[amsat-bb] GeoSat OSCAR-2024 Positive comments, no, whining....(Was need HEO..please..)

[Paul Stoetzer]

Joe,

It’s important to note that QO-100 is not an amateur payload at all. The
two transponders in amateur use are on-orbit commercial spares modified to
tune to amateur frequencies. And, of course, there’s the risk that the
spares may be needed for commercial service some day.

The issue is that to get an American company to do this, you need millions
of dollars up front and then probably millions of dollars a year to support
it. It’s been looked into multiple times over the years and no one is
willing to just give that away or even quote a price that’s remotely
reasonable.

I do take issue with your choice of words in describing GOLF-TEE as “baby
steps.” GOLF is a project that AMSAT has committed a large amount of money
and man-hours to. It is a very significant project and will lead us back to
HEO. Our engineering team is doing tremendous work and deserves the full
support and encouragement of the amateur community. Sadly, I feel that
support is often lacking and, frankly, our volunteers deserve better than
that.

If you want a HEO, support AMSAT and GOLF in any way that you can. AMSAT is
100% committed and I am personally 100% committed to making this happen for
the community.

73,

Paul Stoetzer, N8HM
Executive Vice President
AMSAT

On Sat, Jun 20, 2020 at 00:01 Joe Leikhim via AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb at amsat.org>
wrote:

> Robert;
>
> AMSAT has been in HEO before and can get there again.
>
> The idea of my proposal is to piggy back on a willing commercial
> satellite. The owner of that satellite would be handling the necessary
> regulatory issues/problems.  This idea has been proposed before but
> convincing a commercial satellite owner to attach unproven payload has
> always been an negative argument. No longer, because OSCAR-100 is proven
> hardware and it should be considered.
>
> Meanwhile GOLF-TEE can continue to take baby steps.
>
> Looking for ideas to promote this idea. Be positive.
>
>
> --
> Joe Leikhim
>
>
> Leikhim and Associates
>
> Communications Consultants
>
> Oviedo, Florida
>
> JLeikhim at Leikhim.com
>
> 407-982-0446
>
> WWW.LEIKHIM.COM
>
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