--- On Fri, 3/8/12, Andrew Glasbrenner glasbrenner@mindspring.com wrote:

I still think we really need some good DX LEOs.

Agreed, getting something into an orbit of 1250 to 2500 km is key (and having an SDX transponder that can survive the higher radiation levels).

Yes some launches such as the recent VEGA are into elliptical orbits BUT they have very short lifetimes before burn-up, I think the VEGA orbit is only 2 years. Ideally we'd want an elliptical orbit that would last 15-20 years I don't think any standard launches do that.

A number of CubeSats are expected to test a means of getting to higher orbits in the coming year: http://www.uk.amsat.org/5153 http://www.uk.amsat.org/9165 http://www.uk.amsat.org/9268

The costs of buying a launch to an orbit we'd like will likely remain prohibitive so it looks like we need to develop our own propulsion to take us from a "cheap launch" orbit at 350 or 700 km to one above 1250 km that'll permit DX working.

73 Trevor M5AKA