[amsat-bb] RE strange orbit

["Steven Bienvenu" <sbienvenu@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Nigel,

I suspect their "state of the art" satellites are out of gas, so are no longer
"adjustable" in their orbits.
Therefore, due to the perturbations in effect at that altitude, they begin to
drift and describe a vertical "figure
of eight" as seen against the sky over 24 hours- with one loop above, and the
other below its original orbital track.

If so, then those sats have been up there quite a while and though not running
on tube technology, aren't
likely state of the art, either.  Apparently if you are willing to chase the
sat around the figure of eight, or
otherwise make up for alignment mismatch, then the price must be right.

Surely, the fellows here can give us more information about the Sirius
broadcast downlink factors in
particular.

73,

Steve  W5ZA
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