The mostly Australian designed and constructed satellite AMSAT OSCAR 7, or AO-7, was launched on 15 November
1974 and has just reached 50 years in space. It is the oldest man-made satellite in history to have ever worked for as
long as that – and it is still working! The primary aim of AO7 is to provide earth-satellite-earth radio communications
between Radio Amateurs within its “foot-print” on the earth below . Using one or more satellites, Amateur radio
communications can be achieved over very large distances.
Rick will describe how an Australian University team was formed in 1967 with the aim to plan, design, and construct an earth orbiting satellite that was to become known as AO-5 when it was launched on 23 January 1970. Soon aŌer that, work commenced on AO-6 and AO-7. Rick will describe the construction of the AO-6 and AO7 satellites. They were the first satellites to use of CMOS logic for their Radio Teletype and Morse coding and decoding functions. Rick was involved in the design of that logic. Other firsts for the AO satellite series were their unique antennas and magnetic spin stabilisation.
So, of all the satellites ever launched throughout the Space Age it is AO-7 that is still operating today after 50 years in space providing Radio Amateur operators throughout the world with radio communications even including the Polish Resistance during their struggle for independence. And in its long life, AO-7 has defied all those who said CMOS would never survive in space.
Speaker(s): , Rick
Room: Floor 11, Bldg: Engineers Australia, 108 King William St, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 5000
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