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AO-40 \"OFFICIALLY IN THE \'DEAD ZONE\'\"

Discussion in 'Amateur Radio News' started by Guest, Jan 5, 2002.

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  1. Guest

    Guest Guest

    From the ARRL...




    AO-40 satellite ground controllers have begun adjusting the spacecraft's
    attitude as it enters a period of unfavorable sun angles. AO-40 command
    station team member Stacey Mills, W4SM, says that AO-40's operating schedule
    has been modified slightly to reflect the decreasing attitude longitude
    (ALON).



    "As expected, the satellite has lost sun sensor lock, so we are now
    officially in the 'dead zone'," Mills reported. The satellite is currently
    in a long period during which Earth eclipses the sun near perigee--its point
    closest to Earth. These periods will continue well into next June.



    The satellite relies on solar panels for its power. In late November, Mills
    said that necessary adjustments to AO-40's attitude to compensate for
    unfavorable sun angles over the next several months would lead to some down
    time for the spacecraft's transponders. The attitude shifting necessary to
    compensate for the unfavorable sun angle will leave AO-40's antennas
    pointing away from Earth for several weeks.



    To save power, the transponder passbands were being turned off at various
    times, and the RUDAK digital transponder was scheduled to be off for up to
    five days.



    Mills has said there will be periods of no transponder activity and a much
    longer period of limited--but progressively increasing--transponder
    activity. "AO-40 command stations will make every effort to activate AO-40's
    transponders, even if for only a short time each orbit, when conditions are
    appropriate," he said. Mills said he anticipated being able to keep the
    transponders active through the eclipse period for an hour or so right after
    perigee.



    Yoshi Takeyasu, JA6XKQ, of the JAMSAT SCOPE team, recently announced the
    release of several new photos taken by the SCOPE cameras aboard AO-40. The
    photos are available on the JAMSAT Web site
    .



    For more information on AO-40, visit the AMSAT-NA Web site
    .
     
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