Rotation Period

08 Oct 2021 = 15.4 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
09 Oct 2021 = 19.2 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
10 Oct 2021 = 17.5 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
11 Oct 2021 = 18.1 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
12 Oct 2021 = 21.1 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
13 Oct 2021 = 23.9 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
14 Oct 2021 = 25.0 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)

AO-73 has now entered the phase where it is spinning in a very complex attitude about the Z-Z axis with a secondary rotation about the unbalanced Centre of Inertia of AO-73.

73 de Colin VK5HI.

Rotation Period

01 Oct 2021 = 17.5 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
02 Oct 2021 = 16.1 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
03 Oct 2021 = 15.7 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
04 Oct 2021 = 14.9 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
05 Oct 2021 = 14.3 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
06 Oct 2021 = 14.5 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
07 Oct 2021 = 14.8 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)

AO-73 has now entered the phase where it is spinning in a very complex attitude about the Z-Z axis in the normal spin direction with a secondary rotation about the unbalanced Centre of Inertia of AO-73.

73 de Colin VK5HI.

Rotation Period

24 Sep 2021 = 29.3 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
25 Sep 2021 = 26.7 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
26 Sep 2021 = 24.9 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
27 Sep 2021 = 23.1 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
28 Sep 2021 = 21.8 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
29 Sep 2021 = 20.6 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
30 Sep 2021 = 18.9 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)

AO-73 continues to spin in a stable attitude about the Z-Z axis in the normal spin direction.

73 de Colin VK5HI.

Rotation Period

17 Sep 2021 = 50.5 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
18 Sep 2021 = 47.9 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
19 Sep 2021 = 44.7 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
20 Sep 2021 = 41.0 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
21 Sep 2021 = 37.8 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
22 Sep 2021 = 35.1 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
23 Sep 2021 = 31.7 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)

AO-73 is currently spinning in a stable attitude about the Z-Z axis in the normal spin direction.
AO-73 is now operating in continuous sun for approximately two months.

73 de Colin VK5HI.

Rotation Period

10 Sep 2021 = 24.3 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
11 Sep 2021 = 26.3 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
12 Sep 2021 = 32.1 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
13 Sep 2021 = 39.3 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
14 Sep 2021 = 44.5 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
15 Sep 2021 = 50.9 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
16 Sep 2021 = 50.5 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)

Special thanks to Terry VK5GU and Colin VK3HBF for their continued assistance with downloads this week.

AO-73 continues to maintain a complex attitude the result of normal spin rotation about the Z-Z axis with the Z-Z axis slowly rotating about AO-73’s unbalanced Moment of Inertia.

AO-73 will enter a short period of continuous solar illumination commencing 23rd September.
The AMSAT-UK Team has placed AO-73 in High Power Telemetry download mode for this short period of continuous sun.

73 de Colin VK5HI.

Rotation Period

03 Sep 2021 = 20.8 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
04 Sep 2021 = 20.1 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
05 Sep 2021 = 18.4 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
06 Sep 2021 = 19.7 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
07 Sep 2021 = 19.7 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
08 Sep 2021 = 20.2seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
09 Sep 2021 = 22.2 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)

Special thanks to Terry VK5GU and Colin VK3HBF for their continued assistance with downloads this week.

AO-73 continues to maintain a complex attitude the result of normal spin rotation about the Z-Z axis with the Z-Z axis slowly rotating about AO-73’s unbalanced Moment of Inertia. Over the last 3 days the rotation about the unbalanced MOI has noted to have become increasingly significant.
The most recent download over VK at 0623utc 10th September by Colin VK3HBF highlighting that attitude is as follows :-

73 de Colin VK5HI.

Rotation Period

27 Aug 2021 = 31.4 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
28 Aug 2021 = 29.6 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
29 Aug 2021 = 27.8 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
30 Aug 2021 = 26.5 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
31 Aug 2021 = 25.0 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
01 Sep 2021 = 23.1 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
02 Sep 2021 = 21.5 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)

Special thanks to Terry VK5GU and Colin VK3HBF for their continued assistance with downloads this week.

AO-73 continues to maintain a complex attitude the result of normal spin rotation about the Z-Z axis with the Z-Z axis slowly rotating about AO-73’s unbalanced Moment of Inertia.

73 de Colin VK5HI.

Rotation Period

20 Aug 2021 = 20.1 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
21 Aug 2021 = 21.3 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
22 Aug 2021 = 27.5 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
23 Aug 2021 = 32.4 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
24 Aug 2021 = 33.9 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
25 Aug 2021 = 33.4 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
26 Aug 2021 = 32.5 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)

Special thanks to Terry VK5GU and Colin VK3HBF for their continued assistance with downloads this week.

AO-73 continues to maintain a complex attitude the result of normal spin rotation about the Z-Z axis with the Z-Z axis slowly rotating about AO-73’s unbalanced Moment of Inertia.

73 de Colin VK5HI.

Rotation Period

13 Aug 2021 = 18.1 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
14 Aug 2021 = 16.4 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
15 Aug 2021 = 15.6 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
16 Aug 2021 = 16.9 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
17 Aug 2021 = 17.8 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
18 Aug 2021 = 17.6 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
19 Aug 2021 = 17.4 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)

Special thanks to Terry VK5GU and Colin VK3HBF for their continued assistance with downloads this week.

As reported last week AO-73 was noted to have commenced “wobbling” about its unbalanced MOI.
On the 16th August this motion about the MOI became significant and we currently have AO-73 displaying a very complex attitude.

Real-time WOD for one orbit from the 0618utc Pass 19th August 2021

Realtime Telemetry over VK 0738utc pass 18th August 2021

73 de Colin VK5HI.

Rotation Period

06 Aug 2021 = 32.3 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
07 Aug 2021 = 29.3 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
08 Aug 2021 = 26.8 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
09 Aug 2021 = 24.7 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
10 Aug 2021 = 22.8 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
11 Aug 2021 = 21.1 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)
12 Aug 2021 = 19.3 seconds (from averaged panel temperatures)

Special thanks to Terry VK5GU and Colin VK3HBF for their continued assistance with downloads this week.

AO-73 continues to maintain a mostly stable reversed spin rotational attitude about the Z-Z Axis. This last week AO-73 has noted to have a slight wobble about its unbalanced MOI as the Rotational Period slowly decreases.

73 de Colin VK5HI.