----- Original Message ----- From: "Angus McLeod" amcleod@caribsurf.com To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Saturday, September 21, 2013 9:27 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Phase 3
As far as I know, the kick-motors used on the Phase-3 birds were NOT cardboard tubes packed with homemade gunpowder. They were commercial grade motors obtained from the commercial aerospace industry. If I am wrong about this, and someone can jump in with facts, I'd be glad to hear.
Hi Angus,
The kitch apogee motors for OSCAR-10,and OSCAR-13 were solid propellant 400 Newton trust motors donated to AMSAT-DL by the Messerschmitt Aerospace Company in Germany.
The kick apogee motor for AO40 was a liquid propellant made with UMDH and nitrogen tetroxide but it failed to work because unfortunately someone before the flight forgot to remove the safety red cover over the exost valve of the fuel system and this is why after many attemps to overcome the problem the satellite got an explosion inside wich damaged most part of transponders. BTW AO40 worked fantastic in Mode U/S ,Mode L/S and Mode L/K for a long time until the main battery and the spare battery system suddently failed in short circuit.
73" de i8CVS Domenico