I'll try to keep this short...."Whose Success?"
If I were still a member of Amsat, I would be very upset with the handling of this project. There is nothing for the contributions that ham radio members invested. It ends up only glory for ARISS and the Russian's commemoration of Yuri Gagarin.
I would vote to cut the relationship between Amsat and ARISS. It isn't offering anything for ham radio. Let ARISS raise their own funds and build their own educational satellites. Those that want to contribute to that, go ahead. Amsat was created to build satellites capable of ham radio communications (and be used by hams)...this education outreach was added, much later.
But then I quit Amsat after 36-years. You know what? Keep this up and it could become a trend.
Ed - KL7UW former #3212
PS: They were right about my proposal: It would fail. Now you have the evidence.
OK, I missed it live. I was busy working on my procedures to launch Atlantic Bird 7 in September.
Was it deployed without the antenna?
The S/N ratio here on the BBS has me confused. It *sounds* like they deployed it without the antenna, which means it's 50% functional.
I fully understand about handling objects in microgravity. They might be "weightless" but they're certainly NOT "inertialess".
But to drag it outside WITHOUT one of its critical pieces?
Didn't they set this up for deployment inside the ISS to be all ready to go before they even took it into the airlock?
Didn't they have a procedure to follow? You know, "Insert Tab "A" Into Slot "B""? "Big antenna on top, small antenna on the bottom"?
73, Jim KQ6EA
On 08/03/2011 11:23 PM, Edward R. Cole wrote:
I'll try to keep this short...."Whose Success?"
If I were still a member of Amsat, I would be very upset with the handling of this project. There is nothing for the contributions that ham radio members invested. It ends up only glory for ARISS and the Russian's commemoration of Yuri Gagarin.
I would vote to cut the relationship between Amsat and ARISS. It isn't offering anything for ham radio. Let ARISS raise their own funds and build their own educational satellites. Those that want to contribute to that, go ahead. Amsat was created to build satellites capable of ham radio communications (and be used by hams)...this education outreach was added, much later.
But then I quit Amsat after 36-years. You know what? Keep this up and it could become a trend.
Ed - KL7UW former #3212
PS: They were right about my proposal: It would fail. Now you have the evidence.
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
Hi Ed, KL7UW
I agree completely with you........Well said !
73" de
i8CVS Domenico former # 798
----- Original Message ----- From: "Edward R. Cole" kl7uw@acsalaska.net To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Thursday, August 04, 2011 1:23 AM Subject: [amsat-bb] Today's Success
I'll try to keep this short...."Whose Success?"
If I were still a member of Amsat, I would be very upset with the handling of this project. There is nothing for the contributions that ham radio members invested. It ends up only glory for ARISS and the Russian's commemoration of Yuri Gagarin.
I would vote to cut the relationship between Amsat and ARISS. It isn't offering anything for ham radio. Let ARISS raise their own funds and build their own educational satellites. Those that want to contribute to that, go ahead. Amsat was created to build satellites capable of ham radio communications (and be used by hams)...this education outreach was added, much later.
But then I quit Amsat after 36-years. You know what? Keep this up and it could become a trend.
Ed - KL7UW former #3212
PS: They were right about my proposal: It would fail. Now you have the evidence.
<snip>
If I were still a member of Amsat, I would be very upset with the handling of this project. There is nothing for the contributions that ham radio members invested. It ends up only glory for ARISS and the Russian's commemoration of Yuri Gagarin.
I would vote to cut the relationship between Amsat and ARISS. It isn't offering anything for ham radio. Let ARISS raise their own funds and build their own educational satellites. Those that want to contribute to that, go ahead. Amsat was created to build satellites capable of ham radio communications (and be used by hams)...this education outreach was added, much later.
I noticed in the NASA TV commentary that ARISSat was constantly being referred to as an "educational" satellite with scarcely a mention of its amateur radio capabilities. AMSAT was named just in passing as being one of the parties involved with its design and construction, but that was about it.
At least one other website also emphasized that ARISSat was built for educational purposes, which disappointed me as I was always under the impression that ARISSat was primarily an amateur radio bird.
<snip>
73s
Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL
At least one other website also emphasized that ARISSat was built for educational purposes, which disappointed me as I was always under the impression that ARISSat was primarily an amateur radio bird.
It *IS* an Amateur Radio Bird, but that is not what the Russians, NASA and the International Partners invested $10 Million dollars of ISS time and energy for. They provided those millions of dollars of launch and integration services for EDUCATION!. PERIOD. And so EDUCATION is what they thought they were getting and so EDUCATION is what they talk about.
As Ham radio operators, we provided the hardware and we hope to have fun with it while introducing new people, educators, and students to our great hobby. But the only reason it got a free ride up there is because it OFFERED EDUCATION for youth about communications and space.
I only hope that the educators and youth are *not* encouraged to tune into the AMSAT-BB and get an education in the self centered, me-first, and Crumudgenonly behavior we see here.
We should count our blessings!
Give Thanks to the Russians and NASA and all of the others that pulled this off though personal effort and sacrifice.
Enjoy the bird. Bob, Wb4APR
On Aug 5, 2011, at 8:24 AM, Bob Bruninga wrote:
They provided those millions of dollars of launch and
integration services for EDUCATION!. PERIOD. And so EDUCATION is what they thought they were getting and so EDUCATION is what they talk about.
I may be wrong here, but isn't Amateur Radio exactly that? Isn't the purpose of Amateur Radio also to educate, try out new things and develop ideas and technologies?
Yes, I'm one of those who would love to have another linear transponder in space, sure nice. But I also do believe that Amateur Radio is more than just talking to people. If I want to ragchew, I get on HF. Much easier and less stressful :). I managed to hear my downlink this morning on a pass over Houston, and boy is that thing moving fast. I'm not even sure if it would be very entertaining to have a QSO on that bird. Much less hectic on VO-52, FO-29 and AO-7. So the downlink data seems more interesting.
As Ham radio operators, we provided the hardware and we hope to have fun with it while introducing new people, educators, and students to our great hobby. But the only reason it got a free ride up there is because it OFFERED EDUCATION for youth about communications and space.
Well, I haven't tried yet but will on one of the next passes but receiving a live image via SSTV from a satellite using Amateur Radio is probably more interesting to get young people involved with this than just the fact that I can talk to somebody. As somebody mentioned earlier, they already can do that using other means.
Give Thanks to the Russians and NASA and all of the others that pulled this off though personal effort and sacrifice.
Sure, but you have to agree that it sure looked like they didn't give a damn about this during the launch no matter how difficult it is to maneuver in space. The conversations were just very telling.
73 Mike K5TRI
participants (6)
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B J -
Bob Bruninga -
Edward R. Cole -
i8cvs -
Jim Jerzycke -
Michael Schulz