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WG3K   > ANS      08.04.24 00:57l 15 Lines 2807 Bytes #7 (0) @ AMSAT
BID : $ANS098.2
Read: JH4XSY GUEST
Subj: AMSAT AO-109 (Fox-1E) Satellite Sets New Processor Uptime Re
Path: JH4XSY<IW0QNL<VE2PKT<KA1VSC<WG3K
Sent: 240407/1548Z 2869@WG3K.#SMD.MD.USA.NOAM LinBPQ6.0.24

AMSAT's AO-109, also known as Fox-1E, has recently achieved a remarkable milestone. Launched in January 2021, this satellite operates with an 8 mW signal, best suited for CW and FT4 communications among amateur radio enthusiasts. Recent telemetry data from the Dwingeloo Radiotelescope in The Netherlands has revealed an impressive feat: AO-109 has set a new record for processor uptime. This information was gathered by Alan Biddle, WA4SCA, who has meticulously monitored telemetry reports on a daily basis and calculated the duration of each reset, allowing for precise correlation of telemetry frames with UTC time.

The Fox satellites are designed to undergo onboard computer resets triggered by factors like radiation exposure and low battery voltage. Time on these satellites is measured by counting resets plus the duration since the last reset. It is common for the Fox satellites to reset every few days or weeks, especially when passing over the South Atlantic Anomaly. However, the processor on AO-109 has been running continuously since September 2023, accumulating over 18 million seconds of uptime-far surpassing any other Fox satellite.

Launched on January 17, 2021, as part of the ELaNa 20 mission using a LauncherOne rocket operated by Virgin Orbit, AO-109 was carried aloft by a modified Boeing 747 named "Cosmic Girl" from the Mojave Air and Space Port in California, United States. After reaching an altitude of approximately 35,000 feet (11,000 meters), the rocket was released into space. This launch, conducted under NASA's CubeSat Launch Initiative program, marked the beginning of the satellite's mission to facilitate amateur radio communications and technology research.

https://www.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/AO-109_FOX-1E.jpg
AO-109 (Fox-1E) Satellite is Expected to Re-enter Earth's Atmosphere in April 2024. [Credit: AMSAT]

AO-109 represents the fifth iteration of the "Fox" 1U amateur radio satellites series developed by AMSAT, featuring a 30KHz linear transponder radio. Upon becoming operational on July 20, 2021, AO-109 embarked on a mission to serve both amateur radio and technology research objectives. Among its key payloads is RadFXSat-2, a collaboration with Vanderbilt University, aimed at studying the effects of space radiation on specific SRAM types. Consistent with the Fox 1A design blueprint, Fox-1E is equipped with a 2-meter whip antenna and a 70 cm whip antenna.

With its anticipated re-entry into Earth's atmosphere in the coming weeks, users are encouraged to make the most of AO-109 while it's still operational. Current reports suggest the satellite's altitude is around 300 km, which is lower than the ISS orbiting altitude of 370-460 km.

[ANS thanks Burns Fisher, WB1FJ, and Alan Biddle, WA4SCA, for the above information]


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