We should be ashamed of ourselves in NA and Europe for not having figured out the key to unlock the door, but having been there until my retirement from active office holder, I can tell you it was not for lack of trying.
We have an essentially COMPLETE Phase 3E sitting on the shelf, looking for a way to get up. We had a ride to geo with the outstreched hand waiting for O(10^7) dollars. We need to either break the logjam or start sending money to AMSAT India if this will get the job done.
My real fear is the singular lack of experience in dealing with propulsion, attitude control WITHOUT propulsion at in HEO, and Van Allen radiation belts. I would be happy to tell them all about it except the BLOODY Itar rules that have not stopped a single adversary from getting the technology they need, has truly magnified the cost and difficulty of export our satellites (so others build them instead), would send me to jail for helping.
Bob N4HY
Bruce Robertson wrote:
The AMSAT India newsletter has some great news: their proposal for Hamsat II requests that ISRO provide an elliptical or MEO orbit! Moreover, they're also asking for space on a geosynchronous bird. I suppose the latter would not necessarily benefit those of us in North America, but it would provide a fine emergency service to Asian regions and provide a pioneering example for other AMSAT groups.
73, Bruce VE9QRP _______________________________________________ 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