The reason for the heavy mass is to support the atmospheric drag study. The satellites are near perfect spheres, I think 32 micron roughness. Castor is stuffed pretty tight with electronics, and instruments and still was not enough. There are 112 D cell Lithium batteries stuffed in there.
Pollux is lighter and actually had to have the shells thinned a bit to meet the lower mass requirement and has only 28 D cells. The cells are 19 AH lithium primary cells. Since power is very limited, stuffing it with electronics was not an option. Castor needs to run on batteries for a year while Pollux 6 months. Pollux is expected to reenter in a little less than 6 months. Castor will come back in a year. Ivan On Jul 29, 2009, at 5:33 PM, Joe wrote: > Ok, > > The next question is then,, WHY? when all we ever hear all the > time is > Bitch ,, Bitch,, BITCH,,, about the high cost per pound to get > something > into orbit? > > Here again, instead of thick shell, why not pack in some useful > electronics? > > DUH? > > Joe WB9SBD > > Ivan Galysh wrote: > >> The hemispheres are about 1/2 inch thick solid aluminum. It's built >> to >> be heavy. >> >> Ivan >> >> >> Joe wrote: >> >> >>> Pretty cool, >>> >>> But Ok I see what is all in this thing, but holy cow,,, what is >>> in it >>> that makes it weigh 140 POUNDS!!! a 19" sphere, wow! >>> >>> Joe WB9SBD >>> >>> g7...@g7iii.net wrote: >>> >>> >>> >>> >>>> Hi Joe, >>>> >>>> You Wrote: >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>>> have any idea as to what the telemetry may consist of? >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>> Telemetry is documented on the website Bob referenced, on each >>>> Satellite's own page, see: >>>> >>>> https://goby.nrl.navy.mil/ANDE/Castor.html and >>>> https://goby.nrl.navy.mil/ANDE/Pollux.html >>>> >>>> TX is on 145.825, so any Satgate should pick them up and transfer >>>> the data to APRS-IS. >>>> >>>> I suppose I should go update my APRS/PCSAT/PCSAT2/ANDE telemetry >>>> decoder >>>> now. Wish I'd realised these were going to be this "open" earlier >>>> *mutter*. >>>> >>>> >>>> 73s >>>> >>>> Iain >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the >>>> author. >>>> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite >>>> program! >>>> Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb >>>> >>>> >>>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------ >>>> >>>> >>>> No virus found in this incoming message. >>>> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com >>>> Version: 8.5.392 / Virus Database: 270.13.35/2270 - Release Date: >>>> 07/29/09 06:12:00 >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the >>> author. >>> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite >>> program! >>> Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb >>> >>> >>> >>> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the >> author. >> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite >> program! >> Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb >> >> >> ------------------------------------------------------------------------ >> >> >> No virus found in this incoming message. >> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com >> Version: 8.5.392 / Virus Database: 270.13.35/2270 - Release Date: >> 07/29/09 06:12:00 >> >> >> > _______________________________________________ > Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the > author. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite > program! > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb _______________________________________________ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
