There are several new pieces of software that need to be uploaded and tested this week on AO-51. Additionally the S band transmitter will be on for an as of yet undetermined number of daylight passes over the Air Force Academy ground station in Colorado Springs, Colorado. These passes will be used for the ground station checkout on S band prior to the launch of Falconsat-3 satellite, now scheduled in late February. FS-3 carries an amateur payload along with its primary science mission. If you find the 435.300 repeater to be inactive, please be patient as we cooperate with our friends at the USAFA as they prepare their station for the launch of a new satellite including an amateur payload, and as the command team continues to upload and test new AO-51 software. More details on the upgrades and Falconsat-3 will be made available soon.
73, Drew KO4MA