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

[Robert McGwier]

I did NOT divulge inside information.  I had no idea ASCENT was underway.
But, great name!!

Bob


On Sun, Apr 26, 2015 at 9:29 PM, Jerry Buxton <amsat at n0jy.org> wrote:

> Most of you don't know since it was to be announced at Dayton, ASCENT is
> AMSAT's new Advanced Satellite Communications and Exploration of New
> Technology program, which was formed just before this opportunity came
> along with several team members working on the possibilities Bob is
> referring to, and beyond.
>
> Jerry
> N0JY
>
> On Apr 26, 2015 17:47, Robert McGwier <rwmcgwier at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > 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
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > >> _______________________________________________
> > > >> 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
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > 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)
> > _______________________________________________
> > 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)