing symptoms of impending failure.  A replacement drive can be shipped for $300 USD.

4)      There are leaks in the air-supported structure, which caused water damage to the top of the simulator that was not thoroughly assessed before our departure.  These leaks also destroyed a keyboard which we replaced while we were there.  Tarps were semi-permanently installed on the top of the simulator to protect it from this and the condensation that developed later on the aluminum ducting.

5)      To the day prior to signing over the responsibility to the events staff, the power problems were causing spontaneous rebooting of the computers and possibly damage to the compressor motor.  A replacement compressor can be shipped for $700 USD.

6)      The video camera for the inside of the cockpit is either damaged or there is a severe interference problem or noise problem with the power being supplied to it or EMF interference with the line to the monitor.  A new camera can be shipped for $300 USD.

7)      The motion control board for the pneumatic system is either damaged or there is a severe interference problem or noise problem with the power being supplied to it or EMF interference affecting the board.  A DAC chip was identified as being the source of the problem, but replacing it with a spare resulted in the same symptoms.  A new board can be shipped for $300 USD.

In summary, Argus Foundation and its staff of Jason Reskin, Ian Lambert, and Amy Riley feel that they have completed their responsibilities per the contract with the Space Shuttle World Tour.  The Audrey was in working condition when we left.

Sincerely,

Jason Reskin

President and co-founder

Argus Foundation

Airline information:

United Airlines: http://www.united.com and 800-824-6200 for arrival and departure information

Reservation locator number – UA-V52L8W

Jason’s Mileage Plus number - 03067281224

ORD is Chicago O’Hare, NRT is Tokyo, SFO is San Francisco, DEN is Denver, MCI is Kansas City, and PVG is Shanghai (Pu Dong)

All international calls you must dial 011 first, then the country code:

65 is Singapore, 86 is China, 135 is most likely their separate cellular network prefix, and 41 is Switzerland

Mr. Jason Reskin – 41-796879333 (Global StarTAC cellular and voicemail) and 816-891-8176 (Non-priority local voicemail)

Our web page for pictures from the show and event updates – http://www.geocities.com/orpex/core.htm

Our e-mail addresses are available from this web page under “Meet the Crew” on the left frame “Active Remote Access” menu

Primary contacts are:

Mr. Kevin Tan (Managing Director) –              135-62126331

Ms. Prema Naidu (Personnel)

On our staff there:

Mr. Henry Lee (Show Coordinator) –               135-01683644

Mr. Joseph Quek (Facilities Manager) –           135-01680694

Mr. Devan Tan (Shipping Coordinator) –        135-01684891

Business in China conducted as:

Shanghai Perway Industry Investment Co., Ltd.
No. 6 Lane – 288 Wu Yuan Road
Shanghai  200031, China
Business in Singapore conducted as:

Events H.Q. Intl. PTE, Ltd.

37 Kallang Pudding Road

Block B, Unit 03-04, Tong Lee Building

Singapore  349315, Singapore

65-8445595 (Voice) and 65-8445598 (Fax)

Hotel information:

Once we are checked in and know the room numbers at the

hotel, we will be notifying family.  Our best indication is that

we can not make overseas calls from the hotel but we can

receive them.  The time difference is 12 hours.

Ning Du Bin Guan Hotel

Zhang Ning Road

Shanghai  200031, China

86-2102718 (Voice)

INTRODUCTION

The Audrey simulator itself can be operated in every conceivable manner in the virtual universe, but without the Dockmaster station nothing else would ever move.  The virtual universe is dead without the Dockmaster station in operation.

The Dockmaster station software orbits the planet around the star, the moons around the planet, and rotates all of the above on their axis.  The weather map is dynamically moved over the surface of the moon as well.

This software also adds other vessels to the mix so that realistic delays, traffic conflicts, and procedures to work around these can exist.  The other vessels fly around on one of 13 different flight plans.

COMMUNICATIONS

One of the primary duties of the Dockmaster is to communicate with Audrey and to simulate two-way communications with the other vessels.  All ships, including the Audrey, require clearances to undock, land, takeoff, dock, and to transition from one control area to another.

Communications with the Audrey can be lost if diligence is not maintained at all times.  The communications run on a FTL (Faster Than Light) self-destructive carrier that allows instantaneous communications within certain range of objects.  The type of objects dictates the effective communication range between the two objects since the carrier disperses wider with range and therefore a larger collecting surface is required for far away signals.

CENTER (Communications Encompassing Network with Topography Elusive Resonance) has the most powerful transmitters and the most sensitive receivers.  No practical range limitation exists in this simulation for communications between the CENTER and another object.  CENTER is simulated to be handled by Lycia, the third planet in the system and is utilized by ships (including Audrey) anytime no other frequency is appropriate, usually for transition between docks or planetoids.  The TER (Topography Elusive Resonance) technology allows communications to operate on any side of the planetoids ostensibly through the ground.

GITADS (Ground Integrated Terminal Approach and Departure Systems) works up to 100 km above the surface of the associated planet or moon.  This is used for all approach and departure operations with the surface.  If a city or dock control area overlaps this area, the city or dock has controlling authority.  It is easy to remember this since traffic is in closer proximity to one another in terminal areas like docks and cities.  GITADS also handles DOR (Directional Orbit Recalibration) operations when conducted within GITADS range.

COMMUNICATIONS (Continued)

Cities and docks have an effective range of 500km.  When a city and a dock overlap control areas, the city has control because there are more obstructions and fewer options close to the ground and vessels are in constant motion when flying in the atmosphere.

Ship to ship communications is limited to 250km.  No ships have controlling authority, so their communications ranges do not dictate control zones.

FREQUENCIES

There are 121 different frequency combinations available (the square of 11) ranging from 0 to 10 on a left and right channel selector.  Once a channel is selected, it takes about 3 to 5 seconds for the carrier to be isolated.

If you change the frequency for an object, all virtual ships using that object are automatically notified.  However, Audrey must be alerted to changes so the crew may look up the new frequency on the flight computer and set it in their EFIS (Electronic Flight Information System).  You can change the frequency of an object by selecting that object with the up and down arrow keys and then using the left and right brackets [] to modify it.

Your current frequency should match the controlling authority for where Audrey is.  It is your duty to advise Audrey when you are handing them off from one control zone to another so they can change frequencies at the same time that you do and you never lose contact.  If Audrey is not using the correct frequency, an alert will sound that Audrey is in violation of USDC (United Stellar Defense Coalition) regulations.  You can only set your current frequency on an object that has that frequency set.

FREQUENCIES (Continued)

For example:  If Audrey just penetrated the control zone for the dock called Gateway, you would go to Gateway on your list using the up and down arrow keys and once it is highlighted, hit “U” to “Use” that frequency as your current transmitting and receiving frequency.

VPT

VPT (Vessel Profile Transmitter) is used as a transponder to transmit vessel information for a given location once every 2 seconds.  When interrogated, information about each vessel including name and flight number is given.  Without the VPT active on a vessel, the only way you can tell which direction they are heading is if they are moving.  It is recommended to have the VPT on for all vessels at all times.  It allows the Dockmaster to quickly identify vessels and keep them separate for flow control purposes.

SPECIAL SPEECH

Two more ways to communicate include the Prowler speech and the Audrey Speech.  The Prowler speech can be used with any ship.  It allows you to assemble phrases from a limited list of words for extra punch when Audrey (or another ship for that matter) has a run-in with the law.  The Audrey speech is specifically for Audrey and it will allow you to type in any English phrase (or for our International use, any set of phonemes) and the onboard flight computer in Audrey will almost immediately utter it.

RADIO SILENCE

You may use this feature if you do not want a vessel to transmit the normal radio calls for clearance requests, initial calls for new control zones, or confirmations of hold and release orders.  Select the ship that you wish to use this feature on and hit “E” for radio silence.