[amsat-bb] Re: Let's Go!

[Samudra Haque]

Sorry, that monthly figure should be $10.96 per month exactly.

On Wed, Oct 14, 2009 at 3:42 PM, Samudra Haque <samudra.haque at gmail.com> wrote:
> On Wed, Oct 14, 2009 at 3:29 PM, Joseph Armbruster
> <josepharmbruster at gmail.com> wrote:
>> Andrew,
>> Is there any type of document around that provides a brief summary of all
>> current Amsat projects and the type of funding / support that is needed for
>> each?
>>
>> This was my first time at the symposium and I haven't made it through all
>> the pamphlets and papers yet, so forgive me if this was part of the package.
>>
>> Joe
>>
>
> Hi,
>
> if a gross estimate of $200,000 is needed for a stand-alone cubesat
> form mission, and there are "... about half are life-members..." of
> the 3,800 (re: Martha's estimate) of amsat-na members, that means that
> the average per capita support required from these active amsat-na
> members would be: $200,000 divided by (50% of 3800)  = $200,000 / 1900
> = $263 or so.
>
> If $263 is a difficult amount to pay up front, then think of it in 24
> monthly installments: $10 each month - not bad for a hobby compared to
> the price of a decent lunch at Burger King, KFC, Subway etc. The one
> thing I would need to know is this extra donation tax-exempt or not
> and would we get a receipt for it in time for U.S. taxes ?
>
> I am willing to pay a bit more than that as my own donation soon for
> supporting AMSAT-NA sponsored R&D.
>
> -samudra
>
>
>> On Wed, Oct 14, 2009 at 2:31 PM, Andrew Glasbrenner <
>> glasbrenner at mindspring.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Thanks for the vote of confidence Jeff. I'll repeat what Bill said; this
>>> was a tough decision, but based on reality and part of a larger plan
>>> forward. We are also working multiple rideshare opportunities, most of
>>> which will likely involve transponders rather than repeaters.
>>>
>>> What we really need now is to raise the money we need to start design
>>> and construction, and get a launch contract in the works. The 1U cubesat
>>> is going to be a short fuse project if we can get the funding raised
>>> soon enough.
>>>
>>> Barry's presentation at the annual meeting lays out the level of funds
>>> we need, approximately 100k this year and again next year, to support
>>> the 1U, and one or more rideshares. Our membership dues only cover
>>> keeping AMSAT alive and running the office, journal, webstore, etc.
>>>
>>> Who'll be among the first to step up and pledge to support this project
>>> via the President's Club or other donations? Call Martha today at 1 888
>>> 322 6728 or donate via
>>> http://www.amsat-na.com/store/category.php?c=President%27s%20Club
>>>
>>> 73, Drew KO4MA
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Jeff Davis wrote:
>>> > I want to offer 'hearty congratulations' to the BOD for the courageous
>>> > decisions made at the recent Space Symposium. I can think of no
>>> > headline more appropriate and welcome for this organization than the
>>> > declaration, "We're going back to space".
>>> >
>>> > Perhaps this decision to move forward with what we can do will also be
>>> > what was needed to get the manufacturers to quit sitting on their
>>> > hands and INNOVATE!
>>> >
>>> > How many threads have been spawned on this BB by someone asking the
>>> > question "what handheld should I buy to use AO-51"..?
>>> >
>>> > The fact that the pat answer is that there aren't any - you need to
>>> > check eBay for a 20 year-old model speaks pitifully of the ham radio
>>> > marketplace in the 21st century.
>>> >
>>> > Given the nature of LEO, portable operations are very common and going
>>> > forward, will be even more so. Who among us wouldn't love a mobile
>>> > sized transceiver that sported true simultaneous dual-band (VHF/UHF)
>>> > operation and a continuously tunable VFO on FM in a 'satellite
>>> > operation mode'?
>>> >
>>> > What would it be worth if that radio also could record all pass data -
>>> > and had a USB port that supported a memory stick so that everything
>>> > received during a pass could stored on it for offline extraction and
>>> > study later when you're back in the shack. It wouldn't even require an
>>> > internal TNC to download telemetry data - the audio file could simply
>>> > be played back (offline) on a PC and the telemetry decoded there.
>>> >
>>> > There are bound to be hundreds of similar ideas and dreams of new
>>> > gear, antennas, and interesting things to do at LEO - let's populate
>>> > the BB with these sorts of things and look forward, not back.
>>> >
>>> > I'm more than ready to turn to a new chapter and get back to shaping
>>> > the future of ham radio in space.
>>> >
>>> > Aren't you?
>>> >
>>> > 73 de Jeff, KE9V
>>> > AMSAT-NA 28350
>>> > _______________________________________________
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>>> >
>>> >
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
>> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program!
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>>
>