[amsat-bb] Re: Phase 3

[John Stephensen]

AMSAT-DL was the lead for phase 3 because they were able to get almost-free 
launches from ESA. However, ESA terminated that policy 10 years ago and 
AMSAT-DL has been trying to get government funding through their Mars 
program. That was rejected a year or two ago. Private launch companies are 
asking for $8,000,000..The world-wide fund raising by AMSAT-DL, AMSAT-UK, 
AMSAT-NA, AMSAT-Japan, ARRL and RSGB for each of the phase 3 launches 
acheived less than 10% of what is now required for a launch.

In the past, a launch opportunity was identified by ESA and then a satellite 
was built by AMSAT. P3E did the reverse -- building a satellite and hoping 
for a launch. I brought up AMSAT-DL because someone was complaining that 
AMSAT-NA was leading them on about HEO possibilities. They should review 
videos of the AMSAT-DL presentations at the annual AMSAT-UK meetings. 
AMSAT-NA has been much more realistic.

73,

John
KD6OZH

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Rob" <pabutusa at gmail.com>
To: <amsat-bb at amsat.org>
Sent: Friday, September 20, 2013 12:34 UTC
Subject: [amsat-bb] Phase 3


> Wait .... wasn't AMSAT-DL always the lead when it came to Phase-3
> satellites ???
>
> Also, AMSAT-DL has a platform already constructed awaiting launch
> opportunity.
>
> http://amsat-uk.org/2013/02/25/the-next-amsat-phase-3-satellite/
>
> Issues with ITAR aside, why can't we just support our international
> partners ... somehow ... ???
>
> Getting an amateur radio satellite into orbit costs real green dollars
> (Euros, GBP, whatever) we would do better pooling resources for the good 
> of
> all.
>
> There are all kinds of players in the launch market these days .... US,
> ESA,  Russia, China, Japan, India .... and a lot of up and coming private
> launch vendors .... call me naive but I think conditions are BETTER now
> (ITAR aside) than they were in the days of AO-10 ....
>
> Why can't we focus on the possibilities .... ????
>
> de KA2PBT
>
>
>
> On Fri, Sep 20, 2013 at 2:30 AM, John Stephensen <kd6ozh at comcast.net> 
> wrote:
>
>> AMSAT-NA abandoned the Eagle project years ago. Only AMSAT-DL has an
>> "active" HEO project. with P3E.
>>
>> 73,
>>
>> John
>> KD6OZH
>>
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