Greetings All!
Does anyone have any word regarding the final integration and actual launch dates for Phase 3-E? Was anything about Phase 3-D discussed at Dayton?
Everything I'm reading on the AMSAT-DL Web site is devoid of any firm launch dates and the AMSAT-NA Web site simply says "January 2009".
How firm is that date? Has a launch contract been let?
73,
Keith KB1SF / VA3KSF Past President AMSAT-NA
----- Original Message ----- From: "Keith Baker KB1SF/VA3KSF" kb1sf@kcbassociates.com To: amsat-bb@AMSAT.Org Sent: Friday, May 23, 2008 5:58 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] Phase 3-E Launch date?
Greetings All!
Does anyone have any word regarding the final integration and actual
launch dates for Phase 3-E? Was anything about Phase 3-D discussed at Dayton?
Everything I'm reading on the AMSAT-DL Web site is devoid of any firm
launch dates and the AMSAT-NA Web site simply says "January 2009".
How firm is that date? Has a launch contract been let?
73,
Keith KB1SF / VA3KSF Past President AMSAT-NA
Hi Keith, KB1SF / VA3KSF
I am very surprised that you as a Past President AMSAT-NA are asking to this people on this BB about the launch date of P3-E
There are or not official connections between you AMSAT-NA and the BOD of AMSAT-DL ?
Regarding the launch of P3-E I hnow that AMSAT-DL have close contacts and discussing various possible launch opportunities. However, the costs they still want to have for such a launch are too high for AMSAT-DL alone and therefore they have not yet finally sign a launch contract for a specific launch. As far I know AMSAT-DL have already invested 1,5 Mio EUR into building the spacecraft and work continues. As far I know AMSAT-DL is currently working hard to cover the launch costs (of abt 1 Mio. EUR) by other sources, but to finish P3E and keep the infrastructure they still need support by the community and so if we want P3-E becomes a reality we all users and particularly those people commercially interested in this venture must pull for P3-E donating "money" to AMSAT-DL othervise in the future only the LEO FM birds will be the last Amateur Radio Satellite frontiere i.e. a step back before OSCAR-10 in a previous time when the Amateur Radio Satellite communication between Continents was impossible.
Luc Leblanc VE2DWE says on this BB
WORK AS ONE INTERNATIONAL AMSAT PUT ONE FUNDING STRUCTURE FOR A REAL HEO SATELLITE, TAKE ONE PROJECT AT A TIME COMPLETE IT AND LAUNCH IT AND GO FOR THE NEXT ONE
and also he says
"13 rail wagon passing by and I still wait................"
Best 73" de
i8CVS Domenico Past President AMSAT-Italia
Domenico (I8CVS) wrote:
I am very surprised that you as a Past President AMSAT-NA are asking to this people on this BB about the launch date of P3-E
There are or not official connections between you AMSAT-NA and the BOD of AMSAT-DL ?
In a word...no.
Unfortunately, I no longer have any "official contacts" with either AMSAT-NA or AMSAT-DL.
Since I stepped aside from both the AMSAT-NA Presidency and the AMSAT-NA BOD, I've now become a permanent resident of Canada.
And, in an effort to avoid further complicating AMSAT-NA's already complicated ITAR reporting, I've decided it's probably best for me to simply take myself out of the loop as regards AMSAT-NA's internal matters.
However, Domenico, thank you very much for your informative reply! I have no doubt that the AMSAT-NA and DL folks are working as hard as they can to get a launch for P3-E.
Thanks again and 73,
Keith KB1SF / VA3KSF
Keith Baker KB1SF/VA3KSF wrote:
Domenico (I8CVS) wrote:
I am very surprised that you as a Past President AMSAT-NA are asking to this people on this BB about the launch date of P3-E
There are or not official connections between you AMSAT-NA and the BOD of AMSAT-DL ?
In a word...no.
Unfortunately, I no longer have any "official contacts" with either AMSAT-NA or AMSAT-DL.
Since I stepped aside from both the AMSAT-NA Presidency and the AMSAT-NA BOD, I've now become a permanent resident of Canada.
And, in an effort to avoid further complicating AMSAT-NA's already complicated ITAR reporting, I've decided it's probably best for me to simply take myself out of the loop as regards AMSAT-NA's internal matters.
However, Domenico, thank you very much for your informative reply! I have no doubt that the AMSAT-NA and DL folks are working as hard as they can to get a launch for P3-E.
Thanks again and 73,
Keith KB1SF / VA3KSF
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
Keith, First, good to hear from you. Many have asked at the AMSAT booth of your whereabouts. Sorry you feel this way, however, AMSAT does have a lot of bright stars and people that try to keep everyone informed. I am "one" of the ANS editor's that try to keep the group and others in the world up to date. I am hampered by lack of information being forwarded by the various groups doing wonderful things for us. I always ask these groups to send a note or two to the ANS editor so we can keep the AMSAT members informed. I attended Dayton again this year to get scoops on items happening. The forums went well and up to date information was dispensed. ITAR is alive and well, yes, but the strings are becoming untangled. Remember, sometimes no news means that there was no progress to report. AMSAT has the Eagle project working too so don't forget about that project's needs since AMSAT has contributed many times to Phase 3E and this is AMSAT-NA's contribution to the ham community. 73, Dee, NB2F NJ AMSAT Co-ordinator
Dee (N2BF) wrote:
Keith, First, good to hear from you. Many have asked at the AMSAT booth of your whereabouts. Sorry you feel this way, however, AMSAT does have a lot of bright stars and people that try to keep everyone informed. I am "one" of the ANS editor's that try to keep the group and others in the world up to date. I am hampered by lack of information being forwarded by the various groups doing wonderful things for us. I always ask these groups to send a note or two to the ANS editor so we can keep the AMSAT members informed. I attended Dayton again this year to get scoops on items happening. The forums went well and up to date information was dispensed. ITAR is alive and well, yes, but the strings are becoming untangled. Remember, sometimes no news means that there was no progress to report. AMSAT has the Eagle project working too so don't forget about that project's needs since AMSAT has contributed many times to Phase 3E and this is AMSAT-NA's contribution to the ham community. 73, Dee, NB2F NJ AMSAT Co-ordinator
------------------- And it's nice to hear from you again as well, Dee!
Please understand, my original query was not meant, in any way, to demean the work of either our experimenters or those of you doing the reporting of what our experimenters are doing. So I have no feelings to be "sorry" for ane there is absolutely no need for you to apologize.
In fact, I well remember from my own experiences with Phase 3-D that there are always delicate negotiations going on behind the scenes for such things as satelliite launches (particularly those of the "bargain basement" variety!)
I also know that revealing the details of those negotiations until they were completed could very well throw the proverbial "monkey wrench" into those proceedings. Few people will ever know how periously close AMSAT came to NOT having an affordable launch for Phase 3-D as a direct result of such "loose lips" among some of our more vocal (but nontheless still horrifically ignorant) AMSAT-BB posters..
All I was asking in my original post was if anyone had heard any "official" word on when we might expect to have P3-E in orbit. And, as you say, "no news is often good news", which appears to now be the case.
And, let me also say that my absense from the mainstream of AMSAT-NA activities over these last few years has had nothing to do with my harboring any ill will towards anyone in the current organization(s). Rather, I have been grappling with a whole host of daunting personal and family issues that have, of neccessity, largely kept me from doing so.
As a few trusted folks within the AMSAT management team already know, those issues have involved a lengthy (and very sad) divorce along with a subsequent re-marraige to a wonderful Canadian lady named Kate (who has since become a licenced Ham in both the US and Canada).
I have also been busy getting both myself (and my teenage daughter) firmly established as permanent residents here in Canada. Needless to say, the latter has been a long and arduous process for my daughter, Emily and me, given the fact that it has all happened in an increasingly bureaucratic, post 9/11 world.
And, as I said, as I am no longer a US resident, I well realize that that fact could also create a whole series of negative implications for any "offfcial" participaiton I might have in any corporate AMSAT activities due to the stringent reporting requirements of ITAR.
So, rather than complicate those already overly-complex organizaitonal issues any further, I've thought it best to simply sit on the sidelines and let others "carry the torch".
Rest assured, Dee, I DO keep tabs on what's going on in the organization, both by the fine work you and others are doing with the Journal, and also by the fine work our Webmaster(s) are doing with the AMSAT-NA Web site and AMSAT-BB.
As I have often said, I learned long ago that, sometimes, "help" is not "helpful". And, you folks are all doing just fine without any of my added "help"!
Please pass my best to all!
73,
Keith KB1SF / VA3KSF Past President, AMSAT-NA
Dee (N2BF) wrote:
Keith, First, good to hear from you. Many have asked at the AMSAT booth of your whereabouts. Sorry you feel this way, however, AMSAT does have a lot of bright stars and people that try to keep everyone informed. I am "one" of the ANS editor's that try to keep the group and others in the world up to date. I am hampered by lack of information being forwarded by the various groups doing wonderful things for us. I always ask these groups to send a note or two to the ANS editor so we can keep the AMSAT members informed. I attended Dayton again this year to get scoops on items happening. The forums went well and up to date information was dispensed. ITAR is alive and well, yes, but the strings are becoming untangled. Remember, sometimes no news means that there was no progress to report. AMSAT has the Eagle project working too so don't forget about that project's needs since AMSAT has contributed many times to Phase 3E and this is AMSAT-NA's contribution to the ham community. 73, Dee, NB2F NJ AMSAT Co-ordinator
------------------- And it's nice to hear from you again as well, Dee!
Please understand, my original query was not meant, in any way, to demean the fine work of either our experimenters or those of you doing the reporting of what our experimenters are doing. So I have no feelings to be "sorry" for. And there is absolutely no need for you to apologize on behalf of the organization.
In fact, I well remember from my own experiences with Phase 3-D that there are always delicate negotiations going on behind the scenes for such things as satellite launches (particularly those of the "bargain basement" variety!)
I also know that revealing the details of those negotiations until they were completed could very well throw the proverbial "monkey wrench" into those proceedings. Few people will ever know how perilously close AMSAT came to NOT having an affordable launch for Phase 3-D as a direct result of such "loose lips" among some of our more vocal (but nonetheless still horrifically ignorant) AMSAT-BB posters.
All I was asking in my original post was if anyone had heard any "official" word on when we might expect to have P3-E in orbit. And, as you say, "no news" is often "good news", which appears to now be the case.
And, let me also say that my absence from the mainstream of AMSAT-NA activities over these last few years has had nothing to do with my harboring any ill will towards anyone in the current organization(s). Rather, I have been grappling with a whole host of daunting personal and family issues that have, of necessity, largely kept me from doing so.
As a few trusted folks within the AMSAT management team already know, those issues have involved a lengthy (and very sad) divorce along with a subsequent re-marriage to a wonderful Canadian lady named Kate (who has since become a licensed Ham in both the US and Canada).
I have also been busy getting both myself (and my teenage daughter) firmly established as permanent residents here in Canada. Needless to say, the latter has been a long and arduous process for my daughter, Emily, and me, given the fact that it has all happened in an increasingly bureaucratic, post 9/11 world.
And, as I said, my personal and family choices now also mean that I am no longer a US resident. And, judging from all the hassle we were going through with P3-D and MOST over ITAR issues when I was still President, I well realize that my "foreigner" status could also create a whole series of negative implications for any "official" participation I might have in any corporate AMSAT activities due to the stringent reporting requirements of those US laws.
So, rather than complicate those already overly-complex AMSAT organizational issues any further, I've also thought it best to simply sit on the sidelines and let others "carry the torch"...at least until someone in authority in the US Congress finally wakes up and realizes just how utterly ineffecitve (as well as fiscally devastating) ITAR has been for our own US space industry.
Rest assured, Dee, I DO keep tabs on what's going on in the organization, both by the fine work you and others are doing with the Journal, and also by the fine work our Webmaster(s) are doing with the AMSAT-NA Web site and AMSAT-BB.
As I have often said, I learned long ago that, sometimes, "help" is not "helpful". And, you folks are all doing just fine without any of my added "help"!
Please pass my best wishes to all!
73,
Keith KB1SF / VA3KSF Past President, AMSAT-NA
Hi Keith, KB1SF / VA3KSF
I am very surprised that you as a Past President AMSAT-NA are asking to this people on this BB about the launch date of P3-E
Luc Leblanc VE2DWE says on this BB
WORK AS ONE INTERNATIONAL AMSAT PUT ONE FUNDING STRUCTURE FOR A REAL HEO SATELLITE, TAKE ONE PROJECT AT A TIME COMPLETE IT AND LAUNCH IT AND GO FOR THE NEXT ONE
and also he says
"13 rail wagon passing by and I still wait................"
I keep getting severe criticism for putting "all the eggs" in the P3E basket, but that is where they belong...
My meager contributions go there...
The money AMSAT-NA wasted on AO-51 should have been put there, and a lot of us tried to make that happen years ago to to no avail...
Most of the world is pretty well aware!!
Dom, how about another announcement to direct that contribution to P3E??
73, Dave, WB6LLO dguimon1@san.rr.com
Disagree: I learn....
Pulling for P3E...
On 23 May 2008 at 21:00, Dave Guimont wrote:
Hi Keith, KB1SF / VA3KSF
I am very surprised that you as a Past President AMSAT-NA are asking to this people on this BB about the launch date of P3-E
Luc Leblanc VE2DWE says on this BB
WORK AS ONE INTERNATIONAL AMSAT PUT ONE FUNDING STRUCTURE FOR A REAL HEO SATELLITE, TAKE ONE PROJECT AT A TIME COMPLETE IT AND LAUNCH IT AND GO FOR THE NEXT ONE
and also he says
"13 rail wagon passing by and I still wait................"
I keep getting severe criticism for putting "all the eggs" in the P3E basket, but that is where they belong...
My meager contributions go there...
The money AMSAT-NA wasted on AO-51 should have been put there, and a lot of us tried to make that happen years ago to to no avail...
Most of the world is pretty well aware!!
Dom, how about another announcement to direct that contribution to P3E??
As funding is an issue trying to circumvent it without facing the problem will only add more delays. I keep hammering on the same nail since AO-40 became silent.It's not a question of seeing "13 rail wagon passing by" as we already are on the side track stuck in the void.
Yes we are not builders Yes we can add more personal funds
But at least we are operators the basic minimum could be? and yes we still can voices our opinions even if they don't please everyone.
Some university student ask for help here on this BB and they seems to get some but is it not logical for the AMSAT'S to developed a kind of partnership with them? make US more visible. If we are focusing our "marketing campaign" only on our aging ham community i honestly believe we are missing a lot in recruiting.
Adding new blood with new ideas is a part of the solution but are we open enough to make room for them?
I let the conclusion yours!
"-"
Luc Leblanc VE2DWE Skype VE2DWE www.qsl.net/ve2dwe WAC BASIC CW PHONE SATELLITE
participants (5)
-
Dave Guimont -
Dee -
i8cvs -
Keith Baker KB1SF/VA3KSF -
Luc Leblanc