On a side note. Do we know the 'physical' status of AO-40? Is it still orbiting the earth? I don't believe I heard anything about it re-entering.
I do remember a conversation here on the BB some time ago about making an attempt to command AO-40 again to see if it will respond. However, the command team stated they were reluctant to do so in the event it might cause further harm to an already bad situation.
My comment would be that if this were the case what can we lose since we've gone this long without having its access. I think that if there is even a 1 percent chance of commanding it, it should be attempted since we've nothing to lose. Again, I may be in left field and missed something here, but I feel if there is a chance, it should be given a shot. If things go wrong, we're not any worse off then we have been without it being operational so long. Then again the command team may have already made an attempt and my comments are mute.
Reid, W4UPD
On 9/7/2012 6:42 AM, Mark L. Hammond wrote:
Hi Joe,
Actually, I checked on AO-16 last Saturday. I didn't even get the transmitter to come on, let alone stay on. It was a low pass, and I hope to check again in the next few weeks. If you'll remember, the problem with keeping the satellite ON is temperature related. If it gets lots of sun (little eclipse), it will be warm enough to remain on. Otherwise, it won't...and the orbit is such that it doesn't get enough sun--and it probably won't for another 10 years or so. But I check periodically.
About every week or two Drew KO4MA and I try to turn AO-51 back on. My latest try was last Saturday. Nothing heard.
IO-26 is still up there, and still humming; it needs to be turned on from time to time, so I do that. But we haven't figured out how to run it in voice like we did with AO-16; it doesn't appear possible.
Don't know about AO-10; I haven't listened for a while. And I don't know if it is expected to come on without commanding (which I cannot do).
73,
Mark N8MH
At 10:28 PM 9/6/2012 -0500, Gary "Joe" Mayfield wrote:
Has anyone checked on AO-10 or AO-16 lately?
73,
Joe kk0sd
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