[amsat-bb] AO-40 info needed

[Art Goldman <aegoldm@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I'm scheduled to give a presentation about AO-40 to our club
meeting this Tuesday.

VE7LDH has kindly made some of her slides available --
thanks Laura!

What I would like to do is give an up to date status of
AO-40.

I'm assuming the spin rate is now down below 9 RPM headed
for around 5. On what axis are the antennas; on what axis is
the spin; and what are ALON and ALAT right now? In fact, if
someone has a diagram showing the satellite's orbit,
orientation, and how it is spinning, that would be ideal. I
was thinking of trying to simulate it in Java 3D but I don't
really have enough time before next Tuesday. (Of course if
someone has already done it....)

I did discover NASA's wonderful JTrack applet. I took some
3D screen shots which I plan on using. It shows our highly
elliptical orbit quite nicely. If I can get an internet
connection from the meeting room I'll run it live from
there.

This is a great site to learn about satellites:
http://liftoff.msfc.nasa.gov

JTrack itself is a 3D Java applet that lets you use the
mouse to change your viewing angle in real time. It's very
well done.

In any case, my goal is to try to explain a very little bit
about what happened, what it takes to just to receive the S
Mode beacon right now, and how they plan on re-orienting the
Spacecraft so it becomes usable by the general ham
community. Anything you all can provide toward this end
would be appreciated.

Tnx and 73,
Art, N3OY


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