On 09/24/2012 04:07 PM, Andrew Glasbrenner wrote:
Yes, I think it would, as a reasonable compromise. In fact, maybe we should PROVIDE them with a working comms board that gives them the data pathways they need to fulfill their experimental needs AND at the same time provides US with something that provides OUR needs.
It seems the entire focus these days is upon leveraging educational opportunities. The theory goes, as I understand it: Since we can't afford to pay for a launch of our own, we COOPERATE with educational institutions (who do seem able to get launches) to provide useable frequencies -- and potentially a global network of groundstations -- IN EXCHANGE for some sort of communications functionality that can be used BY US.
We could even call it AMSAT Fox! And take donations on the front page of the website via PayPal! And use the same avionics on projects with other entities, and apply for free educational launches!
Excellent idea! When do we start? Because it seems there are a LOT of birds up there that DON'T actually give anything back. What ratio of satellites that DON'T to satellites that DO must we reach, before someone points out that it is in fact, no longer our band?
More seriously: I see the FOX PayPal applet saying a little under $7.5k at the present. How long has it taken to raise that amount? How much do we actually need? Or to get to the crux of the matter, at the current rate, when will we hit the required target, in comparison to when we need to pay for the launch?