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UO-14 Satellite Declared Dead

Posted by Hemos on from the end-of-the-line dept.

ARRL writes "The UO-14 satellite has been declared officially dead. The Mission Control Centre at the Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL) Center for Satellite Engineering Research reports that the venerable and popular bird "has reached the end of its mission after nearly 14 years in orbit." "Since launch, UO-14 has completed over 72,000 orbits and as many charge/discharge cycles of its on-board NiCd battery," said AMSAT-UK Chairman Martin Sweeting, G3YJO. AMSAT-NA has said that its new ECHO satellite, planned for launch next March 31, will take over the role of the now-defunct AO-27 and UO-14 low-Earth-orbiting satellites."

2 of 28 comments (clear)

  1. Re:72,000 charging cycles? by n1ywb · · Score: 4, Funny

    You don't, it craps out after 71999.

    --
    -73, de n1ywb
    www.n1ywb.com
  2. 14 by skinfitz · · Score: 4, Funny

    "The UO-14 satellite has been declared officially dead. The Mission Control Centre at the Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL) Center for Satellite Engineering Research reports that the venerable and popular bird "has reached the end of its mission after nearly 14 years in orbit."

    I guess we know what the "14" was for then. Perhaps they should have used a bigger number...