@k2za @N3VEM @ai6yr That & most of Mother Russia & its, ahem, "satellites" were closer to the big N on the globe so an orbit that favored that was good for them.

Space junk prevention rules are quite new, like last 10-15 years. AO-10 (Phase 3B pre-launch) & AO-13 (Ph 3C) went up in the 1980s.

Before my Alma Mater (#W5YM) got an Az-El rotator & a "KC Tracker/Tuner" we'd aim our array by hand with wrenches protractors. As noted, it hung at apogee for a LONG time!

#NeatButDumb #FunTimes

@ai6yr Dead and, AFAIK, "burned up" on re-entry some time ago. IIRC, AO-10 never made its intended Molniya orbit but was quite serviceable just the same. I think I made at least 1 QSO through it at #W5YM #BITD. Made dozens through AO-13, its follow-on, at my alma mater. Great fun but you needed a real satellite array!