AO-40/P3Dアップデート |  |
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JAMSAT 日本アマチュア衛星通信協会
AO-40/Phase 3DアップデートFeb. 2001 | Jan. 2001 | Dec. 2000 | Nov. 2000 JAMSAT
Since my report from late December, command stations have implemented the strategy which I had outlined. The first priority was to determine which command-uplink channels were available. This work was difficult, very time consuming (and for the satellite) somewhat dangerous due to the unknowns. The command stations did a magnificent job! Due to their combined efforts I can report the following findings: 1. After some blind transmissions to test the omni-antennas around apogee (that failed to produce a response), the scheduler was activated and programmed in such a way as to prevent lock-out. This strategy turned out to be very prudent and the scheduler-operation went smoothly and resulted in no additional anomalies. 2. The scheduler then took AO-40 through a number of modes, which allowed the P3D team to determine the following: a. V, U and L-1 receivers work b. V, U and L high-gain antennas work c. U and L low-gain antennas do not work d. the status of the V-band low-gain antenna has not been finally determined. Apogee blinds tests are in progress as I write this to accurately determine the status of this antenna 3. As Peter has noted, the V-band transmitter was operated for one MA-unit. It demonstrated a marked temperature increase, but no signal was heard. This was a quick-look test and this result should not be considered final. Further tests will be necessary (including the need to determine if the matrix was set properly). These tests will have to wait until the spin rate is reduced to ensure that the satellites heat-pipes will be able to handle the dissipation for extended periods. 4. Magnetorquing was started to reduce spin and the first indications are a loss of around 0.5 rpm - roughly consistent with theoretical predictions. We can conclude that the system works. In order to use Earth-sensing data, a small additional program needs to be installed which stores data at apogee for later recovery when telemetry reception becomes available. What's next? During the next days the attitude control system should be returned to full functionality. It will be used to reduce the spin to a value consistent with heat-pipe operation and also with the requirements to change attitude. These changes are necessary for sun-angle constraints, communication access and also to reduce the effect of our ongoing mass-loss on perigee altitude. Newer model calculations show that the mass loss could be larger than my previous estimates; thus it would be prudent to use the resulting thrust to increase perigee altitude (right now it is decreasing it). Once the spin/attitude situation is under control, we will continue the check-out of other systems (such as): 1. Determine the status of the V-band transmitter (controlled experiments) 2. Determine the status of the U-band transmitter 3. Determine the serviceability of the Arcjet to determine if it can be planned on for a strategy toward an improved orbit 4. Test the momentum wheels to determine if AO-40 can be put into a three-axis mode which would greatly reduce the impact of the loss of the omni-antennas Present data so far indicates that although we have lost some systems in AO-40, there has been no further deterioration after the second incident. In particular, if ATOS and three-axis stabilization are still serviceable, AO-40 will still be able to produce a large fraction of the Amateur Radio service expected from it. Personally, I am optimistic and I believe that the command-and engineering team stand a good chance of turning AO-40 into an extremely useful Amateur Radio satellite. 73, Dr. Karl Meinzer, DJ4ZC From DB2OS: Because of Magnetorquing action some additional FM wobbling may be noted on the S-band downlink when the magnetorquers are in action. If successful, the Magnetorquing attitude control system will allow us to spin 'down' the spacecraft and adjust the attitude for a better sun and squint angle. However, there is a sign of a small leak, which we believe is also the reason for the higher spin rate we are seeing. The internal pressures of the propellant tanks are measured by discrete pressure transducers which are part of the PFA module. While the transducers could be damaged, it seems to be very unlikely. So for now the reason for the leak and the possible effects are under investigation and results will be reported when a final conclusion is made. At the moment we clearly have priorities and the most important one is to bring AO-40 back into 'normal' mode as soon as possible. Depending on the outcome of these tests we can devise a new schedule that best exploits our currently known communications capability. AO-40 command-station operator Stacey Mills, W4SM, has done a long-term calculation of AO-40's current orbit in the unlikely event that a malfunction within AO-40's propulsion system means that no further orbital maneuvers could take place. W4SM calculates the current orbit will be stable for a very long period. Both the W4SM orbit calculation and the measured AO-40 beacon frequencies (during RF testing in Kourou) have been posted to the AMSAT-DL web site. View the information at: http://www.amsat-dl.org/journal/adlj-p3d.htm 73, Peter, DB2OS
JAMSAT SCOPE Team
Subject: AO40: V-TX test 皆さん 高利得アンテナに接続されたV帯の送信機は、17:31と17:35 UTCの間1 MAにわたってVK5AGRによってオーストリア上空でONされました。送信機の温度は16.6Cから約28Cへと上昇しましたが、グラハムは2mでのAO-40のテレメトリーを検出できませんでした。 残念ながら、そのテスト時点で受信していたS帯テレメトリーはエラーフリーではなく、いくつかの有用なテレメトリーが欠けていたようです。 V帯(2m)送信機はおそらく、次の何周かのうちに再度テストする必要があるでしょう。 マグネトルキングも実際に開始されました。次に近地点を過ぎた後、その結果が解析されます。 コマンドチーム、とくにこの作業のために現地時間の3AMに起きてくれたグラハムに感謝します。 73s Peter DB2OS |
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