Friends,
We've had little information about the P4 opportunity since the Symposium. But reading between the lines and reading N4HY's message of today it seems that most of us are missing what they are trying to tell us ...
There aren't **any** easy/cheap/free rides to HEO to be had. That ship has sailed and everything that we ever knew about the launch business has changed.
I'm not trying to put words in anyone's mouth here, but I take it from Bob's message and the solicitation letter from President Hambly that there is really no apparent option to launch Eagle without doing something radically different.
Assuming that we could pay for even a cheap launch, it might cost a million dollars if we were just paying customers. Think about that -- a MILLION dollars. Maybe more. After two years of raising money for Eagle we are up to what, $70K?
At this rate it would take a decade or more to raise enough funds to launch Eagle if AMSAT continues on the published path. This isn't about digging a little deeper -- this is about reality.
I get the impression that if some agreement isn't worked out with someone -- like is being discussed with the P4 opportunity -- we won't get back to HEO. Ever. Unless the satellite business changes.
Those who think that the option is to EITHER finish Eagle and launch it, OR work on P4 seem to be missing the point -- the first option may now be more dream than a viable option.
I would be pleased to learn that I am reading this all wrong because my *only* satellite interest is in a high-orbit bird and my hopes for seeing another in my lifetime are beginning to fade.
It's now been over 11 years since we had AO-13 and it's becoming a fond, distant memory...