[amsat-bb] HEO & Geo Orbits,

[W3AB/GEO]

Jerry,

Thank you for your clarification. I for one appreciates it.

⁣___
Sent from my two way wrist watch
73 de W3AB/GEO​

On Aug 20, 2020, 17:44, at 17:44, Jerry Buxton via AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb at amsat.org> wrote:
>On 8/19/2020 22:51, Jim Walls via AMSAT-BB wrote:
>> It may not have been YOUR suggestion, but I recall that one has been
>> answered.  As I recall reading here, AMSAT HAS been in contact with
>> various launch providers.  And no, I'm not going to do the research
>> for you to find it (I don't keep all messages on this reflector). 
>True.  And many of the new LV companies have contacted us/me regarding
>their services both new and in development.
>These are the movers and shakers although that definition probably
>varies with the individuals who ask this question and my use of it
>here.
>
>With the current demand for small satellite launches to LEO and the
>situation regarding orbital debris, most of the new entries into the
>launch industry are targeting low, Low Earth Orbit of 450-500 km. 
>There
>are two good reasons for that.  One, these orbits take less fuel
>mass/volume and smaller engines to reach.  Two these orbits provide
>maybe 2-3 years of orbit lifetime which is favorable with the orbital
>debris regulations.
>In the latter, we are and have for many years been very good stewards
>of
>the orbital debris requirements with absolutely no rogue intentions and
>a record that has earned us opportunities to look for high orbits.  In
>the former, we don't wish to go to those altitudes right now and the
>clamor of public opinion here and elsewhere supports that point.
>And so, while I am happy in knowing that AMSAT has a reputation that
>warrants contact from at least some of these new movers and shakers,
>they are not able to help us at this time.
>
>There is also the process of gaining a ride on a launch vehicle and I
>think that a lot of our members probably consider the launch provider
>to
>be ULA, or SpaceX, ISRO, or our latest with Virgin Orbit.  And in all
>four (covering five launches), Fox-1A & Fox-1B, Fox-1Cliff, Fox-1D, and
>Fox-1E, respectively, in none of the launches is AMSAT dealing directly
>with any of those launch vehicle providers.  Launch providers are NASA
>through the ELaNa program on ULA and VO and Spaceflight through their
>rideshare contracts with ISRO and SpaceX.  Further, we then work with
>the payload integrator for that launch, Cal Poly, Tyvak, and TriSept
>for
>the ELaNa launches and another division of Spaceflight for their ISRO
>and SpaceX launches (that we purchased).
>
>I have had the pleasure of meeting folks who work for ULA and SpaceX,
>and look forward to the same with Virgin Orbit soon, at integration but
>none are anywhere near the top of their corporation especially in the
>context that I think "movers and shakers" is meant with these
>corporations.
>Short of an invitation to a gala or otherwise someone who knows any of
>those company senior officers or directors, there is no chance to ask
>if
>they can extend a hand to AMSAT and just get us a ride please because
>we
>are a bunch of good guys and gals.  And I have been in situations to
>ask
>those not that high up because hey, it never hurts to ask, right?  And
>their answer if any usually is exactly what works so well for their
>industry; that we should contact one of the launch providers.
>
>Consider what it might be like, were we able to ask Tony Bruno for
>another ride on a ULA vehicle as a bit of a favor toward the good
>things
>that us bunch of good guys and gals do for a sliver of the world
>population, and he said yes!
>I don't mean what it might be like for us, although that probably
>follows a lot like what it would be like for ULA; having given a small
>group a favor of a million dollars of launch in an act of compassion
>and
>charity, and it being quite public of course since AMSAT has trouble
>staying mum even when specifically told to by launch providers,
>suddenly
>15,000 other organizations who deem themselves worthy of Tony or Elon
>or
>Sir Richard sharing a bit of that type of charity with them come out of
>the woodwork and bombard them with requests.  That later turn into
>demands, that later turn into vilification...
>Of course they then include AMSAT in that vilification because we got
>something they can't have and that's not fair!
>And we have all seen classic examples of all three of that progression
>of love and teamwork on -bb lately, so you know what I mean.
>
>My money is on Tony and the others most certainly having considered
>that
>same scenario no matter who asks the favor, and that's why even if you
>or I got to have two minutes with any of them at a gala some night it's
>very likely that they will refer us to a launch provider, maybe put in
>a
>plug for their favorite since they know now that we talked that we are
>just a bunch of good guys and gals.  I'll also bet a small amount that
>it is the reason that Elon launched his car, since the questions came
>up
>about how ham radio could have been there and why not, at that time
>too.  Can't upset anyone by using that space for a great big publicity
>stunt, eh?
>
>As Joe mentioned in his reply to GEO (George?) he is not the first to
>ask and we have been in contact and remain active with our connections
>and new connections that come along in the launch game.  We would not
>be
>doing our job if we did not and besides, it's part of the fun of this
>aspect of amateur radio to have the standing to be able to meet and
>talk
>to many different folks about (especially) cheap rides to places very
>high up.  Ask any of our launch providers and at least privately,
>because of their NDAs of course, they might share the fact that have
>and
>continue to ask and explore opportunities, even those that might be a
>"what if" just to look for any openings.
>
>Of course few of you know all of this, and it probably only comes up in
>detail when this question inevitably comes around again.  I mention or
>allude to it in the Journal or talks now and then, but of course none
>of
>it is even in detail until something is signed.  Only fools brag about
>that which they do not yet hold in their hand, or at least I think
>that's true because I have burned myself and embarrassed others
>(organizations too) by being too confident.
>
>I'll QRT with little aside, the meeting that I will remember best out
>of
>all of them in our adventures to orbit is the one at the Fox-1A (AO-85)
>launch, which was an Air Force launch carrying NRO stuff on a ULA
>rocket
>(so you kinda get the big launch provider picture I mentioned). 
>The Captain in charge of that Air Force mission was there and I got to
>talk to him at the launch party.  His name?  Captain Kirk. 
>This part of the amateur radio hobby just doesn't get any more fun than
>that.
>
>73, and thank you all for your support.
>
>Jerry Buxton, NØJY
>
>
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