G4DPZ
Dave Johnson's alter-ego

FROM AMSAT-NA

AMSAT-NA VP Operations, Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA reported today:

“It is with a heavy heart I report that AO-51 has ceased trans-
mission and is not responding to commands.”

Drew wrote, “The last telemetry data indicated that the third of
six batteries was approaching failure to short, and observations
indicate the voltage from three cells is insufficient to power the
UHF transmitters. The IHU may continue to be operative. Initial
tests with the S-band transmitter were also not positive, although
more attempts are in order. We have tried leaving the satellite in
an expected state where if voltages climb high enough, the 435.150
transmitter may possibly be heard.”

We got home yesterday to find that our puss had lost the use of his back legs.

He’s had a series of age related problems over the past 6 months and it was time to make the hardest decision of them all…

He went to sleep in my wife’s arms at the vets earlier today.

There’s a big orange hole in the house where love and companionship once was.

He’ll become star-stuff again from his favourite resting place in the garden.

[caption id="attachment_66" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Flute RIP"][/caption]