Hi Wayne, W9AE

I suggest you to realistically donate your $1000 to AMSAT-DL for contribution to a fund raising campaign for the launch of P3E

73" de

i8CVS Domenico

----- Original Message ----- From: "Wayne Estes" w9ae@charter.net To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Saturday, September 21, 2013 8:30 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Phase 3

What is realistically achievable with a 3U cubesat with an ion engine?

Cost of the satellite? Cost of the launch?

Time/cost to develop ion engine?

How many month/years would it take for an ion engine to boost a 3U cubesat from 600 km to 2000 km?

What is the altitude limit for an ion engine? Impractical to slowly cross the radiation belt?

Could a 3U cubesat with deployable solar panels power a 1 watt, 100 kHz, mode U/V transponder?

I would contribute $1000 to a fund raising campaign for a financially and technically viable plan to (for example) launch in 3 years and deploy a transponder in "high" orbit 2 years later.

I probably would not contribute to a fund raising campaign for a whizbang 3U cubesat destined for a 600 km orbit.

Wayne Estes Oakland, Oregon, USA, CN83ik _______________________________________________ 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