[amsat-bb] AO-51 sat VS US military operations

[Luc Leblanc]

On 14 Feb 2007 at 0:00, Andrew Glasbrenner wrote:

> Luc,
> 
> Your research is faulty. This information below is not the same Falconsat as the USAFA satellite I mentioned:

Here is a link where the falconsats are depicted:

http://space.skyrocket.de/index_frame.htm?http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/fal
consat-3.htm

I respecfully submit to your attention theses sats are Military satellite made 
by, launch by, and controlled by military (even cadets).

Here is the mission and payloads of the Falconsats

Falcon gold

Falcon Gold was an US Air Force Academy experiment to demonstrate use of GPS 
navigation in orbits above the Navstar constellation. The instrument package 
was bolted to the Centaur-2A stage of an Atlas-2A, which launched the DSCS-3 
B13 satellite. All systems operated nominally during the successful mission 
until primary battery power on the spacecraft was depleted. Cadets participated 
in all phases of the mission including systems design, fabrication, launch 
vehicle integration, qualification testing, launch site operations, and mission 
operations.


FalconSat 1

The first free-flying Academy satellite, FalconSat-1 carried the CHAWS 
(Charging Hazards and Wake Studies) experiment developed by the Physics 
Department at the Academy. The launch was successful and the satellite was 
deployed into its orbit without problems. However, the following weeks, cadets 
working in the Academy ground station struggled to bring the satellite totally 
on-line. Initial communication contacts with the satellite went well, but 
during subsequent it became apparent that the spacecraft's power system was not 
functioning correctly to properly charge the batteries during daylight. 
Unfortunately, after about 1 month, the mission was satellite the mission was 
terminated.

While FalconSAT-1 was a technical failure, it was a resounding academic 
success. Cadets participated in all phases of the mission from conceptual 
design though assembly, integration, testing, launch and on-orbit operations.


FalconSat 2

The mission of the FalconSat-2 will be to measure space plasma phenomena that 
are known to adversely affect space-based communication, such as the Global 
Positioning Satellite (GPS), and other civil and military communications. 
Originally planned to be deployed from a Shuttle mission, it has been moved to 
a dedicated launch on the maiden flight of the Falcon-1 rocket.


FalconSat 3

FalconSAT-3, is a 50 kg microsatellite being developed by faculty and cadets, 
and is the Air Force Academy´s first attempt at achieving three axis attitude 
determination and control (ADCS). FalconSAT-3 will carry three payloads to 
conduct DoD research. The attitude requirements for FalconSAT-3 include 
pointing the satellite within +/- five degrees of ram direction, as well as 
attitude knowledge to within one degree. FalconSAT-3 will provide sophisticated 
characterization of plasma turbulence in the F region ionosphere. Significant 
advances in technology have enabled miniaturization of instruments that enable 
comprehensive measurements of both ambient and spacecraft-specific turbulence.

The three primary experiments include

    * the Flat Plasma Spectrometer (FLAPS), a planar electrostatic analyzer 
used to measure ion spectra differential in energy with a DE/E ~ 4%;
    * the Plasma Local Anomalous Noise Environment (PLANE) experiment, a 
bifurcated retarding potential analyzer capable of distinguishing between 
ambient and spacecraft-induced turbulence; and
    * the Micro-Propulsion Attitude Control System (MPACS), consisting of a set 
of Teflon-fueled pulsed plasma thrusters used to stabilize satellite attitude.

The FalconSAT-3 satellite bus is custom fabricated at the United States Air 
Force Academy (USAFA) and is manifested for launch into a 35° inclination, 560 
km circular orbit in late 2006. Satellite operations will be managed from the 
USAFA ground station. Complementary ground-based observations of the ionosphere 
will be taken both at USAFA and at remote locations at low magnetic latitudes, 
where equatorial ionospheric processes are particularly effective at 
stimulating plasma turbulence.

You are right about the FALCONSAT NSSDC ID: 2000-004D
Other Names* 26064 As you not quote FalconSat 3 you confirm that FalonSat 3 is 
a military satellite. There is some military spy satellite and some "science" 
military satellite, My point is why AMSAT-NA is helping the US air force with 
an amateur radio satellite?

If you read carefully i wrote "Did AMSAT-NA will condemned military endeavour 
or support it?" I never say it was an AMSAT-NA project "hopefully" .

You wrote " please be patient as we cooperate with our friends at the USAFA" 
Placing  AO-51 an AMSAT-NA amateur satellite in a configuration to help "our 
friends at the USAFA"  just make me ask again  "Did AMSAT-NA will condemned 
military endeavour or support it?".

I never speak about any conspiracy but as you raised the subject could be an 
AMSAT-NA official can also do his homework and tell us how they let an amateur 
radio satellite involved in a military conducted business?

If you feel pointed out it's probably because the shoe fits!  Otherwise you 
will never come up with you hollow post where you don't even give us a glimpse 
of an answer about my questions.
	


Set aside the good old volunteer saga and their time spent that we all know and 
that we admire and just focus your attention on this part of you post 
"badgering by the likes of you may deprive hams from the use of a fine 
satellite."  Reads if you don't let us do what we want and you don't shut your 
/x%6 mouth you will don't get this satellite! That's what i wrote "driven by 
any floating interest who probably blackmailed them "AGAIN" note the "AGAIN" 
and change the "them" for "us".

Just an historical note. There was a bunch of rocket scientist in Peenemünde 
who from 1936 to 1943 where making also scientific rocket search and test and 
you probably know also  their final product! the V-1 and V-2 rocket.

AMSAT-NA should not be involved with any military testing or actions nor 
letting an IARU/ITU OSCAR satellite be used to help an armed forces wing.

I suggest a former letter of protest should be sent to the IARU condemning this 
military satellite use.

P.S. If my home work is not correct this time don't hesitate to correct me!



"-"


Luc Leblanc VE2DWE
Skype VE2DWE
www.qsl.net/ve2dwe
WAC BASIC CW PHONE SATELLITE