[amsat-bb] Re: AMSAT NA

[Joe Westbrook]

I fully expect to receive incoming slings and arrows for my input, and I do 
understand for those who get their egos fed by leading/participating in the 
design process for AMSAT-NA won't like this idea, but hey who is AMSAT here 
to serve anyway?

Generally, the following conditions seem to exist at this time (please feel 
free to correct me if any of my observations are inaccurate):

1.  We don't seem to be within a stones throw of getting Eagle off the 
ground
2.  Engineering resources in disarray
3.  No Lab
4.  Most folks who participate really want to see a HEO up as soon as 
humanly possible
5.  The cost to put an HEO into orbit seems to be prohibitive for any single 
organization to pull off without deep pocket sponsorship
6.  AMSAT-DL Has an HEO that is nearing completion

Given the extent that these circumstances are close to reality,  why on 
earth wouldn't we consider transferring the sum total of Eagle resources
(with membership approval of course) to AMSAT-DL, for the purpose of 
completing PE3?

 Next step would be to determine the exact the cost and a launch 
opportunity. Let the Ham Satellite Community know what those cost are and 
then raise the additional funds toward that single goal.

Following the final launch and commissioning of PE3, then move on to getting 
Eagle back on track.

I definitely could get behind that sort of concrete effort.  What we have 
now seems to be a bit of a distant dream.

Regards,
- Joe, K7ZT




----- Original Message ----- 
From: "John B. Stephensen" <kd6ozh at comcast.net>
To: "Michael Tondee" <mat_62 at netcommander.com>; "Jim Danehy" 
<jdanehy at cinci.rr.com>; <amsat-bb at amsat.org>
Sent: Tuesday, July 15, 2008 8:29 PM
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: AMSAT NA


> What most HEO users never fully realized (including me) was that they were
> the recipients of charity. Now that launches are commercial operations, 
> the
> AMSATs have to pay the same as everyone else and HEOs are vastly more
> expensive than LEOs. The energy requirements are much larger and you can't
> just use a surplus SS-18 as a launch vehicle.
>
> 73,
>
> John
> KD6OZH
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Michael Tondee" <mat_62 at netcommander.com>
> To: "Jim Danehy" <jdanehy at cinci.rr.com>; <amsat-bb at amsat.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, July 15, 2008 22:34 UTC
> Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: AMSAT NA
>
>
>> It's been going on since I got here a couple of years ago Jim. For sure,
>> everyone is anxious to see an HEO launched but some people feel the need
>> to
>> get online and constantly whine about why we don't have one. I think 
>> there
>> are a few folks on here that need to get a dictionary and look up the 
>> word
>> "volunteer".
>> People better start to realize that there are no guarantees. I would say
>> that at the current rate of apparent progress that the AMSAT NA mission
>> statement looks all wet. Prospects don't seem to be much better on P3E
>> either. What good will it do to have a fully built satellite without the
>> funds to launch it?
>> I just try to enjoy what we've got up there and hope for the best in the
>> future. In the end that's all we can really do isn't it? All the whining
>> in
>> the world and the backhanded comments about AO-51 and the other FM sats
>> aren't going to get the HEO birds up there any faster.
>> 73,
>> Michael W4HIJ
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "Jim Danehy" <jdanehy at cinci.rr.com>
>> To: <amsat-bb at amsat.org>
>> Sent: Tuesday, July 15, 2008 4:27 PM
>> Subject: [amsat-bb] AMSAT NA
>>
>>
>>>I have been off the satellites for 25 years. I just spent a bunch of 
>>>money
>>>for antennas and rotors to get back on. After listening to all of the
>>>belly
>>>aching I wonder if I should join AMSAT (again). Maybe I should try EME . 
>>>.
>>>. .  the moon will be there long after I am gone. I have listened on AO 7
>>>and VO 52 to test my 2 mtr yagis. I should be QRV soon. Belly aching just
>>>looks bad even if it is warranted. I am not sure if it accomplishes much
>>>other than venting for the vanquished. Human nature ugh. Lighten up 
>>>folks.
>>>
>>> Jim W9VNE
>>> Cincinnati, Ohio em79
>>
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