[amsat-bb] Re: Eagle and AO40

[Robert McGwier]

jim at beeson.cc wrote:
> I am curious at the thoughts of current satellite users.  As I read the AMSAT Journal and see the progress of the Eagle Project, it reminds me of a few years ago when another "do it all" satellite was being planned - AO40.  Amateurs are pumping thousands of dollars and time into this project.  I remember I followed AO40 with great excitement, not to mention spending a few grand upgrading my station to be ready for this "super bird".  And after all the things that went wrong after the launch, I thought - never again.
>
> So my question is basic:  why spend all this money and wait years for something that might end up another catastrophe?  Why do we have to try and design a bird that does it all?  We all know the more complex the bird the more room for failure.  Why not just pop out another AO13 - or similar?  I can't tell you how many hours of fun I had with RS10/11.  And with the way things are in amateur radio now, who knows if there will be anybody even interested in this by the time Echo finally is useable.
>   
We are.  It is called Phase 3E.


> Just a thought.  I would like to hear yours now please.
>
> Jim Beeson
> WA5QAP
>
>
>   
Bob
N4HY

-- 
AMSAT Director and VP Engineering. Member: ARRL, AMSAT-DL,
TAPR, Packrats, NJQRP, QRP ARCI, QCWA, FRC. ARRL SDR WG Chair
"Taking fun as simply fun and earnestness in earnest shows
how thoroughly thou none of the two discernest." - Piet Hine