[amsat-bb] Decaying Satellites (RAFT shows it)

[Robert Bruninga]

They speed up as they re-enter and it is all over in a single orbit or so.
Lots of hams captured the re-entry of the APRS RAFT satellite and you can
see it warming over the last few days and then rapid rise in the last 12
hours or so:

http://aprs.org/craft/save-raft.html

It was still working up to 2 hours before re-entry.  Might have even been
closer, but we may not have had someone in range of it on its last
bleep...

Bob, Wb4APR

-----Original Message-----
From: AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb-bounces at amsat.org> On Behalf Of Francis Geraci
Sent: Tuesday, February 19, 2019 5:32 PM
To: Suryono Adisoemarta via AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb at amsat.org>
Subject: [amsat-bb] Decaying Satellites

I am wondering if, as a Sat. decays, getting closer to Earth, will there
be "better" comms ?
Guess they will be moving faster. Will the Keps  "decay"?  Interference
from "reentry" heating ? Battery's gone first ? Solar panels "ripped" off.
Or, Just GONE ! Orbital mechanics at it best.
Wondering what the "mechanics" of re-entry are. Can't be "pretty". Poor
little satellites. So many people, worked SO hard to get them there.
Just curious.

W1FXX - Francis
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