Amsat P2A (Phase 2A, AO 6, Oscar 6)

Oscar 6 was a small communications satellite designed for use by amateur radio operators. It was a rectangular, magnetically stabilized spacecraft which measured 16 x 30 x 44 cm, and included antenna protruding from the centers of the four smaller surfaces. With the attitude magnet aligned normal to the 10-m split dipole antenna and parallel to the two other monopole antennae, 10-m nulls occurred synchronously with spacecraft spin except over polar regions where nulls occurred for the 0.7-m and 2-m signals. The 29-MHz beacon used a half-wavelength, 5-m dipole extending through the spacecraft while the other two quarter-wavelength monopole antennae extended 50 cm (146-MHz receiver) and 17.5 cm (29.5-MHz beacon and repeater transmitter) respectively, along the spin axis. The satellite contained telemetry-tracking beacons and a repeater which could use a storage capability. The power supply was provided by batteries which were rechargeable from solar cells located on all exterior satellite surface. A command system was capable of turning off all equipment except the 29.45 beacon.

Last update: 27.09.2009
Contact: gunter.krebs@skyrocket.de
© Gunter Dirk Krebs