Following up on David's (G0MRF) post about the ion engine, the ESA Goce satellite mission, due to launch next week, uses a nifty ion engine which you can see at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7935621.stm
I believe these engines will soon become "practical" for use in satellite orbital modification. David presented a fine paper at the 2008 AMSAT Symposium in Atlanta showing how it would be possible to launch (relatively inexpensively) to LEO and then over time, using small thrust engines, modify the orbit to MEO. He also shows how the MEO orbit could provide a significant portion of a HEO's orbit visibility time.
Possibly a reduced cost way to achieve extended satellite visibility at a price tag much less than the $8 to $10 million dollar GTO launch cost.
If any of our members/readers have leads/contacts with folks doing ion engine development work that might be looking for a satellite test vehicle, please contact me off list.
Regards...Bill - N6GHz`
Bill Ress wrote:
Following up on David's (G0MRF) post about the ion engine, the ESA Goce satellite mission, due to launch next week, uses a nifty ion engine which you can see at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7935621.stm
As the article says, "this is a beautiful satellite" !
I notice that it has an S band downlink, It would be interesting to see if we could hear it.
The ion engine is just way cool.
regards
Tim
On Wed, 18 Mar 2009 08:53:43 +1100 "Tim Tuck" timt@skybase.net wrote:
Bill Ress wrote:
Following up on David's (G0MRF) post about the ion engine, the ESA Goce satellite mission, due to launch next week, uses a nifty ion engine which you can see at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7935621.stm
As the article says, "this is a beautiful satellite" !
I notice that it has an S band downlink, It would be interesting to see if we could hear it.
It should be possible if you can receive 2.2-2.3 GHz (I don't know the exact frequency). It is at a very low altitude ~280km so it is even closer than the ISS.
By the way, those who were watching the live video stream from ESOC could hear some beep-beeps at first AOS 90 min after launch.
73 Alex OZ9AEC
participants (3)
-
Alexandru Csete -
Bill Ress -
Tim Tuck