[amsat-bb] Re: Today's Success

[B J]

<snip>

> If I were still a member of Amsat, I would be very upset
> with the 
> handling of this project.  There is nothing for the
> contributions 
> that ham radio members invested.  It ends up only
> glory for ARISS and 
> the Russian's commemoration of Yuri Gagarin.
> 
> I would vote to cut the relationship between Amsat and
> ARISS.  It 
> isn't offering anything for ham radio.  Let ARISS
> raise their own 
> funds and build their own educational satellites. 
> Those that want to 
> contribute to that, go ahead.  Amsat was created to
> build satellites 
> capable of ham radio communications (and be used by
> hams)...this 
> education outreach was added, much later.

I noticed in the NASA TV commentary that ARISSat was constantly being referred to as an "educational" satellite with scarcely a mention of its amateur radio capabilities.  AMSAT was named just in passing as being one of the parties involved with its design and construction, but that was about it.

At least one other website also emphasized that ARISSat was built for educational purposes, which disappointed me as I was always under the impression that ARISSat was primarily an amateur radio bird.

<snip>

73s

Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL