[amsat-bb:67350] AO-40 Update 2003-04-17

["Stacey E. Mills" <w4sm@xxxxxxxxxx>]

AO-40 is continuing to drift "downward" in ALON as predicted.  This is 
making the squint/range combination less favorable for passband use.  In 
addition, the solar angle is worsening and will shortly exceed 45 degs, 
limiting available power and warming the spacecraft considerably as the sun 
swings across the omni end of the spacecraft.  The AO-40 passbands will be 
turned off at MA=240 (23:50 UTC) on Saturday 4/19.  They will remain off 
for about 4 weeks (or slightly less) until conditions improve.

---W4SM for the AO-40 Command Team



-- 
  ________________________________________________________________________
  Stacey E. Mills, W4SM    WWW:    http://www.cstone.net/~w4sm/ham1.html
    Charlottesville, VA     PGP key: http://www.cstone.net/~w4sm/key
  ________________________________________________________________________ 

----
Sent via amsat-bb@xxxxxxxxxx Opinions expressed are those of the author.
Not an AMSAT member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program!
To unsubscribe, send "unsubscribe amsat-bb" to Majordomo@xxxxxxxxx