[amsat-bb] ITAR & Spanish Lunar Robot Launch

[Trevor .]

Moon Daily has just reported on the announcement in August of a Spanish Lunar robot launch by Beijing in 2014. I suspect it uses amateur frequencies but I don't know for certain, anyone have any information ?

http://www.moondaily.com/reports/Chinese_firm_to_send_Spanish_rover_to_moon_in_2014_999.html

The original announcement by the Spanish team back in August is at 
http://www.googlelunarxprize.org/teams/barcelona-moon-team/blog/galactic-suite-signs-contract-chinese-launcher-send-rover-moon-june

It highlights the impact of the 1990's US ITAR regulations. We well know the adverse impact on Amateur Radio from ITAR, but it also affects US commercial interests in that organizations world-wide now make a point of avoiding the purchase of US products. Hopefully the damaging impact on trade will help speed the end of ITAR as far as satellite technology is concerned.

73 Trevor M5AKA