I'm no expert on AO-40, but to the best of my knowledge, the solar panels are not retractable - they are fixed in place. The satellite cannot be commanded "on", as the shorted batteries shunt virtually all of the solar panel output, such that either the command receiver is not operating at all, or there is simply not enough juice to switch anything. Our best hope is that someday, the batteries will fail open, just as AO-7's batteries did, and AO-40 comes back to life when adequately illuminated.
George, KA3HSW
Four of the solar panels are retractable but not released. Please see some old pictures. As the orientation of AO-40 is not known it is better that the panels are kept around the satellite. If they still exists... There is enough power from a single panel to run IHU and some beacon if the bus wires and electronics are not damaged. Some sensors indicated that sun is shining into the satellite so there may be big hole(s) in it. Not sure about that raport though. Have to check out that. The beacons were loud with the omnis and data was easily received with rubber duck and hand held radio. Miss that fine telemetry sound.
I have allways said that the world would be different if AO-40 were alive.
Jari, OH3UW