AO 40 Telemetry loss.

From: T. MARAIS (mtbruno@wanadoo.fr)
Date: Fri Dec 15 2000 - 05:38:14 PST

  • Next message: Ted Molczan: "USA 129 elements on 2000 Dec 15"

        Hi All,
    
        Visual observations of AO40 could be helpful if there is no recovery in next
    hours. The sat. was supposed to spin at around 9 R.P.M before maneuvers. Details on
    www.amsat.org. Please, try to look at photometric behaviour, and in the worst case,
    presence of debris :-( .
    
        Last AMSAT bulletin follows.
    
        Cheers.
    
        Thierry MARAIS.
        Paris, FRANCE.
        radio amateur station F5AFY .
    
    
    SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-349.01
    AMSAT SPECIAL BULLETIN
    ...
    AO-40 TELEMETRY TRANSMISSIONS STOP
    DEVELOPMENT TEAM INVESTIGATING
    
    Early Wednesday, December 13th, telemetry transmissions from AO-40
    stopped while work on the 400 N propulsion system was in progress. An
    investigation by the AO-40 development team has begun. They are now
    waiting for certain on-board software events to occur on Saturday
    afternoon, December 16th. These are programmed to start a spacecraft
    emergency routine called 'command-assist' which attempts to
    re-establish communications. This offers the best chance of recovering
    evidence of the incident which made the telemetry transmissions stop.
    When more information becomes available, we will pass it along.
    
    Signed,
    Dr. Karl Meinzer, DJ4ZC  (and)   Robin Haighton, VE3FRH
     President AMSAT-DL                  President AMSAT-NA
    Via the ans mailing list at AMSAT.ORG courtesy of AMSAT-NA.
    
    
    
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