[amsat-bb] Re: Messageboard Post

[John B. Stephensen]

During the last 2 decades of the last century ESA was providing space on 
specific launches at heavily-discounted prices and a global effort was still 
required to raise the money. Now everyone has to pay the full rate so 
AMSAT-DL and AMSAT-NA are looking for outside sources of money. If you have 
several million dollars the problem could be solved.

Cubesats in 800 km orbits have much lower launch costs. However, the vast 
majority of members told AMSAT that they didn't want more LEO satellites 
after AO-51. Perhaps small is better.

The AO-40 entry that I see on the AMSAT web site 
(http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/satellites/satInfo.php?satID=15&returl=satellites/history.php) 
seems to be accurate.

73,

John
KD6OZH

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Clint Bradford" <clintbrad4d at earthlink.net>
To: <amsat-bb at amsat.org>
Sent: Sunday, January 25, 2009 18:29 UTC
Subject: [amsat-bb] Messageboard Post


> Over on eHam.net today ...
>
> Ok, so I go check out the Amsat website. Yawn. I look through their
> mission statement and history sections. Yawn.
>
> Seems that they have not updated their website for awhile. I mean,
> they still are talking about their "up and coming" phase 3-D
> satellite! (c.1996) Hmmm, that was what, 13 years ago? And they want
> me to join, and give them *money*? What a joke.
>
> Ok, now that I have picked myself off of the floor from laughing so
> hard, here is the question. Why should I (or anyone else) give these
> clowns money if they cannot even update their web site. Comeon,
> everyone knows that 3-D was a flop, except maybe AMSAT.
>
> The originators of the OSCAR program were cutting edge amateurs that
> were rivaling the commercial telecomunications satellite industry.
> They were trying to place their 5th bird in a geostationary orbit, but
> launch vehicle failure prevented that. Now all that Amsat seems to be
> able to do is (in the words of a certain late USSR dictator,
> paraphrased) is launch grapfruit sized microsats.
>
> So I never like to criticize something without some suggestions for
> improving the situation. Here is my idea... Why not a group of
> American amateur radio people get together that have nothing to do
> with the incompetence of AMSAT, and actually build an OSCAR 5 for geo-
> synch orbit? If it could be done thirty years ago, it can be done now.
> No need to have a "global" effort involving millions of dollars and
> amateurs from thirty countries building a thousand pound bird. Lets do
> this like the original OSCAR folks did, keep it simple(r), and let the
> politicos at AMSAT continue to try to justify their existence while
> some honest to God hams get the bird built and lofted. With today's
> improved solar cells and hardened electronics, if we could get a bird
> in a Clark slot, it would last for quite awhile, and actually provide
> a (non-digital) communication service to the amateur radio community.
>
> Best and 73,
>
> Joe KB0TXC
>
>
>
> Clint Bradford, K6LCS / KAF3359
> 909-241-7666
>
>
>
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