AO-40 is continuing to drift downward in ALON as predicted.
This is making the squint/range combination less favorable for passband use.
In addition, the solar angle is worsening and will shortly exceed 45 degs,limiting available power and warming the spacecraft considerably as the sun swings across the omni end of the spacecraft.
The AO-40 passbands will be turned off at MA=240 (23:50 UTC) on Saturday 4/19. They will remain off for about 4 weeks (or slightly less) until conditions improve.
– —W4SM for the AO-40 Command Team
Klla: amsat