[amsat-bb] Re: AO40 replacement !!!

[Greg Dolkas]

Hi Kevin,

Two comments...

1.  I belive it was AO-10 that was damaged by a collision with the launch
vehicle.  AO-40 had a problem with it's on-board rocket motor, which
exploded shortly after it's first burn, taking a good bit of the satellite
with it.  Only through an extraordinary effort by the command team did they
get what was left working again.  Amazing bird (and amazing command team!).

2.  ISS assembly is an interesting idea, but I have a really hard time
believing you'd get anything resembling a rocket motor to be shipped up to
the ISS.  That would comdemn the bird to be in a low and short-lived
orbit.  Unless they could convince the Russians to turn the Progress around
and fire the retro engines the other way to RAISE it's orbit instead of
trashing it into the planet?  Bolt our sat to the side.  Sort of a SuitSat
on steroids?  Wonder how high it could go?

But, keep the ideas coming.

Greg  KO6TH


On Tue, Sep 4, 2012 at 3:40 PM, Kevin Muenzler <
kevin at eaglecreekobservatory.org> wrote:

> In my opinion (it's worth every penny you just paid for it) if they are
> going to create a new super sophisticated "Phase III Part Deux" it should
> perhaps be taken to the ISS in pieces, assembled there and blown into a
> long-period orbit.  But then that's just my opinion.  If I remember
> correctly AO-40 was damaged by a collision with the launch vehicle shortly
> after separation.  Of course a new generation of easy-sats that can be
> worked using a J-pole setup would be nice too.
>
> Kevin Muenzler, WB5RUE
> Grid EL09uf
> Eagle Creek Observatory
> http://www.eaglecreekobservatory.org
> I can melt ice with my mind, it just takes a few minutes.
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: amsat-bb-bounces at amsat.org [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces at amsat.org] On
> Behalf Of Prof. Arnaldo Coro Antich
> Sent: Tuesday, September 04, 2012 5:21 PM
> To: amsat-bb at amsat.org
> Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: AO40 replacement !!!
>
> Just read a posting about a possible replacement for the ill fated super
> sophisticated over-engineered ultra complex AO40 satellite.
> My perception is that any attempt to create a New Generation Molnya Orbit
> Satellite must undergo a very serious and comprehensive engineering
> research
> , in order to keep it within an area of simplicity that will make possible
> a
> much higher degree of reliability.
> No, it is not a call for an ultra simple parrot satellite, or a medium
> level
> of sophistication...
> what I am proposing is to achieve a consensus on how to keep the new
> satellite within engineering performance parameters that will help to keep
> costs down, increase the MTBF ( Mean Time Between Failures ) of its
> equipment, and also to achieve a high degree of operational control so that
> it can be kept working for a long time.
> In the meantime, until an AO40 Molnya satellite may be designed and funds
> can be found to build it and then obtain a piggy back ride on a launch...
> it
> would be nice to try to assemble one or more satellites that could follow
> the very effective and practical designs of the RS10, RS12 and RS 15...
> If such satellites are built they will certainly be most welcome at a
> worldwide scale, especially now that heliophysicists ( i.e. solar
> scientists
> ) are almost sure that the present solar cycle and the one following are
> going to bring monthly sunspot averages not seen in more than a century !!!
> Maybe this posting could start a very productive thread on the AMSAT.BB
> amigos !!!
> It would be nice to hear opinions and points of view from all around the
> world on this topic
> 73 and DX
> Prof. Arnaldo Coro Antich ( AKA Arnie Coro ) Emergency Coordinator IARU
> Region II Area C Host of Dxers Unlimited radio hobby program Radio Havana
> Cuba _______________________________________________
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