On 2/19/2020 19:13, Fernando Ramirez via AMSAT-BB wrote:
While we all appreciate N8MH and the other command stations ops efforts to switch the satellite mode, I still believe the Operations Team should request help from other operators with the necessary equipment, and time, in order to ease the burden of commanding our satellites. In almost 5 years working sats, I have never seen such requests.
While I can't speak for the enrollment of ground stations in general, I can speak to the command of AO-92.
Since AO-92 has an imaging device that must be and is licensed by NOAA/CRSRA, that puts some important limits on commanding. I am the holder (POC) of the imaging license for Fox-1C and Fox-1D so I get to be sure all of the rules are followed, if nothing else than for a bit of CmYA.
The stations that command AO-92 must be licensed and operated in the U.S., and effect security measures for ensuring their station and any command devices are not accessible to anyone else including your family members. In addition to a quarterly audit and an annual audit that I must undertake, the command stations must be open for NOAA inspection at all reasonable times. There are strict limits on what we can image, which can generally be summed up as "earth only", as any images of other satellites and objects in orbit must be done so with the consent of the owner of the object and absent that, must only be done if they are encrypted per USG approved standards. That last piece rules out taking any such images and sending the data over amateur radio, just as we have an exemption from encrypting earth images because we are amateur radio - but also limited to earth images only because we can't encrypt any ARSO objects. Command stations must be registered with and approve by NOAA/CRSRA, and because of the nature of the steps for achieving that I would stress the permanence of their participation to our VP Ops, i.e. being selective of stations who can provide reliable command service for at least one year and preferably, for the life of the satellite(s). There are strict limits on resolution of the images, and the imagers are capable of more than their licensed resolution therefore it is important to ensure images are only captured and downlinked in the licensed format.
The command stations who are selected by AMSAT for imaging satellite command privileges must be able to answer to me whether directly or via VP Operations when queries or anomalies are brought to me by NOAA/CRSRA as well as for audits.
This is not the entire list although it certainly covers the most important items that come into play when selecting command stations. As the responsible party for our imaging license I have determined that given the amount of work involved, the sensitivity of the command information, imaging, imaging control, and downlinked images, the availability and capability to command AO-92, and the trust that must be placed in an imaging capable command station, for the time being, only three AMSAT command stations be allowed to command AO-92.
If access by additional command stations is shown to be a requirement for the operation of AO-92, during consideration and vetting of the candidate station by VP Operations I would provide input and make a recommendation whether the station is qualified in my opinion, to properly satisfy our NOAA/CRSRA imaging license. As of this time, I have seen nothing brought forth in debates on amsat-bb or other media (and of course, I do not nor do I intend to look at them all) that shows any sincere and responsible desire to function as a command station for an imaging satellite, other than personal desires for days of operation for Downshifter (Mode L, or L band operation). I also would not expect that any such requests would be made in the public forum given the sensitivity of the operation, in other words in this case given by Fernando, you will likely never see any discussion of at least the imaging command stations here or anywhere other than an announcement of a new command station.
Like EAR, like orbital debris, like the NDAs that we are part of in getting satellites launched, and no, don't ask to see our license because like the laws and agreements covering NOAA/CRSRA imaging licenses, you won't see any of that here. That is the nature of the game, these days. I play by NOAA (in this case, or any other of the above) rules and we all work hard within those rules to put satellites into orbit. I know everybody wants to know everything, but put simply, you can't. It's not personal, it's business. And while ham radio (satellites) is a hobby, AMSAT and the in-space operation and control of our satellites are strictly business.
I hope this provides some detail to expand on what happens, to show that rather than the solution often bandied about when things don't seem to happen the way someone wants it to as "because we're being mean", is not true. If I were mean, I wouldn't even take time to try to help you understand!
And now to be mean just to keep -bb in its groove, I will likely not respond to any questions about this here because of the reasons above, and because there are still many things to do to keep getting our next three satellites on track to in-orbit. Perhaps I can expand in an AMSAT Journal piece, if there is truly enough interest (and I can do so without violating our license)!
73
Jerry Buxton, NØJY