[Laser] AO-40 Laser experiment

[laser@mailman.qth.net]

Hello.

Since posting details of the laser experiment onto my web site I've received 
a few mails asking for further information.

Last weekend I attended the AMSAT-UK meeting at Surrey University and had the 
chance to talk to Peter DB2OS from the AO-40 command team.

Peter said that to-date the laser has not been commissioned. He said that 
testing in the immediate future was unlikely as the satellite is in "spin 
stabilisation mode".
This relies on the attitude stabilisation being achieved by spinning the 
satellite by pulsing current through coils in the spaceframe. At present the 
ability to point the beam at any one location is limited and that the laser 
was intended to be used once the solar panels are fully deployed and the 
attitude is controlled by onboard momentum wheels.

Apparently there is a team equipped to receive the laser on the Canary 
islands.
There will be a meeting to discuss the risks of deploying the solar panels 
and switching to 3 axis stabilisation, using the momentum wheels (which are 
working)  later this year.

Incidentally, a quick calculation shows that from an orbital eight of 
40,000km the laser would illuminate a diameter of 838km on the Earth's 
surface. The 70% power density within this region is apx.  3.175 x10-13 Watts 
per square metre.

Thanks

David G0MRF     www.g0mrf.freeserve.co.uk/ao-40.htm