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

[Andrew Glasbrenner]

On 11/29/2011 3:37 PM, John Geiger wrote:
> Yes, thanks for all of the great work with AO51.  I do have a 
> question, though.  Please don't think that I am being critical of 
> AO51, the design team, or the command team, because I am not.  That 
> have all done a great job.  What I am curious about is this: AO27 has 
> been going for 18 years and is still doing fine.  AO51 made it around 
> 6 years.  What is the main difference between the 2 satellites that 
> might explain the 300% difference in operational life?
> 73s John AA5JG

It's a fair question.

AO-27 runs a 500mw transmitter for around 8-9 minutes, while 
illuminated, per each 100 minute orbit.

AO-51 for most of it's life, ran -two- transmitters at 300mw to over 1w 
each, worldwide, and most of the time through eclipse.

That should make the difference more apparent.

73, Drew KO4MA