[amsat-bb] Issues with ISS digipeater this morning?

[Mac A. Cody]

Actually, the opposite is the case. The amateur satellites have somewhat
higher orbits.  For example, AO-85 (Fox-1A) has an orbit of 518x810km
(321.7x503.1 miles).  The other amateur satellites are in similar orbits
if not higher.

Cubesats launched from the ISS will remain in orbit only a few months
before atmospheric drag causes them to re-enter the Earth's atmosphere.
This is why there are thrusters on the ISS that keep it in its orbit.  
One of
the significant payloads in the resupply rockets is fuel for these 
thrusters.

Regarding the ISS packet transmitter - I wonder if the power setting on
the transceiver have been reduced for some reason.  That might explain
the weaker signal.  Just  a thought.

73,

Mac Cody / AE5PH
AMSAT Member 40065

On 05/16/2017 10:01 PM, Jeff Moore wrote:
> ISS has a much higher orbit than the other sats  ~250 miles vs ~150 miles
> or so for other LEO sats IIRC!
>
> Jeff Moore  --  KE7ACY
>
> On Tue, May 16, 2017 at 7:31 PM, Douglas Tabor <dtabor at estesvalley.net>
> wrote:
>
>> Having just joined (last 2 weeks) the APRS world with my TH-D72, I’ve
>> heard a lot of ISS packets coming down, but was unable to make contacts
>> until I got the Arrow pointed at the ISS. NO-84 on the other hand, I’ve
>> been able to contact using the stock rubber-duck on my TH-D72. Something
>> ain’t quite right here.
>>
>> 73,
>>
>> Doug, N6UA
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