[amsat-bb] Re: geo stationary bird

[Auke de Jong]

Oops, sorry about the blank message i previously sent...

I just wanted to add my little bit to the geostationary thing:
I suppose that going over the stuff already said about the pros and cons, of 
this new possible venue, some of us seem to be focussed on either the pros 
or the cons, but just barely failing to see an important larger picture.  I 
prefer to see the issue as comparing it to all the other forms of the larger 
Amateur Radio community: nothing is for everybody, but as long as people can 
benefit from it, the interested parties should be encouraged to complete 
their project.  For the unimpressed parties who see the limitations, this 
won't be the last satellite.

Personally, I will be GLAD to see a HEO(gerstationary or otherwise) 
satellite FINALLY operable again, and opening-up a range of opportunities 
beyond line-of-sight for operators who do not posess HF equipment, as well 
as for those so-restricted for other reasons.  The VHF and up bands can get 
pretty lonely if you live in a remote place... which is something an HF 
operator might not be familiar with.  If there is congestion on the HEO 
transponder(s), that can only feed the need for additional satellites... I'd 
rather see sats overutilized, than empty!
One benefit I am particularly fond of, is the emergency/priority 
communications aspect.  for the first time EVER, a satellite can be used by 
amateur class stations located in dire places/situations which will not 
require active tracking, allowing an antenna system to be set-up and aimed 
by means of listening for a beacon, and then proceeding to act of 
communicating without adjustments to the antenna for any amount of time! 
The communications package that can be used, can be compact-enough to stow, 
and reliable enough to set up in any situation.  As Emergency comms has 
become somewhat of a cornerstone of Amateur Radio's public image, in 
addition to it's bargaining power with the bandplanning regulators, The 
importance of this ability carries implications affecting the hobby as a 
whole. The large footprint of such a satellite also virtually guarantees an 
audience when one is needed.  I envision a specific section of a linear 
transponder or other type of transponder provision being dedicated to 
emergency calling just as CB channel 19 had always been intended.  Permanent 
monitoring of such a system brings yet another benefit to the emergency 
caller.

I am also curious about the 15-year lifespan mentioned... Would that mean 
that the spacecraft is expected to fail after about 15 years, or is it 
expected to last a minimum of 15 years?  As we have seen before, certain 
spacecraft have been known to have useful lifetimes easily doubling 15 
years, and 6 times it's own design lifespan!

well, what I thought was going to be a few lines turned out to be a rambling 
few paragraphs!  I can't wait to hear a new satellite whose footprint 
coverage lasts more than 15 minutes be it geostationary, or Elliptical, or 
Molniya!

Auke, VE6PWN

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bruce Robertson" <broberts at mta.ca>
To: <amsat-bb at amsat.org>
Sent: Wednesday, October 31, 2007 10:14 PM
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: geo stationary bird


> Quoting Michael Tondee <mat_62 at netcommander.com>:
>
>> Well unless I've misread or misunderstood something the Eagle payloads
>> would now be put to use in the geostationary orbit. There would be no
>> HEO Eagles. We would have one conventional HEO bird in orbit and that
>> would be P3E. Can someone in the know clarify or is it just to early to
>>
>> know for sure?
>> 73,
>> Michael, W4HIJ
>
> We should keep SSETI-ESEO's mode U/S transponder in mind.
>
> http://www.sseti.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=198&Itemid=107
>
> Could be a bit of a black-belt affair, since the power would be 10w and I
> don't think they can count on much gain, but still seems to me to be a
> conventional HEO bird.
>
> In any case, phase IV has been a long-standing dream of AMSAT; it seems we
> are closer than ever to realizing that dream.  It also is a very practical
> platform for emergency communications, an application that as a group we
> have wanted to support but to which our current and prospective orbits 
> have
> frankly not been ideally-suited.  Finally, the scarcity of HEO rides has
> been a dark cloud over two of three up-coming HEO projects worldwide. By
> negotiating a new source for these, our board is taking important steps in
> assuring the future of just about any project.
>
> There is some concern that a geostationary HEO will be less fun because it
> is easier to track. We should remember that the equation that solves for
> 'fun' has 'experience' as one of its variables. Thus, for a new ham,
> setting up an s-band dish to point at a geostationary satellite will
> provide a great deal of challenge and of satisfaction. For the more
> experienced, the advanced communication package should make a similar 
> offer.
>
> It's amazing to read some of the great ideas spinning off from this
> opportunity. I imagine my daughter's grade 7 geology class being augmented
> by a live link with a park ranger in the Canadian North. No other AMSAT
> project would lend itself well to such a use.
>
> We should seek to make this not only an important part of the amateur
> emergency toolkit, but also a must-have resource for schools around North
> America. Just as ARISS offers schools a glimpse into life aboard ISS, a
> 'Learning on the Edge' program could link students with people in remote
> locations. It would train and equip people destined for remote locations
> and would, with local ham help, equip schools to communicate with the
> people in the field. These adventurers and scientists would make 1/2h
> contacts with each of the schools in the network, explaining their work 
> and
> the place they are in.
>
> 73, Bruce
> VE9QRP
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