[amsat-bb] ST5 Microsats - Ideal LEO Orbit ?

["Trevor M5AKA" <m5aka@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

The three ST5 Microsats launched yesterday seen to have gone into an 
interesting LEO orbit, see

http://www.southgatearc.org/news/march2006/st5_launched.htm

They are in an eliptic orbit 300 km * 4500 km. While the perigee is a bit on 
the low side a Mode A or B Amateur satellite with omni antennas in such an 
orbit would have passes significantly longer than Oscar 7, provide very good 
DX working but still give a reasonable signal strength from a simple low 
power satellite.

I wonder if there'd be any opportunities in the future for an Amateur 
payload on such a launch ?

73 Trevor M5AKA
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