[amsat-bb] Re: So is P3E essentially dead at this point?

[Luc Leblanc]

On 10 Nov 2009 at 22:39, Peter Guelzow wrote:

Date sent:      	Tue, 10 Nov 2009 22:39:39 +0100
From:           	Peter Guelzow <peter.guelzow at kourou.de>
Subject:        	[amsat-bb] Re: So is P3E essentially dead at this point?
To:             	APBIDDLE at mailaps.org
Copies to:      	'Amsat BB' <amsat-bb at amsat.org>

Excerpts:

> Substantial progress was recently made on the new IHU-3 and getting IPS
> working on it, the S/C operating system used on all previous P3 satellites.
> The new IHU-3 is not only essential for P3-E, but also for the P5-A Mars
> mission..
> Due to some problems discussed here before, we had to find new people in
> our own team to do the work.
> We had some good articles in our past AMSAT-DL Journal, I hope
> translations will find their's way into other magazines...
> 
> 73s
> Peter, DB2OS
> 
This ITAR new strategic issue still does not added up correctly here... as the translation from our German friends who are not present at 
all on the AMSAT-NA web site when we can read a lot of english translated articles on AMSAT-DL web site.

Bill wrote in a previous thread:

>As stated earlier, ITAR applies equally to universities, NASA, members 
>of the military except when specific State Department 
>exemptions/agreements are in place.
>
>Regards...Bill - N6GHz

Could be as he also wrote:

>It's just that most 
>AMSAT-NA satellite builders were unaware of ITAR issues related to 
>satellites, and just what can and cannot be done to be compliant.

The builders where not aware but what about NASA?  Just read this 2001 special bulletin on the AO-40 GPS experiment. SPONSORED BY NASA!!!

 Special Bulletin AO-40

    * Subject: [amsat-bb] Special Bulletin AO-40
    * From: VEFRH at xxxxxxx
    * Date: Fri, 28 Sep 2001 09:26:37 EDT

ANS is pleased to report that the GPS experiment on AO-40 has undergone 
successful testing. This experiment supplied and sponsored by NASA, is to 
determine if it is possible to get positional data outside of the GPS ring of 
satellites.

There are two GPS receivers on AO-40, the A receiver  for receiving signals 
around apogee and the B receiver for signal reception around perigee. Both 
receivers are operational, and Data is passed from the receivers through the 
RUDAK to the S-band transmitter.

Jim White WD0E, has been the AMSAT coordinator and chief operator for this 
activity, reports that "we received a signal on the apogee receiver from 
about 52 Thousand Kilometres out with good signal levels, further data is 
being gathered and those downloaded so far are being analysed.

Frank Bauer KA3HDO, AMSAT-VP Human Spaceflight Programs, and  instrumental in 
setting up the GPS experiment, said "If this experiment goes the way I 
expect, it will revolutionise the way we use GPS in Space. Many future HEO 
spacecraft will be able to take advantage of GPS for autonomous navigation 
and stationkeeping".

AMSAT President Robin Haighton, VE3FRH, was delighted with the news of the 
GPS success, and commented that "It is great to be able to help our friends 
at NASA. Testing this experiment has been a long time in coming, and we were 
worried that radiation may have damaged the GPS receivers. Now at last we 
have a very positive result from this important experiment."

Stay tuned to ANS for further details as they become available.

ANS Editor Dan James (N0DJ at amsat.org)


If i don't believe ITAR is not a convenient tool used to stay away from any international cooperation keeping the funds for the last AMSAT-
NA cube project the "1U CubeSat" there is a huge PR problem within AMSAT-NA who seems to rely on lawyers trying to explain an open P3E and 
P5-A project and what security issues theses 2 projects can represent to the national security?

Knock knock instead of trying to find a way to fit AMSAT-NA in ITAR with exceptions, why not working the reverse way in explaining where 
are the security issues in the AMSAT-NA mission and actions? or asking them?

I can believe wearing steel pants i will be quite protected from any potential/invisible external hasard but in doing so i'm exposing 
myself to a real visible and well documented internal steel pants issue...

I now know where " the snow will hit the fan" came! It was coming from a hi-rise ventilation worker wearing steel pants.

P.S."This evening´s November 7, 2009 shipment of the first two Soyuz vehicles from Russia to the Spaceport in French Guiana brings 
Arianespace one step closer to the next major expansion of its growing commercial launcher family." Is there will be some free ballast 
available for an amateur HEO?

"-"


Luc Leblanc VE2DWE
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