10 Jun
2010
10 Jun
'10
1:50 p.m.
AO-7 has normally switched modes every other day except during periods of eclipse when it stays in Mode B. On June 8th, it was in Mode A as predicted, however, when it was supposed to switch to Mode B between 0200 and 0500 on June 9th, the AO-7 log reported that it was heard in Mode B at 0407z by SP9TTX and then was reported off on the next pass at 0600z. When it came back on at 0800z, it was in Mode A rather than Mode B. Then it switched back to Mode B on the 10th at the normal time. In other words, it has skipped a day in the switching schedule.
I didn't see any eclipse event and even if there was, the satellite would normally come back in Mode B rather than Mode A. Is there an explanation?
73, John K8YSE
John Papay john@papays.com