Obviously, we did not want to run down the batteries when AO5 was not in space, so a pair of microswitches were installed.  They pressed against the launch rocket and disconnected the batteries until AO5 had been released the launch rocket  The microswitches then closed the circuits and powered the electronics.  The microswitches, two for redundancy, are in the bottom left of the photo and two cavities for the ejection springs are clearly visible.

Care was taken to ensure that the HF transmitter was turned off initially.

The antennas were made of common steel tape so that they could be stowed for launch, meaning they were wound round the satellite as you can see, and held in place by the launch rocket structure.  The antennas "deployed" (that is, unwound themselves) once AO5 had been ejected from the launch rocket.  Even the measurement marks on the tapes flew!