SSETI Express is now Express OSCAR
XO-53
I delighted to be able to report that, following a formal request
from the SSETI Express Project Manager Neil Melville earlier this
month, the SSETI Express satellite has been given the designation
Express OSCAR 53.
The whole Express team is of course delighted at the award of this
designation and Neil's acknowledgement email to Bill Tynan W3XO
today really says it all.
"On behalf of the SSETI Express team I'd like to thank
you and the Board for granting SSETI Express an OSCAR number.
As you are no doubt aware XO-53, to use its new designation, has
some significant problems right now. However, we remain vigilant
and hopeful, perhaps it can be recovered.
Your recognition of our efforts is much appreciated and a real landmark
in the cooperation between the SSETI community and the Amateur Radio
community. Long may this cooperation continue!"
Analysis of the actual cause of present problems is continuing
at a number of centres and a full review will take place a full
meeting at ESTEC later this month. It is expected that more information
will be available after that.
In the meantime a number of automated groundstations have been
setup in Europe to listen for Express on 437.250 MHz on every pass
but valid reception reports from amateurs around the world would
of course be very very welcome!
Reports should be emailed to missioncontrol@sseti.net
and if you do hear it first we can promise you a bigger prize than
just a special T shirt!
We believe that there is a small but finite chance of recovery
so your efforts could be very worthwhile.
Best 73 and thanks for the great support that Express has had from
everyone!
Graham G3VZV
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