Quoting Joe Fitzgerald jfitzgerald@alum.wpi.edu:
Bruce Robertson wrote:
I'm intrigued by the ability of these Japanese birds to operate over Japan, thereby conserving power ... Is this GIS technology ... >or is
there a more simple approach at play?
The usual approach is "don't speak unless spoken to". A command receiver operates continuously on board the spacecraft, but the transmitter, transponder or other high power payload only turns on in direct response to commands and then turn itself off some short time later.
-Joe KM1P
In my original question I mistyped GIS for *GPS*; what I wondered was if these birds 'knew' their position by GPS satellite readings. It seems most believe that they don't, that a groundstation in Japan gives a wakeup transmission.
73, Bruce VE9QRP