OPTUSA3 new satellite * 31.5E

***EgyptDUDE*** · 05-07-2006

new bird found * 31.5 East

http://www.flysat.com/optusa3.php
carries some test signals

thanks all

**Llew** · 05-07-2006

A thread was started here, not much info ATM. -

Ancient Aussie bird parked at 31.5E

Can you receive any TP's at your location? I think it's in inclined orbit, a whopping 8 degrees from what I can gather.

Llew

moffatt · 05-07-2006

Yep, 8 degrees inclined and it's an ancient old bird too. I think SES bought it for 50p because noone else would have it.

***misterminibus*** · 05-07-2006

seems a fair price for a skoda old bird

***2cvbloke*** · 05-07-2006

50p?!?!?! I'd have paid a pound for it!!! Wouldn't have anywhere to put it though....

***misterminibus*** · 05-07-2006

did u see top gear with the mondeo and 2cv with a jet plane????

william · 06-07-2006

Inclined orbit view 2x a day in south east england,*7.40am to 9.20am & 7.40pm to 9.20pm 12340H 22000 1/2 & 12473H 22000 1/2

**T_G** · 06-07-2006

Originally Posted by Llew

I think it's in inclined orbit, a whopping 8 degrees from what I can gather.Llew

What does this inclined orbit mean? What does it do and for what?

***Yeshi*** · 06-07-2006

google it

A condition in which a satellite is unable to maintain a geostationary position above the earth's equator. Almost all satellites generate electrical power to operate their transponders by converting the sun's energy to electricity. Energy used for station keeping, that is keeping the satellite within a very narrow range of movement north or south of the equator, is stored on board the spacecraft and over time is dissipated, usually after passage of the design life of between 8-15 years. ...

***EgyptDUDE*** · 07-07-2006

sorry guyz , did not notice the old post
and did not know the bird is that encient and on sale LOL

**Analoguesat** · 07-07-2006

Station keeping is normally done by using onboard thrusters. Once the fuel is almost exhausted the satellite is allowed to drift in a north-south plane and slowly wanders back and forth in a huge figure - 8. The drift increases over time due to gravitaional effects.

A satellite is unusable for home broadcasting once the wobble gets up past about 2 degrees - at the extremes of the wobble its actually outside the acceptance range of the dish, At this point the satellite is normally retired to eke out a couple more years operations running feeds. (Professional ground stations have inclined orbit tracking)

A comms sat inclined at 8 degrees is most unusual - they have normally been sent to junk orbit long before they get to this point.

***EgyptDUDE*** · 07-07-2006

thats what attracted my attention , 8 degrees of inclination is a huge problem , signal is lost for a long long time , why the bother with keeping it at that 31.5E ? are they just reserving the spot for another bird ? lol

***Lancelot*** · 07-07-2006

Got it

Not massively strong, but good enough.
The two transponders seem to carry the same three channels.

L.

vmark · 08-07-2006

We were taking bets on where it might end up or 'land', after it left our part of the world.

It's a good old bus but if it's not going to be re-fueled in any way shape or form.... back it comes to terra-firma!!
Hey does anyone want Optus B1?

It's going cheap too, especially after Optus D1 (then D2) arrive later on this year, or next.
Who says us Ozzies don't give you Northerners any prezzies??

And it's not Christmas.
Yet.

**Llew** · 08-07-2006

Hey, there's a strict European Union diirective on waste management of telecommunications equipment!

Expect a plop in the Pacific any time now

Have a good day

Llew

**Analoguesat** · 08-07-2006

Its unlikely land in the Pacific - as with most redundant comms sats its likely to end up in graveyard orbit a couple of hundred miles off the orbital arc.

Theres loads of dead birds up there, and some astronomers track them and try to spot them Seen recently have been Eutelsat 1F5, & Olympus 1.

**Llew** · 08-07-2006

just my feeble attempt at a joke AS

Yes a lot of junk up there

**Analoguesat** · 08-07-2006

The other advantage of keeping them intact off the orbital arc - its not going to be too many years before the space tug concept is in operation - at that point stuff that still has is electronics payload operational but is out of fuel could be rescued and resused.

**T_G** · 08-07-2006

Originally Posted by Analoguesat

..... could be rescued and resused.

What's that

**Analoguesat** · 08-07-2006

Originally Posted by T_G

What's that

Oh hell its another bloody mamster in the works

**Topper** · 08-07-2006

Originally Posted by Analoguesat

could be rescued and resused.

we know the left half of your brain wanted to say re-used and the right half wanted to say resuscitate and that was the result. Does this imply that your brain can multitask AS ?

***2cvbloke*** · 08-07-2006

So maybe someday Marcopolo's 1 & 2 may reappear somewhere being tugged into place???

***wod*** · 08-07-2006

Originally Posted by Analoguesat

The other advantage of keeping them intact off the orbital arc - its not going to be too many years before the space tug concept is in operation - at that point stuff that still has is electronics payload operational but is out of fuel could be rescued and resused.

cool so old astra 1 sats could come back to life then there would be masses of room

**Analoguesat** · 08-07-2006

Depends if they have been intentionally destroyed when the final commands are uplinked onto them as they are abandoned. If the batteries are shorted out they aint going to be any good to anybody. Also remember that theres only a certain frequency range available for any satellite transmissions(10700 - 12500MHz) so even if say Astra 1A was rescued, theres no way it could go into service at 19E or any of the other major orbital slots - it would just cause major mayhem and interference to existing transmissions where later series birds have taken over the older frequencies.......

**Analoguesat** · 08-07-2006

Originally Posted by Topper

we know the left half of your brain wanted to say re-used and the right half wanted to say resuscitate and that was the result. Does this imply that your brain can multitask AS ?

Only where alcohol is concerned