It might be an "Urban Legend" But I always remember that those early birds antennas were simply made from tape measure like materials. And they were simply rolled up when the bird was installed into the rocket. Then after launch and the bird was spat out the antennas simply "Twanged" out to their extended position.
Joe WB9SBD *************
*The Original Rolling Ball Clock Idle-Tyme.com http://www.idle-tyme.com*
Greg D. wrote:
Great article!
But a question that has always nagged me... Perhaps someone on the BB knows the answer?
I understand that the early Oscars got their ride into space by replacing a piece of concrete (or similar dead weight material) with our satellite. That's why they have the shape that they do (looking like a segment of a ring).
But what about the antenna? Was it deployed after launch, or did it ride into space already sticking out the side? An on-orbit deploy would have been excessively complicated for that era (it's even difficult today!), but I can't see something like that surviving launch intact, either.
Anybody know?
Greg KO6TH
Date: Wed, 30 Dec 2009 23:07:25 +0000 From: m5aka@yahoo.co.uk To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] ARRL Sat Article
http://www.arrl.org/news/features/2009/12/30/11270/?nc=1
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