Re: AO-40 Position

In article <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, "Joe Westbrook"
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:

>
>Can anyone explain the specific reason that AO-40 was moved to ALON/ALAT
>45/24, put a drift,  and Passbands turned off for 4 weeks?  I assume it has
>to do with power management, but I would like to understand this in a little
>more detail..
>
>Thanks,
>DE Joe, K7ZT

The following is from this week's ARRL letter, and is also posted on the AMSAT
web site and was distributed with this week's AMSAT bulletin:

* AO-40 transponders off for a month: AO-40 now is in "hibernation mode."
The ALON/ALAT is 45/24. Magnetorquing has ceased, and the satellite will
begin drifting toward ALON of approximately 315 degrees. This will take
approximately four weeks. This is done twice a year to keep the satellite
healthy due to poor sun angles. Although the satellite's passbands are
off, its beacon remains on and FEC telemetry is active whenever possible.
According to AO-40 ground controller Stacy Mills, W4SM, the passbands
should be back on in time for the Christmas holiday. The AO-40 team would
like telemetry files. Send zipped files via e-mail to
[EMAIL PROTECTED] Paige, KK5DO/AMSAT

73 de KA3HSW

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