I do not understand and am asking for help understanding, why a long, slow, slingshot path to the moon isn't feasible. We don't need a direct shot, do we, unless we do this all ourselves? If we go with someone else, we ride their mission so it doesn't matter what we want. But for total usefulness, it starts it's mission as a LEO, transitions to an HEO, and then becomes a lander. Three different missions, three different antenna systems, three different opportunities to use it. What's wrong with that concept?
Nuc fuel, utilizing a tethered antenna floating above craft held in position by magnetics or coax, but not affixed to craft so that it can be adjusted without affecting the lander. A 4x4x4 plastic sheet for an antenna that when expanded becomes a 20m semi-rigid antenna.
Might as well use products already here tied to dreams.
This can work albeit slowly.
Dave DM78qd // KA0SWT If it weren't for Philo T. Farnsworth, inventor of television, we'd still be eating frozen radio dinners.-- Johnny Carson +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
-----Original Message----- From: amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org] On Behalf Of Jeff Davis Sent: Thursday, July 02, 2009 9:35 AM To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: The Moon is our Future
On Thu, Jul 02, 2009 at 06:48:51AM -0600, Jack K. wrote:
communications anyway) and move forward... We can put up all the leos we want, but until someone makes something like B. Bruninga's cell concept work, we are only going to have more of the same, We don't need more of the same!
I couldn't agree more - we don't need more of the same.
If I want to sit back and have a two hour rag-chew with someone on the other side of the planet I will use Skype or my cell phone!
Dreaming about what *might* be in space is a fun exercise. Actually doing something about it requires sending things to LEO because reality has dictated that's as far as we can afford to go.
How's about we use some of that frustrated *imagineering* to come up with interesting new concepts at LEO? We don't need any more FM repeaters buzzing overhead, but what about more cameras downloading HD images, scientific payloads that monitor the ongoing climate change, payloads to study the Earth's magnetic field, etc. etc. Our own 'Twitter' messaging network from space...?
The Apollo 13 creed of "failure is not an option" has completely infected the brains at AMSAT and this list. You want something at HEO or on the moon, cut a check for $15 million dollars and let's get on with it. Been waiting since 1996 for another AO-13 and I am getting too old to keep waiting.
AMSAT is becoming completely irrelevant as it strives without success for the impossible mission and exhibits a shocking amount of leadership malfesance as it stubbornly refuses to recognize and adapt to realities in the launch business.
I know, I know maybe NEXT year someone rich will die and leave us a boatload of cash. Or the bankrupt US government will suddenly cough up a billion dollars for some orbiting emergency communication system. In the meantime we have to stifle the truth because it might blow yet another *secret* deal that's in the works and *almost* a done deal, so let's not complain publicly and ruin it.
Heard the stories, heard the lies, got all the t-shirts and ball caps. Whatever.
-- Jeff, KE9V AMSAT-NA member since 1994, Skeptic that we will ever go back to HEO since 2002 _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb