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Off Topic => Ten Forward => Topic started by: The Postman on February 03, 2006, 08:20:27 pm

Title: SUITSAT flys
Post by: The Postman on February 03, 2006, 08:20:27 pm
Space Weather News for Friday, Feb. 3rd
http://spaceweather.com

SUITSAT: There's a new satellite orbiting Earth, and it's a weird one.  On Friday, Feb. 3rd, at 6:02 pm EST, astronauts threw an old Russian spacesuit overboard from the International Space Station. The disembodied suit, nicknamed SuitSat, is now circling Earth and transmitting a radio message which you can hear using a police scanner or ham radio tuned to 145.990 MHz (FM).   Please visit http://spaceweather.com for more information about SuitSat and how to tune into it.
Title: Re: SUITSAT flys
Post by: Villa64 on February 03, 2006, 11:30:01 pm
Is that 145.99 on AM, or FM?

Serious question.

I think that band accomodates both.
Title: Re: SUITSAT flys
Post by: The Postman on February 04, 2006, 06:43:19 am
Quote from: Villa64 on February 03, 2006, 11:30:01 pm
Is that 145.99 on AM, or FM?

Serious question.

I think that band accomodates both.

FM, I didn't hear it this AM but I may have slept through it.  For the next month or so it goes through my sky between 3-6 AM
Title: Re: SUITSAT flys
Post by: The Postman on February 04, 2006, 02:45:21 pm
SUITSAT IS SILENT: Space is cold--apparently too cold for SuitSat's batteries. The Earth-orbiting spacesuit stopped transmitting shortly after it was thrown overboard from the International Space Station on Feb. 3rd. Probable cause: lack of power. (continued below)

This doesn't mean that SuitSat was a failure. The experimental satellite was "launched" to answer questions such as "Can a spacesuit-satellite function without internal temperature controls?" The answer, apparently, is no. Next-generation SuitSats will take this into account.

SuitSat will continue to orbit Earth for weeks, spiraling slowly into the atmosphere. Stay tuned for information about seeing SuitSat in the night sky.

(http://spaceweather.com/swpod2006/04feb06/142446main_suitsat1.jpg)
Above: SuitSat floats away from the International Space Station on Feb. 3rd.
Title: Re: SUITSAT flys
Post by: Commander Maxillius on February 05, 2006, 04:15:14 pm
That thing just gives me the heebie-jeebies...  I mean think of what it would mean if SuitSat was actually a coverup for what's going on in the space station...
Title: Re: SUITSAT flys
Post by: Dracho on February 06, 2006, 11:12:10 am
Quote from: Maxillius NCC-13443 on February 05, 2006, 04:15:14 pm
That thing just gives me the heebie-jeebies...  I mean think of what it would mean if SuitSat was actually a coverup for what's going on in the space station...

LMAO!!!!  +1