I am VERY impressed with the description of FalconSat3 in the AMSAT News Service special bulletin ANS-056.07. With a frame that is roughly 24 inches on a side, it should get enough solar energy for powerful downlinks. Perhaps the downlink will be similar to UO-14.
Has anybody heard an estimate of the time duration of the science mission? That is, how long might we have to wait for the amateur payload to be open to the public?
Also encouraging is the final statement that FalconSats 4 and 5 will also have amateur payloads. This could return us to the "LEO glory days" when RS-10, RS-12, and UO-14 were all operational with strong downlinks. I wonder if they would consider a Mode A or Mode B linear transponder in one of the future FalconSats... The global shift to code-free HF licenses could result in renewed interest in Mode A.
I've always felt that it makes the most sense for AMSAT-NA and AMSAT-DL to focus exclusively on HEO satellites and let universities and smaller AMSAT groups focus on LEO satellites. This is happening in a big way now, thanks to King Abdulaziz University (SaudiSats), US Naval Academy (PCsats), US Air Force Academy (FalconSats), AMSAT-VU (VO-52), and AMSAT-ZL (KiwiSat).
Wayne Estes W9AE Oakland, Oregon, USA, CN83ik
I've always felt that it makes the most sense for AMSAT-NA and AMSAT-DL to focus exclusively on HEO satellites and let universities and smaller AMSAT groups focus on LEO satellites. This is happening in a big way now, thanks to King Abdulaziz University (SaudiSats), US Naval Academy (PCsats), US Air Force Academy (FalconSats), AMSAT-VU (VO-52), and AMSAT-ZL (KiwiSat).
Wayne Estes W9AE Oakland, Oregon, USA, CN83ik
Hi Wayne,
Your insightful comments made me want to remind everyone of the AMSAT-NA mission and vision statement:
" AMSAT is a non-profit volunteer organization which designs, builds and operates experimental satellites and promotes space education. We work in partnership with government, industry, educational institutions and fellow amateur radio societies. We encourage technical and scientific innovation, and promote the training and development of skilled satellite and ground system designers and operators." " Our Vision is to deploy high earth orbit satellite systems that offer daily coverage by 2009 and continuous coverage by 2012. AMSAT will continue active participation in human space missions and support a stream of LEO satellites developed in cooperation with the educational community and other amateur satellite groups."
There are dozens of university satellite programs that need advice that ranges from the complex to somethng as simple as how to install an N connector. The best way to convince these programs to include useful amateur 2-way packages is to be there when they need experienced help, then illustrate the benefits of carrying a 2-way payload once you have their attention and gratitude. To borrow a phrase, we all must "think globally, act locally".
73, Drew KO4MA
participants (2)
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Andrew Glasbrenner -
Wayne Estes