Hello all AMSAT-NA members, I had some curiosity in learning about early AMSAT-NA projects and the people behind the early AMSAT satellites that were built, launched, failed etc. I contacted Martha, and she quickly pointed me in the direction of KA9Q's vast archive in PDF format: http://www.ka9q.net/newsletters.html; Perhaps some of the archives will be soon offered to collectors / researchers on a CD-ROM to help AMSAT earn revenue from its publication archives !
Of particular historical note: Volume I, Number 1, with a note from the "President's Desk" by Perry Kline, AMSAT-NA's Founder-President, who was a great help to me at the symposium just completed and also the very first Editorial by S.H. Durrani, reprinted through the magic of Adobe PDF OCR below. I think newbie's (like me) exploring Amateur Satellite as a hobby should be guided by their respective "elmer" to read some of these early documents as they come up to speed on the various fun stuff to do, and to gain an understanding of the past work done by individuals they meet at conferences, events in this field !
[Following material (c) June 1969, The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation, extracted from http://www.ka9q.net/AMSAT-Newsletter-June1969Brev.pdf] - reproduced for education purposes only!
FROM THE PRESIDENT'S DESK The Australis-OSCAR A satellite, which was delivered to AMSAT on April 14, is currently undergoing a series of tests by AMSAT members at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Jan King, K8VTR, who has been designated AMSAT's Australis-OSCAR A Project Manager, has been doing a superb job of coordinating all activities involving the satellite hardware, including the test program.
Australis-OSCAR A is an Australian-built satellite containing two and ten-meter beacon transmitters. While the previous four OSCAR satellites were launched by the Air Force, AMSAT has been discussing with NASA the possibility of placing Australis-OSCAR A in the second stage of a two-stage Thor-Delta vehicle along with another satellite. Details on the design and operation of the satellite are described in the July and August 1969 issues of QST. Be listening to W1AW for late bulletins as the launch date approaches, and in the meantime, be sure you have your equipment ready for receiving the satellite's beacons on 144.050 and 29.450 MHz. At least 10 dB of antenna gain is recommended to receive the 2-meter transmissions, but a dipole should be sufficient for 10 meters.
Response to the introductory AMSAT article in the June 1969 QST has been very good and AMSAT membership has already passed the one-hundred mark.
We are pleased to announce the receipt of a $150 donation from Project OSCAR to assist with the expenses of Australis OSCAR A. We are also pleased to announce the election of Captain Charles Dorian, W3JPT, to the Office of Secretary by the AMSAT Board of Directors on June 19. Chuck will replace Jim Puglise, W3CBJ, who in preparing to leave the Washington area feels he does not have the time to handle the responsibility competently. We wish to thank Jim for his significant contributions to AMSAT from its inception in January.
One of AMSAT's more recent members, Reginald Atkins (C/O NASA Tracking Station, Dan Dan, Guam 96910, USA), is interested in seeing a synchronous satellite repeater constructed for the 1296 MHz amateur band and has offered to assist with the project. Anyone interested in undertaking this project, please contact us.
Perry Klein K3JTE
Editorial
INTRODUCING THE NEWSLETTER
With this, the first issue of the AMSAT Newsletter, we are embarking on a new project to keep the membership informed of what is going on in AMSAT. Actually, this is not quite the first issue, because an embryonic newsletter was issued in May by Geørge Kinal, our Engineering Vice President, in the form of a one-page progress report. In it he described the current AMSAT efforts to prepare the ham satellite Australis-Oscar A for launch, and AMSAT's decision to participate in Project "Moonray," which aims at placing a ham relay package on the moon.
These are exciting activities — Oscar and Moonray and amateur space communications in general — and AMSAT is deeply interested in them. As our membership expands and our involvement in various projects grows, so does the need for a newsletter increase.
The main objectives of the Newsletter are to document AMSAT activities and to report the progress on current projects. In addition, the Newsletter will carry special articles deemed to be of interest to the members. In the beginning, these articles will be mainly concerned with Australis-OSCAR, (which is our most important activity at present) or with providing information to new members for their orientation. Later issues will cover a wider field—as wide as the members wish it to be and make it to be.
Did you wonder "why a newsletter?" Well, now you know! And if you wondered what AMSAT is all about, and who is responsible for what, we have the answers in this issue. But there must be several other questions that you'd like to discuss. So we'll have a Reader's Column in future issues, which will give you a chance to air your views and propagate them out to fellow members. We'll be happy to hear from you, whether it is a matter of gravity or levity! Please direct your transmissions to Newsletter Editor, AMSAT, Box 27, Washington, D. C. 20044.
S. H. Durrani Editor
P.S. How about a proper name for the Newsletter? We have considered the BEACON, TRANSMITTER, TRANSCEIVER, TRANSPONDER, UPLINK, and some others. But before settling on one, your Board of Directors decided to ask for suggestions from members. If you have any ideas on the subject, please pass them on to the Editor. (Hint: ask your wife to help us name this baby!)