[amsat-bb] Re: FW: A Proposal for ARISS

[Dee]

Tony,
Thanks for giving this some credence.  Although AMSAT is a supporter of
ARISS, We are NOT ARISS.   There are members of our group that assist with
decisions and actually supply some of the required gear.  ARISS must stand
for an educational aspect working along with the Astronauts.  Yes, the
ARISSat project seemed to be turned into an add on by the other users of the
International Space Station but hopefully will be redirected back into what
it was intended to do.  This should have been done a while ago and now we
are in the summer hiatus of American schools and hopefully will be
functioning at the opening of the school session later this year.  See ANS
184 for update on this.
Let us insure that the AMSAT goals of future satellites are still primarily
at the top of the list.  It is because of volunteers like Tony that we keep
activities growing.
See you on the birds.
73,
Dee, NB2F

Dear Friends,

It is important to understand that ARISS is not AMSAT.

 From the ARISS web page:
"ARISS, (Amateur Radio on the International Space Station) is a program that
offers an opportunity for students to experience the excitement of Amateur
Radio by talking directly with crewmembers of the ISS (International Space
Station). Teachers, parents and communities will see how Amateur Radio can
energize youngsters about science, technology, and learning. Speaking with
astronauts and other crewmembers is a unique educational experience. ARISS
would like to take this opportunity to involve large numbers of individuals,
particularly youth, in technology and the International space program with
the help of Amateur Radio."

The primary reason NASA supports ARISS is to promote their Science,
Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education initiatives.
This is also true of our Russian friends at RSC-Energia and the other
members of ARISS International.

So, please excuse my bluntness here, but a transponder that is solely for
the benefit of hams to contact each other, is just not going to "fly" as an
ARISS project as it does not support the program mission.

AMSAT has supported the ARISS program because of the opportunity to put ham
radio hardware in space, including ARISSat-1, without having to pay launch
costs. These costs really are "astronomical." There is no chance we could
afford put any hardware on the ISS without it being a part of the ARISS
program.

P3E sits on the ground because it costs far more than hams could possibly
afford to pay to launch it into orbit. AMSAT-DL has done a great job
promoting the science mission aspects of P3E in an attempt to get government
funding for it but so far, it has been to no avail.
We certainly all wish them luck but realistically, it is a very tough
environment.

The primary reason AMSAT is pursuing the Fox program is because we CAN
actually afford the launch costs. Although the very tiny size of a CubeSat
(4" x 4" x 4") makes it technically very challenging because we want to
actually make contacts through it not just listen to it beep, you can be
assured that it will not sit on the shelf for lack of a launch.

I hope this helps to clarify the situation.

The next AMSAT Journal issue will have a report on my recent participation
at the Small Payload Rideshare Conference. Several of the presentations
included ballpark launch cost numbers for small satellites. The numbers
(like $10M+) are eyepopping to say the least.
It is clear that AMSAT has to take an opportunistic approach and pursue all
of the opportunities we can find for low-cost or free launches.

73,
Tony AA2TX
AMSAT, VP Engineering

----

On 7/1/2011 7:03 PM, Edward R. Cole wrote:
> Dee,
>
> Thanks.  Not sure this a SAREX Project but will let them decide that.
>
> My only thought is a new satellite must find a launch and launch 
> money.  MY proposal would get a ride to ISS with cargo.  I am not 
> minimizing the issues for placing ham satellite on ISS, but I think 
> the concept has promise.
>
> If Fox or P3E sit on the shelf for 5-10 years for lack of a launch 
> maybe better redirected for ISS.  Not my call, obviously.
>
> 73, Ed - KL7UW
> PS: some of us are getting old and may not still be here in 10-years?
>
> At 02:19 PM 7/1/2011, you wrote:
>> Redirected to the SAREX group.  I do not agree with all of these 
>> point, however, No standing program should be de funded to do these. 
>> Get another satellite up ASAP is AMSAT's main goal.
>> 73,
>> Dee, NB2F
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: amsat-bb-bounces at amsat.org [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces at amsat.org] 
>> On Behalf Of Edward R. Cole
>> Sent: Friday, July 01, 2011 4:55 PM
>> To: amsat-bb at amsat.org
>> Subject: [amsat-bb] A Proposal for ARISS
>>
>> After posting some thoughts a few days ago (RE: ISS, what the heck 
>> happened?), I have given the idea more consideration.
>>
>> Proposal (ARISS on ISS):
>> 1)  Install a 100-KHz transponder unit on ISS, with usual digital 
>> beacon/engineering
>> 2)  It would run mode-UV
>> 3)  Installed internally in the ISS
>> 4)  Replace most of the current ISS ham radio equipment
>> 5)  Could be considered an upgrade/improvement to the existing ham 
>> radio on ISS
>> 6)  Use ISS power and existing ham radio antenna infrastructure (no 
>> solar panels)(no thermal requirements for space environ)(perhaps less 
>> radiation
>> hardening)
>> 7)  Use batteries for stand-alone operation (recharged from ISS 
>> power)
>> 8)  Control commanded from ground (no intervention required by 
>> astronauts)
>> 9)  Local access for use of astronaut-hams
>> 10)  Provide emergency back-up comms for ISS (perhaps with a separate 
>> FM
>> channel)
>> 11)  (perhaps) Use of existing ham-radio handheld on ISS on low-power 
>> to dedicated receiver which would activate astronaut repeater channel.
>> 12)  This FM channel could be used as FM ham repeater when not in use 
>> by astronauts  (means world-wide monitoring for the astronauts as 
>> well as normal Leo FM activity)
>> 13)  Modular design for future upgrades and/or repair (easy 
>> installation by
>> astronauts-plug*n*play)
>> 14)  Segmented pass-band to allow packet/APRS digipeating
>> 15)  Transmitters able to be shut down for eva and other critical 
>> missions either locally on ISS or from ground.
>> 16)  Perhaps a special Rx/Tx on ISS eva channel for cross-band repeat 
>> in event of loss of atmosphere emergency (help to sell the concept to 
>> NASA as a comms back-up).
>> 17)  No need for orientation (spin or de-spin), rad hardening, 
>> thermal structures (air-cooled), no propulsion, no launch requirements.
>> 18)  Easily maintained by supply from ground (repairs or upgrades).
>> 19)  Long-Life
>>
>> Re-direct of either Fox or P3E efforts?  (no launch requirement-rides 
>> as cargo to ISS)
>>
>>
>> 73, Ed - KL7UW, WD2XSH/45
>> ======================================
>> BP40IQ   500 KHz - 10-GHz   www.kl7uw.com
>> EME: 50-1.1kw?, 144-1.4kw, 432-100w, 1296-60w, 3400-?
>> DUBUS Magazine USA Rep dubususa at gmail.com 
>> ======================================
>>
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>
>
> 73, Ed - KL7UW, WD2XSH/45
> ======================================
> BP40IQ   500 KHz - 10-GHz   www.kl7uw.com
> EME: 50-1.1kw?, 144-1.4kw, 432-100w, 1296-60w, 3400-?
> DUBUS Magazine USA Rep dubususa at gmail.com 
> ======================================
>
> _______________________________________________
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> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program!
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