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

Wed Sep 5 06:57:56 PDT 2012

You are right here, it was AO-10 that was damaged by the collision.  I
didn't remember that AO-40 had an engine issue but that explains quite a
bit.  It would be difficult to get some sort of rocket aboard the ISS now
that the space shuttle missions are finished but it's just an idea.  Maybe
when the next generation of "Space Shuttles" come on line (yeah, right)
we'll have that opportunity again.

Kevin

From: Greg Dolkas [mailto:ko6th.greg at gmail.com] 
Sent: Tuesday, September 04, 2012 10:27 PM
To: Kevin Muenzler
Cc: amsat-bb at amsat.org
Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Re: AO40 replacement !!!

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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