----- Original Message ----- From: "Joe Westbrook" [email protected] To: "John B. Stephensen" [email protected]; "Luc Leblanc" [email protected]; [email protected] Cc: [email protected] Sent: Sunday, August 10, 2008 11:32 AM Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Re: [eu-amsat] AMSAT UK P3E Lecture Available
John: Yes, you may have heard statements like in the past we've relied on charity, and Amateur Radio Operators alone can not fund a launch, what you haven't heard are any solutions for launching any HEOs. It seems that the DL folks haven't lost that as a focus, they acknowledge that as expensive as it is to launch an HEO, it is still doable. 3 - 4M Euros $4 - 5M at least they gave us a tangible figure we can work with. This amount may be a reach for AMSAT-NA alone, but given that we finally understand what it would take to make a HEO Launch reality, then why wouldn't we shift ALL funding toward that effort? Following the PE3 launch, if any surplus remains, the surplus could be transferred to the next HEO opportunity (Eagle). If no surplus remains then at least we would have one working HEO deployed.
Additionally, at least we know the PE3 platform is well vetted, and would have the lowest risk. Rather than spending time and resources on a new, untested platform why wouldn't we just facilitate PE3 FIRST?
Ok, I'll speech for myself here, but the GEO ride-share simply isn't an opportunity that will interest the HEO crowd. Launching an appliance to serve the disaster response community and entry level satellite users won't do a thing to satisfy the need for a HEO. I don't care if it's free, like AO51, I would probably get on it, make a couple contacts say "that's nice" and be done with it. Please understand, I'm not saying to abandon GEO as a viable option, just don't spend a cent on it until we launch an HEO.
What we need is a satellite that enables the real sprit and intent of the Amateur Radio Service, to push the envelop of the technology, allow for experimentation, consider all of the alternative antenna solutions that our resourceful community developed to receive the 2.4Gig Down Link. No rotator required, different feed systems, a fairly modest resource outlay to get on the air. I did it with a totally home brewed system in a restricted neighborhood back yard. Had a blast and learned allot.
----- Original Message ----- From: "John B. Stephensen" [email protected] To: "Luc Leblanc" [email protected]; [email protected] Cc: [email protected] Sent: Friday, August 08, 2008 3:14 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: [eu-amsat] AMSAT UK P3E Lecture Available
I've been hearing these two statments from AMSAT-NA officals for at least 2 years -- in person and on this BB.
73,
John KD6OZH
----- Original Message ----- From: "Luc Leblanc" [email protected]
Very nice presentations. One attract my attention was made by Peter Guelzow DB2OS one one of his slide we can read:
ATTRACTIVENESS OF AMATEUR RADIO HAS DROPPED SIGNIFICANTLY
FUNDING A SATELLITE FROM AMATEUR RESSOURCES ALONE NEVER WORKED BEFORE AND WILL NOT WORK NOW.
I don't how to explain how all the wisdom and reality knowledge seems to be concentrated in Europe when speaking about amateur satellite?
Sent via [email protected]. 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