I've heard/read about OSCARs I & II having their antennas deploy after separation from the Agena B, but from all the photos I have seen, it shows a fixed antenna. There is even a photo of an AF specialist installing OSCAR I into the payload bay, and this photo shows the antenna fully deployed. So on these first two satellites, I'm unsure.
OSCAR III had four antennae made of steel rule type material that were fan-folded, or otherwise folded and secured to fit within the assigned area. And Australis OSCAR 5, as well as OSCAR 6 used actual carpenter's rules as antenna material. They were tied back, and self deployed when the satellite was released. Rich, N8UX At 11:49 PM 12/30/2009, you wrote: >I understand that the early Oscars got their ride into space by replacing a >piece of concrete (or similar dead weight material) with our satellite. >That's why they have the shape that they do (looking like a segment of a ring). >But what about the antenna? Was it deployed after launch, or did it ride into >space already sticking out the side? An on-orbit deploy would have been >excessively complicated for that era (it's even difficult today!), but I can't >see something like that surviving launch intact, either. _______________________________________________ Sent via [email protected]. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
