Thanks for all of the details about Funcube operations. I'm new to Sats and have a question: what is the technical reason that Sats don't operate in eclipse (when the solar panels are illuminated?). That seems counter intuitive to me as the Sat would have more power. Thanks for the help.
Marshall, AA0FO (em29)
what is the technical reason that Sats don't operate>in eclipse (when the solar panels are illuminated?). >That seems counter intuitive to me as the Sat would >have more power.
Eclipse in this context means the satellite can't see the sun since the satellite is in the Earth's shadow. I suspect you're thinking of eclipse from the perspective of an observer on the earth.
73, Ryan AI6DO
The primary mission of these satellites is education, not amateur communications. As such, in daylight the primary payload is active at full power (the telemetry beacons, they are deafening when the transponder is off). On the weekends and at night, when the primary users otherwise do not need the satellite, they turn over the transponder to our use. I would actually guess that the transponder uses less overall power than the full power telemetry due to reduced duty cycle at lower power on the transponder, particularly while it flies over remote areas.
73, Gabe NJ7H/VE6NJH
On Jul 30, 2017, at 8:48 AM, MrToby mrtoburen7@gmail.com wrote:
Thanks for all of the details about Funcube operations. I'm new to Sats and have a question: what is the technical reason that Sats don't operate in eclipse (when the solar panels are illuminated?). That seems counter intuitive to me as the Sat would have more power. Thanks for the help.
Marshall, AA0FO (em29) _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
You have your terminology backwards.
When the satellite is "eclipsed" or "in eclipse", it's in the Earth's shadow, and running strictly on it's internal batteries.
73, Jim KQ6EA
On 07/30/2017 01:48 PM, MrToby wrote:
Thanks for all of the details about Funcube operations. I'm new to Sats and have a question: what is the technical reason that Sats don't operate in eclipse (when the solar panels are illuminated?). That seems counter intuitive to me as the Sat would have more power. Thanks for the help.
Marshall, AA0FO (em29) _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
participants (4)
-
Gabriel Zeifman -
Jim Jerzycke -
MrToby -
Ryan Noguchi