SB SPACE @ ARL $ARLS002
ARLS002 AO-27 orbit affecting operating periods

ZCZC AS02  
QST de W1AW  
Space Bulletin 002  ARLS002
From ARRL Headquarters  
Newington, CT  January 23, 2003
To all radio amateurs

SB SPACE ARL ARLS002
ARLS002 AO-27 orbit affecting operating periods

According to AMSAT-NA, several stations recently have reported
hearing AO-27's transponder on the air at unexpected times. AO-27's
orbit has moved the satellite into a period of full-orbit solar
illumination, explained Mike Seguin, N1JEZ. Because of this, the
timed eclipse power regulator (TEPR) method of timing the
transmitter does not work. As a result, AO-27's transmitter can only
be turned on by ground-station command.

Seguin said controllers will try to turn AO-27 on for analog work
during weekends, when controllers are not downloading telemetry.
Right now, however, controllers are working on new flight software
that will permit uploading a transmitter schedule for the
transmitter.

"This will take us some time to write, debug, and upload to AO-27,"
he said. Seguin requested that operators be patient during this
process and refrain from e-mails to AO-27 command stations asking
when the satellite will be on. Seguin noted that during seasons of
full-orbit solar illumination, controllers will be able to have
AO-27's transmitter on at night and for different parts of the
world.
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