[BC] Failing XM Radio

[Broadcast List USER]

It is actually a Tundra orbit, a modification of the Molniya orbit.   
The Tundra has a longer period in the "other" hemisphere, in this case  
the northern hemisphere.

There is nothing wrong with it, except that it pretty much demands  
three working satellites.  The power budget is MUCH less.  The power  
budget for XM is extremely high, and the two most powerful satellites  
ever launched (Rock and Roll) still had power budget problems.  They  
had to launch a third bird so they could turn down the power on Rock  
and Roll.  One of them (I don't recall the name, but the western one)  
was nearly killed because the power draw was more than the solar cells  
could provide, nearly damaging (or somewhat damaging) the batteries.

I have a good friend who retired from the US Air Force.  We have had  
all kinds of interesting conversations about satellite orbits.  THOSE  
guys get it.

--chip

On Apr 22, 2010, at 9:13 PM, broadcast-request at radiolists.net wrote:

> Message: 6
> From: rj carpenter <rcarpen at comcast.net>
>
> I think that you will find that Sirius has a GEO satellite in the  
> works
> to complement their Molnya orbit birds.
>
> Matbe they learned something from XM.