Slightly off topic, but interesting for satellite constructors

For anyone who is having trouble sleeping at night, or is interested in the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) regarding hardware / software export from the USA, the following site lists technologies that are restricted.

_http://www.fas.org/spp/starwars/offdocs/itar/p121.htm_ (http://www.fas.org/spp/starwars/offdocs/itar/p121.htm)

Space technolgies are listed in section 15 (XV)

From an AMSAT perspective it makes some nice distinctions in technologies

that may be considered as 'US Munitions' and other allowable 'commerce' products. AMSAT has technologies that can be placed in both categories.

e.g. Export of GPS capable of operating above 60,000 feet. / 1000MPH - Banned Attitude control systems capable of pointing accuracy 0.02 degrees or better. - Banned restartable kick motors that remain active once on orbit, that can produce greater than 1g acceleration. - Banned. Satellite antennas with ground coverage 3dB points less than 200 nautical miles diameter. - Banned. Radiation hardened space rated ICs. Banned, but if you embed them so they can't be removed. - Allowed.

Fortunately for us, the overall emphasis is on military use and it does not seek to restrict commercial space products. Other than the GPS, (and buying a bigger pot of epoxy resin) none of the other exmples seem to be a problem for the average AMSAT mission.

Or are they?

Thanks

David G0MRF