AMSAT-DL was the lead for phase 3 because they were able to get almost-free launches from ESA. However, ESA terminated that policy 10 years ago and AMSAT-DL has been trying to get government funding through their Mars program. That was rejected a year or two ago. Private launch companies are asking for $8,000,000..The world-wide fund raising by AMSAT-DL, AMSAT-UK, AMSAT-NA, AMSAT-Japan, ARRL and RSGB for each of the phase 3 launches acheived less than 10% of what is now required for a launch.
In the past, a launch opportunity was identified by ESA and then a satellite was built by AMSAT. P3E did the reverse -- building a satellite and hoping for a launch. I brought up AMSAT-DL because someone was complaining that AMSAT-NA was leading them on about HEO possibilities. They should review videos of the AMSAT-DL presentations at the annual AMSAT-UK meetings. AMSAT-NA has been much more realistic.
73,
John KD6OZH
----- Original Message ----- From: "Rob" pabutusa@gmail.com To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Friday, September 20, 2013 12:34 UTC Subject: [amsat-bb] Phase 3
Wait .... wasn't AMSAT-DL always the lead when it came to Phase-3 satellites ???
Also, AMSAT-DL has a platform already constructed awaiting launch opportunity.
http://amsat-uk.org/2013/02/25/the-next-amsat-phase-3-satellite/
Issues with ITAR aside, why can't we just support our international partners ... somehow ... ???
Getting an amateur radio satellite into orbit costs real green dollars (Euros, GBP, whatever) we would do better pooling resources for the good of all.
There are all kinds of players in the launch market these days .... US, ESA, Russia, China, Japan, India .... and a lot of up and coming private launch vendors .... call me naive but I think conditions are BETTER now (ITAR aside) than they were in the days of AO-10 ....
Why can't we focus on the possibilities .... ????
de KA2PBT
On Fri, Sep 20, 2013 at 2:30 AM, John Stephensen kd6ozh@comcast.net wrote:
AMSAT-NA abandoned the Eagle project years ago. Only AMSAT-DL has an "active" HEO project. with P3E.
73,
John KD6OZH
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