[amsat-bb] FUNcube operations

[Graham Shirville]

Hi All,

FUNcube-1

    As you will know, AO73/FUNcube-1 has been in full sunlight for over
    one month and has been transmitting continuously high power
    telemetry for most of that time. This has now been changed to full
    time amateur mode so the transponder is once again available. With
    the more stable on board temperatures being experienced, this means
    that the transponder frequencies are also now more stable. We expect
    to leave it in this mode for some weeks so that the team can
    determine whether or not the currents flowing from the solar panels
    are having any noticeable effect on the spin period.

FUNcube-2

    The FUNcube-2 transponder on UKube-1 continues to be in full time
    transponder mode. There are occasional breaks in service for a few
    seconds when the OBC reboots and the other onboard transmitter sends
    its CW beacon.

FUNcube -3 on Nayif-1

    EO88/Nayif-1 continues to perform nominally with high power
    telemetry when in sunlight and amateur mode when in eclipse.

With their slightly different orbital characteristics it is useful that 
AO73 is now the early bird, EO88 comes over in the mid morning and UKube 
provides coverage in the afternoon.

We have been suffering from some network issues in relation to uploading 
the telemetry from the Dashboards to the Data Warehouse over the past 
couple of weeks. Apologies for this, but hopefully everything is now 
stable again. ie fingers are still crossed. Thank you for all the 
telemetry that you upload.

Like many other teams, we are presently waiting for the next Space-X 
launch from Vandenberg which is expected to be carrying a number of new 
amateur payloads, These will provide additional transponder and STEM 
capabilities for the amateur satellite service. Exciting times ahead.

73
Graham
G3VZV