karn@eagle.UUCP (06/08/83)
The following is a message from Bernie Glassmeyer, W9KDR, at ARRL Headquarters. Amsat-Oscar-8, which has been operated by the ARRL since its launch over 5 years ago, has just recently developed serious battery trouble (it probably knows it is about to be replaced!) ----------------------- DO NOT ATTEMPT COMMUNICATION THROUGH THE OSCAR 8 TRANSPONDERS DURING THIS LOW VOLTAGE EMERGENCY. PRESENTLY OSCAR 8 IS IN MODE A AND COMMAND STATIONS HAVE BEEN INSTRUCTED TO RETURN TO MODE D, RECHARGE WHEN TELEMETRY TESTS ARE COMPLETE. TELEMETRY RECEIVED IN MODE A INDICATES THE BATTERY VOLTAGE HAS DROPPED TO A POINT THAT HAS CAUSED THE TELEMETRY TO "HANG UP". THE PRESENT FRAME OF 180 252 324 496 568 696, EVEN AFTER SEVERAL DAYS OF RECHARGE, INDICATES THAT THE BATTERY IS NOT CHARGING. COMMAND STATIONS REQUEST THAT ANYONE MONITORING ANY VARIATION IN THE PRESENT FRAME REPORT THE READINGS TO ARRL HQ. OBSERVATIONS SO FAR INDICATE THAT OSCAR 8 IS FOLLOWING A SIMILAR BATTERY PROBLEM THAT OSCAR 7 SUFFERED. IT IS QUITE POSSIBLE THAT ANY FUTURE OPERATION OF OSCAR 8 WILL BE DURING TIMES THAT THE SPACECRAFT IS IN SUNLIGHT. PRESENTLY WE ARE AT A MINIMUM OF IN A MINIMUM SUNLIGHT PERIOD WHICH COMPLICATES MATTERS EVEN MORE. REMEMBER NO OPERATION UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. 73 BERNIE W9KDR.