AMSAT-OSCAR 51 is a small, amateur radio satellite that has been orbiting the Earth since 1985. It's a remarkable piece of technology that has captured the imagination of amateur radio enthusiasts around the world.
The satellite was built by the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT) and was launched on a Delta rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. It was designed to be a simple, low-cost satellite that could be used for amateur radio experimentation.
AMSAT-OSCAR 51 has a mass of about 40 kilograms and is roughly the size of a shoebox. It's powered by a single solar panel and has a battery that can store enough energy to keep it running for several days.
The satellite has a unique shape, with a cylindrical body and a flat, circular solar panel on one end. It's a testament to the ingenuity of the engineers who designed it, and it's a great example of how amateur radio enthusiasts can work together to create something truly remarkable.
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Orbital Parameters
The orbital parameters of AMSAT-OSCAR 51 are quite fascinating. The satellite's epoch is 04-07-01.47, which is a specific date and time when its parameters are valid.
Its orbit is geocentric, meaning it revolves around the Earth. The sklon dráhy (skewness of the orbit) is 98.26°, indicating a relatively circular orbit.
The period of the satellite's orbit is 99.97 minutes, which is a relatively short time. This means the satellite completes one orbit around the Earth in just over 1 hour and 40 minutes.
Here are the satellite's orbital parameters in a concise table:
The satellite's pericenter and apocenter heights are 697 km and 817 km, respectively, which are relatively high altitudes.
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Mission Details
AMSAT-OSCAR 51's mission details are quite fascinating.
The launch date was June 29, 2004.
The spacecraft separated from its carrier rocket at 06:45 UT.
The satellite began its operations around 02:15 UT on July 30, 2004.
Here are the key mission details in a table:
Frequently Asked Questions
What frequency is AO 51 satellite?
AO-51 satellite operates on multiple frequencies, including 144 MHz (VHF) and 435 MHz (UHF) for communication.
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