In this week I received many reports from all over the world about faults of HO-68 telemetry beacon. After we analyzed situation of the satellite, we think that the software of payload management MPU was not running properly, the communication of onboard data bus between payload management MPU and the satellite management unit was stopped because of the software crashes. It led to the beacon problem and abnormal switch of transponder.
Today we switched the satellite into safety mode at 0300Z , turn off most of onboard units, and then we re-powered up at 0440Z, the satellite was back to normal operating mode, so far the beacon operates normally.
We will not upload command to the satellite for transponder operating skeds of next week, we will monitor continually in next week. Please send your report if you find any abnormal operation of HO-68.
73!
Alan Kung, BA1DU HO-68(XW-1) Project Manager www.camsat.cn