[amsat-bb] ANS Special Bulletin ANS-116.01 AMSAT-NA Opportunity for Rideshare to Geostationary Orbit

[Robert McGwier]

The lifetime of our ultimate target, a comsat at Geo (Intelsat, Inmarsat,
etc) is about 15 years.  We already know the SDR will survive longer than
that at GEO which is a benign orbit.   This is a test launch and we will
live what we live and make an argument to do more by doing lots of
development and experimentation.  We've built some strategic relationships
and I think they will pay off as in this is not our last chance but not one
to be missed.

There are synergies right now like I have not seen since I started in AMSAT
in earnest to have US launches, carry US satellites to orbits that serve us
and worldwide.  LEO, GEO are more likely.  LEO is an almost overwhelming
abundance.  GEO is becoming accessible as hosted payload.  Even HEO
launches occur and we have to hope to catch a ride.

I am the most optimistic I have been since Microsat and AO40 went up.  Join
your local AMSAT, help support all our activities.  We are on the ascent
(pun intended).

73s
Bob


On Sun, Apr 26, 2015 at 8:28 PM, Paul Stoetzer <n8hm at arrl.net> wrote:

> In this case, we'd be limited by the lifetime of the satellite that's
> hosting us. A geosynchronous satellite is going to have a finite life
> because fuel is required for stationkeeping.
>
> An interesting thought though: would amateurs still be able to use the
> satellite even after it's been moved to a graveyard orbit?
>
> 73,
>
> Paul, N8HM
>
>
>
> On Sun, Apr 26, 2015 at 8:24 PM, David Carr <dc at dcarr.org> wrote:
> > A challenge for the group:
> >
> > Can AMSAT build a satellite with a design lifespan in excess of 20 years?
> >
> > These launch opportunities seem to come along once every 15+ years.
> > Unfortunately, most of our birds seem to last a much shorter time than
> > that.  What architectures and design features can we incorporate to
> achieve
> > virtually infinite lifespan?
> >
> > 73s,
> > David KD5QGR
> >
> > On Sun, Apr 26, 2015 at 6:52 PM, Douglas Quagliana via AMSAT-BB <
> > amsat-bb at amsat.org> wrote:
> >
> >> On 4/25/2015 9:10 AM, JoAnne Maenpaa wrote:
> >>
> >>> AMSAT is excited to announce that we have accepted an opportunity to
> >>> participate in a potential rideshare as a hosted payload on a
> >>> geostationary
> >>> satellite planned for launch in 2017.
> >>>
> >>
> >> All,
> >>
> >> This is excellent news.
> >>
> >> Do we have an official name for this yet? Will it be Project Golf (that
> >> is, the next one after Fox?) or Phase IV-A (our first Phase IV
> satellite),
> >> or Eagle-2, or perhaps something else?
> >>
> >> While I know the frequencies/bands have not yet been announced, have any
> >> decisions been made about whether the transponder (or transponders?)
> will
> >> this be all analog, digital or both? What other payloads will we have?
> >>
> >> Does anyone know if we will have our own telemetry downlink?
> >>
> >> 73,
> >> Douglas KA2UPW/5
> >>
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
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> >> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership.
> Opinions
> >> expressed
> >> are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of
> >> AMSAT-NA.
> >> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite
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> >>
> > _______________________________________________
> > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available
> > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership.
> Opinions expressed
> > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of
> AMSAT-NA.
> > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite
> program!
> > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
> _______________________________________________
> Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available
> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions
> expressed
> are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of
> AMSAT-NA.
> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program!
> Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
>



-- 
Bob McGwier
Co-Founder and Technical Director, Federated Wireless, LLC
Research Professor Virginia Tech
Senior Member IEEE, Facebook: N4HYBob, ARS: N4HY
Faculty Advisor Virginia Tech Amateur Radio Assn. (K4KDJ)