DEVELOPMENT OF AMATEUR COMMUNICATIONS SATELLITES.

Since the launching of the first artificial earth satellite in 1957, groups of radio amateurs in several countries, including Australia, have been actively involved in the development of communications satellites. Amsat-Oscar 6, the first of a new generation of amateur satellites, is primarily a communications translator receiving signals at 146 MHz and rebroadcasting them at 29. 5 MHz. The follow-up satellite, A-0 7, which was launched in the third quarter of 1974, is a much more elaborate satellite containing two communications repeaters. Details of the satellite configurations for both these spacecraft are presented together with the results of almost 30 months' operation of A-0 6.