From AMSAT-NA web page who was updated: 23 Aug, 09
excerpt:
AMSAT Files CJ Requests with US State Department
"AMSAT's involvement with P3-E halted in 2006 due to concerns over possible ITAR violations."
Did anyone can explain why is it possible to say "AMSAT's involvement with P3-E halted in 2006 due to concerns over possible ITAR violations" when i wrote about the memorandum (see below) on February 22 2007 as this paper has been signed prior to February 2007 in 2006?
Even if ITAR does not apply to information related to general scientific, mathematical or engineering principles that is commonly taught in schools and colleges or information that is (legitimately) in the public domain. Nor does it apply to general marketing information or basic system descriptions. (see below)
How the cooperation between AMSAT-NA and AMSAT-DL and AMSAT-UK stopped in 2006 when theses 3 gentlemens Peter DB2OS for AMSAT-DL, Rick W2GPS for AMSAT-NA, Jim G3WGM for AMSAT-UK signed a memorandum of understanding and cooperation the same very year??? They where surely not all out of their mind in 2006 or it is something else?
And why asking in January 2009 3 years later for a V'oluntary Disclosure' (Not a VOLUNARY a typo on the AMSAT web page) when most of the amateur ham stuff is already in the public domain area? It is the same as if you are speeding and you go back to your police station 3 years later telling them you violate the law 3 years ago!!! or is it a way to justify their inaction refusing to get any blame?
What it is the most intriguing is the time frame and the fact they relate the cooperation stopping to ITAR in 2006 when they signed a memorandum of understanding and cooperation at the same time? There is something here who does not added up.
Could be it is a way to try hiding their poor management past years record? or something we should ask to Gomez Addams or to his lovely pale skin and a Gothic appearance wife Morticia Addams?
It is a lot of good questions to be ask at the next AMSAT-NA symposium Board of Directors general meeting in October?
Memorandum of Understanding between AMSAT-DL, AMSAT-UK and AMSAT-NA
AMSAT-DL for the last five years has been building the P3-E spacecraft to be launched into a HEO and intended as a replacement for previous P3 satellites. It's purpose is to facilitate communication between radio-amateurs worldwide and at the same time to test and verify technologies and procedures needed for the P5-A mission to Mars. AMSAT-DL to this day has invested about 500,000 Euro into this project.
AMSAT-NA and AMSAT-UK wish to contribute to the P3-E project, primarily with the goal to have the launch of P3-E as early as possible in order to give to their respective members the use of the communication services provided by P3- E.
It is recognized that the capability of AMSAT-DL to raise funds limits the speed of the development of P3-E. In order to make a launch possible in 2008, AMSAT-DL has an immediate need of 40,000 Euro and an estimated need of ~200,000
Euro prior to the actual launch-date. AMSAT-NA and AMSAT-UK wish to help with the raising of these requirements by providing 30,000 Euro (AMSAT-NA) and 10,000 Euro (AMSAT-UK) in the near future. Furthermore, they wish to contribute
by raising additional funding as the actual launch arrangements materialize.
In order to achieve an effective cooperation in the funding effort and the construction and launching of P3-E, the following details to implement the cooperation are agreed:
1. The three AMSAT organizations will closely coordinate their activities and monitor progress of the project by frequent mutual consultations on the telephone. To this end the three parties will hold nominally a monthly telephone conference to review the status of the project and to identify problem areas. At this time the three organizations will be represented by Rick, Jim and Peter at these telephone-conferences.
2. According to need, the three organizations agree to hold sufficiently frequent meetings in person to review the project status. These meetings are assumed to be desirable with a frequency of 6-12 month between them.
3. It is understood by all three organizations that procuring a timely launch for P3-E is one of the bigger challenges of the project. AMSAT-DL is concentrating major efforts of procuring a launch with Arianespace, while AMSAT- NA is trying to develop a launch opportunity within the USA. All parties recognize that major progress in funding is contingent on a firm launch agreement. All parties further recognize that a timely construction and integration of P3-E is critically dependent on all parties giving highest priority to fulfilling their respective commitments.
4. All three organizations understand that funding progress is dependent on effective information dissemination worldwide. To this end the three organizations reiterate their mutual agreement that each organization can publish all P3-E related publications of the other two organizations in their respective public organs without special permission. Furthermore, each organization is free to prepare 'official' statements about the project, but these publications must be agreed with the project management of P3-E (AMSAT- DL) prior to publication. Requests for agreement to publish will be sent to Peter (or another person chosen by him), who will use best efforts to respond within 7 days with an answer. With other publications by individual authors no such agreement is necessary provided that the context makes it is clear that the publication is not an official declaration by the project management or AMSAT-DL.
5. AMSAT-DL reiterates that the operational use of P3-E will be primarily to provide amateur radio communication services. But all parties also understand that the spacecraft is a dual service satellite, and that AMSAT-DL retains the right to occasionally reduce the provision of amateur radio services if work towards P5-A requires this. A-DL will use due diligence to minimize the impact of the P5-A requirements on the provision of amateur services.
For AMSAT-DL For AMSAT-NA For AMSAT-UK
Peter DB2OS Rick W2GPS J Jim G3WGM _________________________________________________________________________________
Just check here for the proof http://www.amsat.org/amsat/archive/amsat-bb/200702/msg00394.html
_________________________________________________________________________________
The ITAR public domain exclusions
§ 120.11 Public domain. (a) Public domain means information which is published and which is generally accessible or available to the public: (1) Through sales at newsstands and bookstores; (2) Through subscriptions which are available without restriction to any individual who desires to obtain or purchase the published information; (3) Through second class mailing privileges granted by the U.S. Government; (4) At libraries open to the public or from which the public can obtain documents; (5) Through patents available at any patent office; (6) Through unlimited distribution at a conference, meeting, seminar, trade show or exhibition, generally accessible to the public, in the United States; (7) Through public release (i.e., unlimited distribution) in any form (e.g., not necessarily in published form) after approval by the cognizant U.S. government department or agency (see also § 125.4(b)(13) of this subchapter); (8) Through fundamental research in science and engineering at accredited institutions of higher learning in the U.S. where the resulting information is ordinarily published and shared broadly in the scientific community. Fundamental research is defined to mean basic and applied research in science and engineering where the resulting information is ordinarily published and shared broadly within the scientific community, as distinguished from research the results of which are restricted for proprietary reasons or specific U.S. Government access and dissemination controls. University research will not be considered fundamental research if: (i) The University or its researchers accept other restrictions on publication of scientific and technical information resulting from the project or activity, or (ii) The research is funded by the U.S. Government and specific access and dissemination controls protecting information resulting from the research are applicable. (b) [Reserved]
PS. Did any one ever heard of any report about the memorandum and the way it works since 2006?
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