[amsat-bb] Re: Phase 4 versus Eagle

[Robert McGwier]

sco at sco-inc.com wrote:
> I doubt that would ever happen. If I was the CEO of the launch sat i 
> would never let an "amateur" rocket motor hitch a ride on my multi 
> million dollar bird. Just like NASA won't let us do it.
> 
> If you can think of a way for us to get from GTO without a motor and 
> fuel then it might happen.
> 
> Les W4SCO
> www.scoincsoftware.com
> 


That is exactly what I thought until Intelsat told us not only would
they like to entertain this notion but that they would FUEL THE
SATELLITE AT THEIR EXPENSE since they have enough left over, using the
same fuels we do, that they could fill us with the spillage.

This option to ride to space is still ridiculously expensive.  The
reason it is ridiculously expensive is not because ultimately it will
cost more than the Phase 4 lite possibility. It will not cost more.  I
do not know how many times I have to say it, but I will make it my
personal cross to bear to repeat it ad infinitum.  NO ONE WILL FUND YOUR
POP OFF SATELLITE TOY.  You and I and everyone else knows that these
things are entirely too complex and worthy of awe to be a toy.  But that
is how any funding source will look at it.  To get the satellite into
orbit will cost more than AO-10, AO13, AO16-WO18 and AO-40 COMBINED.  We
cannot raise money from people like you.  You either a) don't have it,
b) are no interested, or c) don't trust us with it.  Irrespective of the
causes,  am telling you the facts as I see them as any reponsible and
responsive manager would.  If you don't like the message, elect a new
director (I am up for re-election) and have the BOD fire me as an
executive.  I am saying fund sources are not interested in funding your
communications private repeater.

The thing the P4 Lite mission has going for it is that it DELIVERS A
SERVICE IN A MEANINGFUL WAY (irrespective of the shouted nonsense to the
contrary we have seen here).  We have spectrum that no one can tell us
what to do with so long as we are obeying the law.  We do all of our NRE
for "nothing".  We are willing to be open source, open specification,
and the most important thing of all to (say) DHS, we are talking about
doing it with reconfigurable software radio equipment and to work hard
on the hard parts of providing interoperability.  What we don't get
right to begin with, with their support, we will get right and do it at
a huge reduction in cost over ALL OTHER PROPOSALS.

Think people.  It is not that painful a thing to do.  I have been
getting headaches from straining to think for decades.  Most of you can
do  it if you would only try and close your mouths and typewriters long
enough to do it.

73's
Bob

-- 
AMSAT Director and VP Engineering. Member: ARRL, AMSAT-DL,
TAPR, Packrats, NJQRP, QRP ARCI, QCWA, FRC. ARRL SDR WG Chair
“An optimist may see a light where there is none, but why
must the pessimist always run to blow it out?” Descartes