{"id":3910,"date":"2013-08-12T05:46:52","date_gmt":"2013-08-12T05:46:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=3910"},"modified":"2013-08-12T05:46:52","modified_gmt":"2013-08-12T05:46:52","slug":"amsat-oscar-7-zombie-satellite-continues-on-after-battery-death","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=3910","title":{"rendered":"AMSAT OSCAR-7 “Zombie” satellite continues on after battery death"},"content":{"rendered":"

The AMSAT-OSCAR 7 (AO-7)<\/a> satellite was launched into orbit on November 15, 1974 on a Delta 2310<\/a> rocket from Cape Canaveral as a secondary payload. Like many AMSAT spacecraft, it demonstrated a number of firsts<\/em>:<\/p>\n

* Satellite-to-satellite relay communication via AO-6.
\n* Early demonstrations of low-budget medical data relay and Doppler location of ground transmitters for search-and-rescue operations were done using this satellite.
\n* The Mode-B transponder was the first using “HELAPS” (High Efficient Linear Amplification by Parametric Synthesis) technology was developed by Dr. Karl Meinzer as part of his Ph.D.
\n* First to fly a Battery Charge Regulator (BCR).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The spacecraft went silent in 1981, presumably when its batteries gave out. However, in 2002 it was discovered to be working again and remains semi-operational till today: Ham Radio in Space: AO-7 “Zombie” Satellite Again Enjoying Its Time in the Sun – ARRL Letter<\/a><\/p>\n

The ham satellite organization theorizes that AO-7’s batteries shorted when they failed, but the short circuit subsequently opened, allowing the satellite to return to life. This means AO-7 only works when it’s receiving direct sunlight and shuts down when in eclipse. Since the satellite became undead, terrestrial users have enjoyed numerous contacts via AO-7.<\/p>\n

“AO-7 is alive and doing okay,” satellite observer Frank Griffin, K4FEG, reported this week. “This season’s eclipse cycle has ended.” Griffin explained that the eclipse period, during which AO-7 falls silent, lasts about 9 weeks, from mid-spring to mid-summer. According to its operating plan<\/a>, AO-7 switches to Mode B (70 centimeters up\/2 meters down) at 0000 UTC.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The AMSAT-OSCAR 7 (AO-7) satellite was launched into orbit on November 15, 1974 on a Delta 2310 rocket from Cape Canaveral as a secondary payload. Like many AMSAT spacecraft, it demonstrated a number of firsts: * Satellite-to-satellite relay communication via AO-6. * Early demonstrations of low-budget medical data relay and Doppler location of ground transmitters … Continue reading AMSAT OSCAR-7 “Zombie” satellite continues on after battery death<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,32],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3910","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-amateurstudent-satellite","category-space-radio"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p34aWK-114","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":19430,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=19430","url_meta":{"origin":3910,"position":0},"title":"Student and amateur CubeSat news roundup – Aug.12.2019","author":"TopSpacer","date":"August 12, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"A sampling of recent articles, press releases, etc. related to student and amateur CubeSat \/ SmallSat projects and programs: ** Virginia Tech awarded NASA contract to launch and operate the LAICE CubeSat (Lower Atmosphere\/Ionosphere Coupling Experiment) as a part of the agency's CubeSat Launch Initiative program. 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