RS10/11 was a wonderful bird, with a high orbit and relatively high transponder power, it was very easy to work and the coverage was quite wide. It was a perfect beginner's satellite and a lot of guys got started in satellite operation with RS-10/11.
It is too bad the Russians have not been able to continue this series. They took over the LEO/MEO activity from AMSAT when AMSAT decided to concentrate on HEOs and took it in a new and exciting direction.
I still think that the discussions we have over LEO vs HEO should be shifted to linear vs FM birds. Moving people from FM birds to linear birds opens up a whole new world of satellite operating to them and I think we would have a lot more satellite enthusiasts if we encouraged the FMers to try the linear birds. Then the progression to higher satellites would have a lot more support. - Duffey
O -- KK6MC James Duffey Cedar Crest NM