AMSAT-OSCAR 7, launched nearly 40 years ago and silent
between 1981 and 2002, is back on the air after going through a period of
eclipse. The satellite's batteries are long dead but when it is in sunlight,
its solar panels power the equipment back on. According to the
ARRL Letter,
the most recent eclipse period ended in early August. It varies between
operating in Mode A (2 meters up and 10 meters down) and Mode B (70 centimeters
up and 2 meters down).