[amsat-bb] Re: Phase 4

[Robert McGwier]

We have kept Eagle satellite alive.  The lab at U. Md. ES is being built 
out and we are going ahead with the structure.  We helped fund the 
completion of P3E  with our international  partners and stepped up our 
efforts to finish the IHU-3 for them (and us.

The Eagle satellite structure build out is funded and slated for 
completion in 2008.

We are really going to try to get P3E a ride on Intelsat to balance 
against the other offers to see what is best for AMSAT-DL and us.

Stefan's analysis is correct.  Any one geostationary bird can cover 
roughly a third of the earth.

Bob



Stefan Wagener wrote:
> Yes,
> 
> It is a great project and deserves our full support!
> 
> Having said that we also need to realize, that depending on the location of
> the satellite above the equator we might only have the Americas in the foot
> print. No Europe or Africa and no Asia. Since the first geostationary
> satellite with amateur radio has to provide tangible support for government
> agencies (funding source) it will certainly be primarily centered around a
> North American footprint. That's why we need to keep Eagle alive and support
> Phase 3E.
> 
> All together they will give us the full package of worldwide DX via
> satellite and reliable high power communication in the Americas.
> 
> 73. Stefan VE4NSA
> 

-- 
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