FO-29 status

Forward Message from JARL
Translated by Mineo Wakita, JE9PEL
23 Apr 2007

An analog transponder of a amateur radio satellite "Fuji-3"
stops now. We ask for an offer of the information for
investigation and restoration of a cause.

Orbiting amateur satellite "Fuji-3" (FO-29, 8J1JCS) of JARL
performed a consecutive use of regular analog system, but we
confirmed the analog transponder which we should have been
managing on 21 April 2007 stopped.

We apply it to the investigation of a cause in a control station
and collect the information and analyze the telemetry before
a transponder stops now. And we draw up a command plan toward
the future restoration. As for the station having the following
information about "Fuji-3", we wish to does an offer of these
information in JARL Development Section.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
CW telemetry data after 07:00(UTC) April 20, 2007
Tranaponder movement situation after 07:00(UTC) April 20, 2007
(CW telemetry is a stop, but a transponder can work.)
If there is a phenomenon, in addition, to become reference,
please send to us the signal strength or the reception situation.
-----------------------------------------------------------------

We ask for cooperation of people for restoration of "Fuji-3".

An information destination: lab (at) jarl.or.jp


FO-29 Operation Pause (Fwd from JARL)
Translated by Mineo Wakita, JE9PEL
5 May 2005

About "Fuji-3" Present Condition and Operation:
(Although the normal operation is checked, the operation is
 stopped for a while.)

It is as a previous report an amateur satellite "Fuji-3"
(JAS-2, FO-29, 8J1JCS) of JARL. From 21 April, 2007, although
the analog system transponder had stopped, we announce you
the subsequent present condition.

On 3 May, Thu. 16:00 (UTC),
We could check an analog system transponder (JTA) of "Fuji-3"
was worked to ON and OFF by command from a GS control office
and there was no fault in a command system.

On 4 May, Fri., we made turn ON the analog system transponder,
and the electric power income and outgo were checked. The rate
of the shade was 25%, so the electric power income and outgo
turned out that it is in a quite severe state.

Since the check of the electric power income and outgo, the
battery reconditioning, etc. are worked, we do as stopping
the operation of "Fuji-3" for a while. Although we cause users
much anxiety, we consent-wish-do.

In addition, although it may turn ON temporarily an analog
system transponder over Japan during an operation dormant period,
please refrain from use of transponder such as a loop test
and a communication.


JARL report about FO-29 (Fuji-3) status and operation
Translated by Mineo Wakita, JE9PEL
7 Aug 2007

The inside impedance of battery in FO-29 (Fuji-3) are rising now extremely
by deterioration at time. According to the telemetry data and the eclipse
rate of the satellite main body (the rate that a day is not), 25 minutes
are supposed with a limit as for the analog battery system use. Because
the eclipse rate of current FO-29 (Fuji-3) is about 30%, the power supply
of the relay with the battery cannot serve a period of the eclipse.

And the malfunction occurs in the part of the electricity control system.
The malfunction to become the problem in use in particular is UVC which is
an automatic function about the electricity management. When the satellite
is in the eclipse, and the light of the sun is not the solar battery, the
transmitter becomes OFF by UVC. It is designed afterwards so that an analog
system transmitter becomes ON automatically when the terminal voltages of
the battery exceed the rated value after the light of the sun is the solar
battery. However, it is likely that malfunction occurs for this function,
and the terminal voltage cannot turn on a transmitter even if it exceed
the rated value unless we send a command from the ground.

The eclipse rate of FO-29 (Fuji-3) will rise in future and rises to 34%
in March 2008 and greets a peak of the eclipse rate. When it goes over
this peak, the eclipse rates decrease slowly, and it is 20% in August 2009,
and it is all sunshine (the period when the sun continues being) in
February 2010.

Because we follow for about 8 months, as for all sunshine, it seems that
we can apply the analog system relay consecutively for this period.

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