AO-73 : Funcube-1

Rotation Period

24 Nov 2023 = 2.14 seconds (from the Sun Sensor Data)
25 Nov 2023 = 2.13 seconds (from the Sun Sensor Data)
26 Nov 2023 = 2.11 seconds (from the Sun Sensor Data)
27 Nov 2023 = 2.09 seconds (from the Sun Sensor Data)
28 Nov 2023 = 2.07 seconds (from the Sun Sensor Data)
29 Nov 2023 = 2.07 seconds (from the Sun Sensor Data)
30 Nov 2023 = 2.05 seconds (from the Sun Sensor Data)

Latest WOD downloaded and extracted from the real-time telemetry

73 de Colin VK5HI.

AO-73 : Funcube-1

Rotation Period

Congratulations to the AMSAT -UK team on the 10th Anniversary of the launch of AMSAT Oscar – 73.
What a magnificent bird it has turned out to be.
Congratulations to all those who were involved with getting AO-73 from concept to launch. Great job.!!!!
Kudos to all those who have managed the bird over the last 10 years.

17 Nov 2023 = 2.29 seconds (from the Sun Sensor Data)
18 Nov 2023 = 2.27 seconds (from the Sun Sensor Data)
19 Nov 2023 = 2.23 seconds (from the Sun Sensor Data)
20 Nov 2023 = 2.21 seconds (from the Sun Sensor Data)
21 Nov 2023 = 2.21 seconds (from the Sun Sensor Data)
22 Nov 2023 = 2.18 seconds (from the Sun Sensor Data)
23 Nov 2023 = 2.19 seconds (from the Sun Sensor Data)

73 de Colin VK5HI.

AO-73 : Funcube-1

Rotation Period
10 Nov 2023 = 2.38 seconds (from the Sun Sensor Data)
11 Nov 2023 = 2.38 seconds (from the Sun Sensor Data)
12 Nov 2023 = 2.36 seconds (from the Sun Sensor Data)
13 Nov 2023 = 2.48 seconds (from the Sun Sensor Data)
14 Nov 2023 = 2.35 seconds (from the Sun Sensor Data)
15 Nov 2023 = 2.35 seconds (from the Sun Sensor Data)
16 Nov 2023 = 2.32 seconds (from the Sun Sensor Data)

Latest WOD downloaded and extracted from the real-time telemetry

73 de Colin VK5HI.

AO-73 : Funcube-1

Rotation Period

03 Nov 2023 = 2.50 seconds (from the Sun Sensor Data)
04 Nov 2023 = 2.48 seconds (from the Sun Sensor Data)
05 Nov 2023 = 2.46 seconds (from the Sun Sensor Data)
06 Nov 2023 = 2.44 seconds (from the Sun Sensor Data)
07 Nov 2023 = 2.40 seconds (from the Sun Sensor Data)
08 Nov 2023 = 2.40 seconds (from the Sun Sensor Data)
09 Nov 2023 = 2.38 seconds (from the Sun Sensor Data)

73 de Colin VK5HI.

AO-73 – Funcube-1

Rotation Period

27 Oct 2023 = 2.77 seconds (from the Sun Sensor Data)
28 Oct 2023 = 2.71 seconds (from the Sun Sensor Data)
29 Oct 2023 = 2.69 seconds (from the Sun Sensor Data)
30 Oct 2023 = 2.70 seconds (from the Sun Sensor Data)
31 Oct 2023 = 2.61 seconds (from the Sun Sensor Data)
01 Nov 2023 = 2.64 seconds (from the Sun Sensor Data)
02 Nov 2023 = 2.56 seconds (from the Sun Sensor Data)


Latest WOD downloaded and extracted from real-time telemetry.

Over the last 6 or 7 weeks we have noted a slight increase in the spin rate of AO-73 after a considerable period of “stable” spin.

73 de Colin VK5HI.

AO-73 : Funcube-1

Rotation Period

My thanks to Terry VK5GU for downloading the telemetry last week.
Greatly appreciated.

13 Oct 2023 = 3.27 seconds (from the Sun Sensor Data)
14 Oct 2023 = 3.22 seconds (from the Sun Sensor Data)
15 Oct 2023 = 3.19 seconds (from the Sun Sensor Data)
16 Oct 2023 = 3.15 seconds (from the Sun Sensor Data)
17 Oct 2023 = 3.10 seconds (from the Sun Sensor Data)
18 Oct 2023 = 3.05 seconds (from the Sun Sensor Data)
19 Oct 2023 = 3.05 seconds (from the Sun Sensor Data)
20 Oct 2023 = 3.00 seconds (from the Sun Sensor Data)
21 Oct 2023 = 2.95 seconds (from the Sun Sensor Data)
22 Oct 2023 = 3.00 seconds (from the Sun Sensor Data)
23 Oct 2023 = 2.90 seconds (from the Sun Sensor Data)
24 Oct 2023 = 2.84 seconds (from the Sun Sensor Data)
25 Oct 2023 = 2.80 seconds (from the Sun Sensor Data)
26 Oct 2023 = 2.78 seconds (from the Sun Sensor Data)

Over the last 6 weeks we have noted a slight increase in the spin rate of AO-73 after a considerable period of “stable” spin.

Latest WOD downloaded and extracted from the real-time telemetry

73 de Colin VK5HI.

AO-73 : Funcube-1

Rotation Period

06 Sep 2023 = 3.50 seconds (from the Sun Sensor Data)
07 Sep 2023 = 3.41 seconds (from the Sun Sensor Data)
08 Oct 2023 = 3.44 seconds (from the Sun Sensor Data)
09 Oct 2023 = 3.39 seconds (from the Sun Sensor Data)
10 Oct 2023 = 3.34 seconds (from the Sun Sensor Data)
11 Oct 2023 = 3.31 seconds (from the Sun Sensor Data)
12 Oct 2023 = 3.29 seconds (from the Sun Sensor Data)

Latest WOD downloaded and extracted from the real time telemetry.

73 de Colin VK5HI.

AO-73 : Funcube-1

Rotation Period

29 Sep 2023 = 3.67 seconds (from the Sun Sensor Data)
30 Sep 2023 = 3.73 seconds (from the Sun Sensor Data)
01 Oct 2023 = 3.61 seconds (from the Sun Sensor Data)
02 Oct 2023 = 3.63 seconds (from the Sun Sensor Data)
03 Oct 2023 = 3.62 seconds (from the Sun Sensor Data)
04 Oct 2023 = 3.57 seconds (from the Sun Sensor Data)
05 Oct 2023 = 3.54 seconds (from the Sun Sensor Data)

73 de Colin VK5HI.

Thank you, Tetsu San JA0CAW

It was with great sadness that I learned yesterday of the death of my long-time friend Tetsu-san.
Along with Colin VK5HI, Tetsu was my mentor when I started in the satellite business over 30 years ago. He was instrumental in the success of the COMPASS-1 mission. We were a small global team then, working very closely and hand in hand every day. I am very grateful for his patience, tireless helpfulness and loyalty over the years. Many of us have missed Tetsu since last year. It is all the more sad now that the hope for an improvement has not been fulfilled. It is a great loss to the satellite community. My deepest sympathy and sincere condolences go out to his family. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, Tetsu-san…