AO-51 Recovered

The AO-51 Command Team successfully recovered the satellite this week after its software crashed.

Gould, WA4SXM along with Kevin, WA6FWF uploaded and re-started the code. AO-51 is operational in normal mode:
V/U analog 145.920/435.300 on TXB & command station digital on TXA.

Heating is the Command Team's main concern during this no eclipse period. Two different strageties have been studied to prevent over- heating from too much solar exposure. The first alternative includes turning the transmitter off to not generate additional heat. The second alternative involves turning the transmitter to as high as power setting as possible to use the sunlight that is converted to electricity which is then radiated out the antenna.

The Command Team decided that the best approach was to use as much energy as possible. When the satellite software crashed Sunday all transmitters stopped operation. They found Battery 1 had a temperature of 41-42 C, which is too hot. Keeping high TX power (2.28W) on TXA for one orbit as soon as command was recovered resulted in the temperature of battery 1 reducing down to 36C.

Gould summarized, "Everything is looking well so far and we are getting consistent data, with the FM repeater transmitter power setting of at 1.12 W". The telemetry link is operating L/U BB mode at 500 mW.

Joe, K3SZH says he was able to contact David, G1OCN via AO-51. It was a short contact since the satellite was only 1 degree above Joe's horizon.

Gould, WA4SXM
AO-51 Command Team