[amsat-bb] Re: Geostationary Satellites

[Ken Ernandes]

A few reasons:
1.  There are a finite number of orbital slots at Geostationary.  That is essentially like water front property.  
2.  The satellite's footprint is less than half the Earth, all the time; the same half of the Earth all the time.
3.  Those at northern latitudes will always have low elevation angles.
4.  A lot of propellant (spacecraft weight) is needed to boost from a transfer to a GEO orbit.
5.  A significant amount of additional propellant would also need to be allocated for station-keeping maneuvers to maintain that fixed antenna pointing direction.
6.  Because of the fixed footprint, there is less variety of stations available to communicate with (a corollary to #1).

All factors considered, the number of operators willing to contribute is severely diminished versus that of a satellite in a molyniya type orbit.  These fewer contributors would need to pay for a project that is far more expensive than a Phase 3 program.  The bottom line: the benefit of the fixed antenna is outweighed by the negative factors, first and foremost being cost.

I hope this helps.

73, Ken Ernandes N2WWD

Sent from my iPad



On Oct 10, 2011, at 5:23 PM, "ka9qjg" <ka9qjg at wowway.com> wrote:

> Hello Hope Everyone is doing Well, I know people say no such thing as a dumb
> question So here goes What is the reason We do not have any Type of
> geostationary Satellites. Is it because they are for World Wide Use and If
> stationary one could Hit it 24/7 and Maybe park there butt on it and Run a
> Beam and Amp and take it over 
> 
> 
> 
> Thanks 
> 
> 
> 
> 73 De Don KA9QJG
> 
> 
> 
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