[amsat-bb] Re: AMSAT UK P3E Lecture HEO vs GEO. and AMSAT-NA Priorities

[John B. Stephensen]

I don't think that they have been dishonest. Either a HEO or GEO would meet 
the stated goals for Eagle and they announced that they are talking to 
Intelsat months ago. If a contract with Intelsat is signed it isn't killing 
a HEO -- it's providing a GEO instead of nothing.

If you're thinking that Eagle in a geosynchronous orbit somehow kills P3E in 
a Molniya orbit, I don't see how. Two programs aimed at different launch 
agencies and different outside contributors only increases the changes for 
something more than LEO satellites in the future.

73,

John
KD6OZH

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Joe Westbrook" <k7zt at suddenlink.net>
To: "John B. Stephensen" <kd6ozh at comcast.net>; <amsat-bb at amsat.org>
Sent: Tuesday, August 12, 2008 12:44 UTC
Subject: Re: AMSAT UK P3E Lecture HEO vs GEO. and AMSAT-NA Priorities


> John:
> That certainly is one approach, I'm not saying that there is anything 
> wrong with that, it's just a change in the stated goals of Eagle.
> The leadership needs to get in front of this and announce this is a 
> significant shift in  organizational strategy if indeed that is the plan.
>
> At they same time for the sake of honesty they should probably tell folks 
> that this will end AMSAT-NA sponsorship of an HEO (Molmiya Orbit)
> anytime soon or even in their lifetime ;-/
>
> - Joe
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "John B. Stephensen" <kd6ozh at comcast.net>
> To: "Joe Westbrook" <k7zt at suddenlink.net>; <amsat-bb at amsat.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, August 12, 2008 6:05 AM
> Subject: Re: AMSAT UK P3E Lecture HEO vs GEO. and AMSAT-NA Priorities
>
>
>> >
>>> It appears that leadership is allowing realities of
>>> a rare, expensive launch opportunity drive the mission rather than the
>>> mission driving the launch method,  it's a bit like the tail wagging the 
>>> dog
>>> don't you think?
>>>
>> AO-40 was the case of a rare launch opportunity driving the mission. The 
>> AMSAT BoD has stated that the purpose of creating a relelationship with 
>> Intelsat would be to provide multiple launch opportunities. It seems to 
>> me that finding an affordable launch method should be the first step 
>> rather than the last step.
>>
>> 73,
>>
>> John
>> KD6OZH
>>
>>
>