Paul;

I fully understand that the transponder is commercial item, which I point out in the thread. Though there is contention from others that the transponders or TWT's are not "spares". I really don't know.

The point is, it was done, it works, it is a success and therefore it can be done again. There can be no objection that it is not proven design. Why the negativity that it is not an "amateur (built?)  payload? Maybe the next GEO amateur satellite can shoehorn some custom experiment?

I anticipated that my words "baby steps" might rankle some. But that indeed is how this return to HEO is being described. Nothing wrong with that, but why not do both?

I am trying to blast through this mindset that we cannot do this or that because of debris mitigation, ITAR, money, politics etc.

AO-40 was the last big effort in 16 years. There has been really no project approaching the capabilities of AO-40 or any of the P3. AO-40 was audacious and impressive. I got to see it in the clean room in Orlando. it was huge. It was a super car in the world of amateur satellites.  It was exciting, I sent a few bucks toward the project, don't tell my wife.

For some of us a cubesat is just not enough.

On 6/20/2020 12:20 AM, Paul Stoetzer wrote:

Joe,

It’s important to note that QO-100 is not an amateur payload at all. The two transponders in amateur use are on-orbit commercial spares modified to tune to amateur frequencies. And, of course, there’s the risk that the spares may be needed for commercial service some day.

The issue is that to get an American company to do this, you need millions of dollars up front and then probably millions of dollars a year to support it. It’s been looked into multiple times over the years and no one is willing to just give that away or even quote a price that’s remotely reasonable.

I do take issue with your choice of words in describing GOLF-TEE as “baby steps.” GOLF is a project that AMSAT has committed a large amount of money and man-hours to. It is a very significant project and will lead us back to HEO. Our engineering team is doing tremendous work and deserves the full support and encouragement of the amateur community. Sadly, I feel that support is often lacking and, frankly, our volunteers deserve better than that.

If you want a HEO, support AMSAT and GOLF in any way that you can. AMSAT is 100% committed and I am personally 100% committed to making this happen for the community.

73,

Paul Stoetzer, N8HM Executive Vice President AMSAT

On Sat, Jun 20, 2020 at 00:01 Joe Leikhim via AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb@amsat.org mailto:amsat-bb@amsat.org> wrote:

Robert;

AMSAT has been in HEO before and can get there again.

The idea of my proposal is to piggy back on a willing commercial
satellite. The owner of that satellite would be handling the
necessary
regulatory issues/problems.  This idea has been proposed before but
convincing a commercial satellite owner to attach unproven payload
has
always been an negative argument. No longer, because OSCAR-100 is
proven
hardware and it should be considered.

Meanwhile GOLF-TEE can continue to take baby steps.

Looking for ideas to promote this idea. Be positive.


-- 
Joe Leikhim


Leikhim and Associates

Communications Consultants

Oviedo, Florida

JLeikhim@Leikhim.com

407-982-0446

WWW.LEIKHIM.COM <http://WWW.LEIKHIM.COM>

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