Hi Kevin,
Two comments...
1. I belive it was AO-10 that was damaged by a collision with the launch vehicle. AO-40 had a problem with it's on-board rocket motor, which exploded shortly after it's first burn, taking a good bit of the satellite with it. Only through an extraordinary effort by the command team did they get what was left working again. Amazing bird (and amazing command team!).
2. ISS assembly is an interesting idea, but I have a really hard time believing you'd get anything resembling a rocket motor to be shipped up to the ISS. That would comdemn the bird to be in a low and short-lived orbit. Unless they could convince the Russians to turn the Progress around and fire the retro engines the other way to RAISE it's orbit instead of trashing it into the planet? Bolt our sat to the side. Sort of a SuitSat on steroids? Wonder how high it could go?
But, keep the ideas coming.
Greg KO6TH
On Tue, Sep 4, 2012 at 3:40 PM, Kevin Muenzler < [email protected]> wrote:
In my opinion (it's worth every penny you just paid for it) if they are going to create a new super sophisticated "Phase III Part Deux" it should perhaps be taken to the ISS in pieces, assembled there and blown into a long-period orbit. But then that's just my opinion. If I remember correctly AO-40 was damaged by a collision with the launch vehicle shortly after separation. Of course a new generation of easy-sats that can be worked using a J-pole setup would be nice too.
Kevin Muenzler, WB5RUE Grid EL09uf Eagle Creek Observatory http://www.eaglecreekobservatory.org I can melt ice with my mind, it just takes a few minutes.
-----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Prof. Arnaldo Coro Antich Sent: Tuesday, September 04, 2012 5:21 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: AO40 replacement !!!
Just read a posting about a possible replacement for the ill fated super sophisticated over-engineered ultra complex AO40 satellite. My perception is that any attempt to create a New Generation Molnya Orbit Satellite must undergo a very serious and comprehensive engineering research , in order to keep it within an area of simplicity that will make possible a much higher degree of reliability. No, it is not a call for an ultra simple parrot satellite, or a medium level of sophistication... what I am proposing is to achieve a consensus on how to keep the new satellite within engineering performance parameters that will help to keep costs down, increase the MTBF ( Mean Time Between Failures ) of its equipment, and also to achieve a high degree of operational control so that it can be kept working for a long time. In the meantime, until an AO40 Molnya satellite may be designed and funds can be found to build it and then obtain a piggy back ride on a launch... it would be nice to try to assemble one or more satellites that could follow the very effective and practical designs of the RS10, RS12 and RS 15... If such satellites are built they will certainly be most welcome at a worldwide scale, especially now that heliophysicists ( i.e. solar scientists ) are almost sure that the present solar cycle and the one following are going to bring monthly sunspot averages not seen in more than a century !!! Maybe this posting could start a very productive thread on the AMSAT.BB amigos !!! It would be nice to hear opinions and points of view from all around the world on this topic 73 and DX Prof. Arnaldo Coro Antich ( AKA Arnie Coro ) Emergency Coordinator IARU Region II Area C Host of Dxers Unlimited radio hobby program Radio Havana Cuba _______________________________________________ Sent via [email protected]. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Sent via [email protected]. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb