[amsat-bb] Re: AO-51 end of mission

[Mani VU2WMY]

Dear Friends,
It is really a sad news. Bidding a farewell to AO-51 with a very heavy heart.

Looking at the success, we all at Upagrah Amateur Radio Club VU2URC at  
ISRO Satellite Centre and AMSAT-India express our heartfelt and  
sincere thanks, appreciations and compliments to the entire AO-51  
(ECHO) team.

The AO-51 mission is accomplished with a great and complete success.  
AO-51 was truly one of the best amateur radio satellites. It was a  
very favorite for many of our VU hams for its strong signals and ease  
of operations. we really enjoyed on being AO 51 very long time and it  
is really hard to bid a farewell to this wonderful bird.

'Thank you AO-51 for your great and fruitful services to the World of  
Amateur Radio'.

Our congratulations to the entire control & command team for their  
extra-ordinary efforts and incredible technical competence exhibited  
in keeping up this 'Cute Little Boy' healthy & alive in orbit for such  
a long period of time.

We take this opportunity to thank each & every one associated with  
this great project and wish AMSAT-NA all the success in their future  
endeavors. We at Upagrah Amateur Radio Club VU2URC at ISRO Satellite  
Centre and AMSAT-India assure all the possible and best help for the  
common cause of Amateur Radio.


73 es good wishes for a 'Happy Christmas & New Year'.

Mani, VU2WMY
Secretary & Station-In-Charge
Upagrah Amateur Radio Club VU2URC
ISRO Satellite Centre
HAL Airport Road, Bangalore-560 017.

Technical Committee Member
AMSAT-India

Phone:(O)91-80-25082054/2598/2192
Mobile:  91-80-98803 41456
E-mail ID: wmy at isac.gov.in
            vu2wmy_mani at yahoo.com
            isrohams at yahoo.com





Quoting Andrew Glasbrenner <glasbrenner at mindspring.com>:

> It is with a heavy heart I report that AO-51 has ceased transmission  
> and is not responding to commands. The last telemetry data indicated  
> that the third of six batteries was approaching failure to short,  
> and observations indicate the voltage from three cells is  
> insufficient to power the UHF transmitters. The IHU may continue to  
> be operative.  Initial tests with the S band transmitter were also  
> not positive, although more attempts are in order. We have tried  
> leaving the satellite in an expected state where if voltages climb  
> high enough, the 435.150 transmitter may possibly be heard.
>
> The command team will regularly attempt communications with the  
> satellite over the coming months (and years). There is always the  
> possibility that a cell will open and we could once again talk to  
> our friend while illuminated. Thanks to all who helped fund, design,  
> build, launch, command, and operate AO-51.  It's 7 year mission has  
> been extraordinary. Please support AMSAT's Fox-1 project, and other  
> AMSAT projects worldwide with your time and money.
>
> For the AO-51 Command Team,
>
> 73, Drew KO4MA
> AMSAT-NA VP Operations
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
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