[amsat-bb] Re: All Satellites

[Bill Ress]

Hi Trevor,

We somehow must start to get serious about the orbital modification 
concepts proposed by David, G0MRF (see his paper from the 2009 AMSAT-UK 
Colloquium), that will get a LEO satellite into a MEO orbit.

I believe the concept (ion propulsion or similar) can, as David points 
out, over time in orbit, modify a LEO to something more useful. Many 
papers given recently by "tiny" propulsion system researchers at 
SmallSat and CubeSat conferences make it clear to me that some form of 
"samll" propulsion is in our future if we want to move out of LEO.

Come to the AMSAT Symposium and listen to Dan Schultz, N8FGV, give his 
presentation - Hall Effect Thrusters for Amsat Satellite Missions, a Report
from the International Electric Propulsion Conference

While it's likely a real stretch for a 1U CubeSat, in a 3U CubeSat with 
up to 2U Cubes worth dedicated to ion propulsion, we might have 
something practical. While many I talk with say it isn't practical, I 
have no doubt it will happen in the not too distant future. I wonder who 
will take the lead and be first?

It could sure help solve the problem of not having affordable launch 
opportunities to MEO any more.

Regards...Bill - N6GHz

Trevor . wrote:
> --- On Fri, 25/9/09, John W Lee <k6yk at juno.com> wrote:
>> I wonder how many of those 50 are able to handle 
>> ham radio 2-way contacts ? 
> 
> Granted most of them haven't been able to handle "UR 599 OM QSL via buro" style contacts, the bulk have "just" been for self-training and technical investigations. 
> 
> But there again these "self-training and technical investigation" Amateur Radio satellites have been launched into very low orbits (< 1000 km) which means short pass time and short range - next to useless for two-way Amateur DX contacts. 
> 
> It is worth noting that Amateurs may well wax lyrical about Oscar 7 or 6 but they never mention Oscar 8, which had both Mode A and J. Why is this ? Simply the orbital height, nothing else. 
> 
> The fundamental problem we need to address is how to get a satellite from a readily available orbit below 1000 km to one whose apogee is 1400 km or greater. 
> 
> 73 Trevor M5AKA
> 
> 
> 
>       
> 
> 
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