[amsat-bb] PSAT2 Anomaly?

[Robert Bruninga]

The usual PSAT2 downlink stopped after 0809z today in a pass over SE USA.
Ground Stations are fine because its sister, USNAP1, is still downlinking
via the usual ground stations.
Both downlinks visible on http://aprs.org/sats.html

A cessation of our Amateur packet telemetry design has never happened in 18
years in space over 6 successful spacecraft other than the occasional low
power crash which is fixed after the next eclipse on the next pass or so.
But never a complete cessation.

Since the UHF side is independent,  we welcome folks to listen to the UHF
downlink 435.350 +/- Doppler and verify if that is working.  Remember, it
must be in daylight for the SSTV downlink to be on.

Fortunately we do have one report of an SSTV image at 1340z from Gustave
LW2DTZ.  If we have another confirmation that UHF has been heard, then we
can rule out a possible collision with space debris. (we get notificaitons
of near conjunctions passing within 500m about every day or so, but after 18
years we have come to ignore them.  Maybe this one hit?

And it was working so well!
Bob, WB4APR