One drawback of the design was the high drag from such a large structure, coupled with the low mass. The end result was a satellite with a low ballistic coefficient and hence a short lifetime.
John WA4WDL -------------------------------------------------- From: "Samudra Haque" <samudra.ha...@gmail.com> Sent: Wednesday, October 28, 2009 3:46 PM To: "Amsat-bb" <amsat-bb@amsat.org> Subject: [amsat-bb] using a microsat as a potential high altitude VHFreflector > Hi all, > > I read with interest an article on the web "ECHO - America's First > Communications Satellite" By John R. Pierce which is available here: > http://www.smecc.org/john_pierce___echoredo.htm > > I know ham radio operators love using their hand helds to communicate > using active transponders or active repeaters in space... no issue > with that. > > were there any ham radio projects (either through amsat-na or abroad) > that implemented a passive reflector on an orbital vehicle like > Project Echo > > I quote from > http://www.satmagazine.com/cgi-bin/display_article.cgi?number=490218137 > > The Echo-1 Balloon Satellite as it sits, fully inflated, at a Navy > hangar in Weeksville, North Carolina. The spacecraft measured 100 feet > across when deployed, and was nicknamed a ‘satelloon’ by those > involved in the project. The mylar film balloon acted as a passive > communications reflector for transcontinental and intercontinental > telephone (voice), radio and television signals. Echo 1 re-entered the > atmosphere May 24, 1968. > > > What strikes me is the implications of a large large very large > antenna (reflector), if only it could be reflective on one side of the > sphere only .... (any ideas?) > > The Echo 2 was a 135-foot rigidized inflatable balloon satellite. The > satellite is shown undergoing tensile stress test in a dirigible > hanger at Weekesville. The satellite, 50 times more rigidized than > Echo I. When folded, the satellite is packed into the 41-inch diameter > canister shown in the foreground. > > Did early amsat folks consider duplicating / adding to any of these > projects or launch their own 'satelloon' that did not carry an active > RF payload ? Could we outfit one of our future microsats to provide a > reflector to aid in Earth-LEO DXing like meteor-scatter ? > > > > 73 de Samudra, N3RDX > > _______________________________________________ > 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
