[amsat-bb] AMSAT Open Source Policy

[Joe Leikhim]

Your question is asking why open source will benefit AMSAT and you 
further argue that the proprietary  IP of AMSAT NA is less marketable if 
released under an open-source (to circumvent AMSATs nemesis ITAR)..

My question is simply. how marketable has it been? Is it so marketable 
that AMSAT does not have to have fundraisers to support its main 
product, launching satellites?  I say no it is not that valuable. I 
don't think anything AMSAT has designed has been sold and funds 
deposited into the coffers. At least not in my recollection and I have 
been a long term member..

Is it marketable in that a "symbiotic relationship" exists with 
aerospace companies like you imply?  I wont argue there have not been 
such agreements, but it is hardly enough to tilt greatly in favor of 
AMSAT getting an HEO ride. In the "old days" riding as ballast was 
usually the way to go. Not anymore as launches are like Uber.

I see trouble brewing at AMSAT. Not sure whose side I am on, but we have 
had a decade or more of technical stagnation. I proposed an HEO launch 
last month and was harangued by the old guard for suggesting such a thing.

I am puzzled what everyone wants to protect from change.


On 7/15/2020 11:30 PM, Joseph Armbruster wrote:
> Joe Leikhim,
>
> (note, i'm mobile, so apologies for typos)
>
> I'm not trying to pick a fight with anyone, if asking someone this
> question... "How does AMSAT benefit by pursuing an open source
> policy?"... really makes you feel like i'm belittling a proposition,
> please re-read what I wrote.  The 'belittling' portion was your
> original thought.  I was just pointing out how the GPL works...
> belittle that.
>
> "You would think the AMSAT bank accounts would be overflowing"
>
> Well, I honestly don't know... I'll return the question because I, and
> I assume many others reading have not seen financials, sohow are AMSAT
> bank accounts doing?  From all accounts from the BB, I have no
> evidence indicating the numbers are bad, except for hear-say...
> Numbers please...?
>
> "and invitations for HEO launches would be so many we would be turning
> them down?"
>
> Who is turning HEO launches down, and more specifically why?  Please clarify.
>
> Joseph Armbruster
> KJ4JIO
>
> On Wed, Jul 15, 2020 at 9:50 PM Joe Leikhim via AMSAT-BB
> <amsat-bb at amsat.org> wrote:
>> /Joseph; you wax on about intellectual property and symbiotic
>> relationships etc, and then ask /
>> //"How does AMSAT benefit b//y pursuing an open source policy?" May I
>> ask, how in the past 10 years has AMSAT benefited by running the
>> proprietary system they are running now? You would think the AMSAT bank
>> accounts would be overflowing and invitations for HEO launches would be
>> so many we would be turning them down? Please answer this before
>> belittling the proposition. / On Wed, Jul 15, 2020 at 7:21 AM Joseph
>> Armbruster <josepharmbruster at gmail.com
>> <https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb>> wrote: />>//>>/You did not really answer the first question: "How does AMSAT benefit />>/by pursuing an open source policy?" />
>>
>> --
>> Joe Leikhim
>>
>>
>> Leikhim and Associates
>>
>> Communications Consultants
>>
>> Oviedo, Florida
>>
>> JLeikhim at Leikhim.com
>>
>> 407-982-0446
>>
>> WWW.LEIKHIM.COM
>>
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-- 
Joe Leikhim


Leikhim and Associates

Communications Consultants

Oviedo, Florida

JLeikhim at Leikhim.com

407-982-0446

WWW.LEIKHIM.COM