Folks
I uploaded a video on YouTube that you may be interested in showing last weekend's QSO with astronaut Clay Anderson:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1swyCCTbP1w
Howard G6LVB
Howard:
Thank you very much for this. This is inspirational to say the least and it has me wanting to make a suggestion. I think everyone understands the impact this has on the kids. But they are so rehearsed and nervous typically that they stand at ATTENTION, etc. Don't get me wrong. They are very excited and the after reviews are universally positive.
However, if want wants to see the impact in the raw, we could use a camera or two looking at the family and friends and peers of these kids. I have seen people almost jump out of their clothes and parents literally break down and cry at the excitement or joy they feel. Anyone who ever goes to one of these and cannot see, hear, feel, almost taste the emotional impact this is having on the audience, is without senses and a heart. I would rather the voted out of office in AMSAT rather than ever fail to support the continuation of this program.
Many do not realize just how small the cadre of solid volunteers are available to the AMSAT's of the world. If we inspire one or two people at each of these to get interested and a few of them come back later to help us, it is a huge deal. This is an investment, we can and will, no MUST make.
73's Bob N4HY
Howard Long wrote:
Folks
I uploaded a video on YouTube that you may be interested in showing last weekend's QSO with astronaut Clay Anderson:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1swyCCTbP1w
Howard G6LVB
Hi Bob
You're so right. In some ways I've become a little jaded after some of these events where I didn't get the impression that the level engagement was always there.
At this event, that was certainly there during the event itself, which was pleasantly surprising because we had a real problem getting the organisers to be particularly helpful or cooperative.
I was controlling the radio side, and Carlo G0AKI was organising the kids at the mic. It's a standard setup we've done together before - this is the ninth contact we've benn involved with! I would have LOVED to have had a proper video of everything else going on, but as you can see it was very dark too! I tried to get more lighting in there, and was assured the day before that it would be there, but guess what... next time I'll organise my own lighting. Even if the lighting had been right, in reality we needed someone to do a decent video too. I will see if we can do that next time.
What I liked about this one was the round of applause we got when the astronaut finally answers. We did not prime the audience for that, and it's the first time it's happened to us. Carlos likes to start the calls a minute too early - it seems to get the adrenaline flowing rather well.
Howard
-----Original Message----- From: Robert McGwier [mailto:rwmcgwier@gmail.com] Sent: 08 August 2007 18:38 To: Howard Long Cc: amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Video on YouTube
Howard:
Thank you very much for this. This is inspirational to say the least and it has me wanting to make a suggestion. I think everyone understands the impact this has on the kids. But they are so rehearsed and nervous typically that they stand at ATTENTION, etc. Don't get me wrong. They are very excited and the after reviews are universally positive.
However, if want wants to see the impact in the raw, we could use a camera or two looking at the family and friends and peers of these kids. I have seen people almost jump out of their clothes and parents literally break down and cry at the excitement or joy they feel. Anyone who ever goes to one of these and cannot see, hear, feel, almost taste the emotional impact this is having on the audience, is without senses and a heart. I would rather the voted out of office in AMSAT rather than ever fail to support the continuation of this program.
Many do not realize just how small the cadre of solid volunteers are available to the AMSAT's of the world. If we inspire one or two people at each of these to get interested and a few of them come back later to help us, it is a huge deal. This is an investment, we can and will, no MUST make.
73's Bob N4HY
Howard Long wrote:
Folks
I uploaded a video on YouTube that you may be interested in showing last weekend's QSO with astronaut Clay Anderson:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1swyCCTbP1w
Howard G6LVB
-- AMSAT Director and VP Engineering. Member: ARRL, AMSAT-DL, TAPR, Packrats, NJQRP, QRP ARCI, QCWA, FRC. ARRL SDR WG Chair "If you're going to be crazy, you have to get paid for it or else you're going to be locked up." Hunter S. Thompson
Quoting Robert McGwier rwmcgwier@gmail.com:
Howard:
Thank you very much for this. This is inspirational to say the least and it has me wanting to make a suggestion. I think everyone understands the impact this has on the kids. But they are so rehearsed
and nervous typically that they stand at ATTENTION, etc. Don't get me wrong. They are very excited and the after reviews are universally positive.
However, if want wants to see the impact in the raw, we could use a camera or two looking at the family and friends and peers of these kids.
I have seen people almost jump out of their clothes and parents literally break down and cry at the excitement or joy they feel. Anyone
who ever goes to one of these and cannot see, hear, feel, almost taste the emotional impact this is having on the audience, is without senses and a heart. I would rather the voted out of office in AMSAT rather than ever fail to support the continuation of this program.
Many do not realize just how small the cadre of solid volunteers are available to the AMSAT's of the world. If we inspire one or two people
at each of these to get interested and a few of them come back later to
help us, it is a huge deal. This is an investment, we can and will, no
MUST make.
73's Bob N4HY
It might be added that a similar amount of excitement can be generated and felt when an informed group of students are able to acquire the signal from one of our satellites. I think we should be preparing, individually and collectively, for the educational opportunity of SuitSat2, which I believe is planned for a Feb. 'launch'. SuitSat2 is especially exciting because it showcases and provides a test platform for amateur work which is truly cutting-edge and will be integrated into our next generation of HEO's.
Perhaps some of us could collaborate on a set of PowerPoint slides that set the scene. For the gr. 5-8 group that I've been presenting to, I think the story of the last SuitSat is a good starting place: that a world-wide team of amateurs like us saved its b(e)acon by being able to receive and decode a mW-level signal; that this time they've tricked 'Mr. Smith' out with a solar panel and a transponder. Additionally, perhaps those closer to the SDX effort could make a set of slides regarding it that would be of use to people making presentations at clubs or in universities. KA3HDO's slides at http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/Presentations/Dayton%20Hamvention/Dayton%20... are a good introduction.
This time of year is ideal for contacting school administrators and teachers about doing such an in-class presentation. They are back in the saddle and excited about making the up-coming year as engaging and interesting as possible.
73, Bruce VE9QRP
Thrilling! to say the least. Great show Howard. I have been involved one of these and know the experience you had and I thanks for sharing.
73's << John
On 8/8/07, Howard Long howard@howardlong.com wrote:
Folks
I uploaded a video on YouTube that you may be interested in showing last weekend's QSO with astronaut Clay Anderson:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1swyCCTbP1w
Howard G6LVB
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
participants (4)
-
Bruce Robertson -
Howard Long -
John Price -
Robert McGwier