[sarex] Re: FW: AMSAT-BB Digest, Vol 4, Issue 401

[Norm, VK3XCI]

Frank et al

Please let us not degenerate into a flame war or 
battle of egos. Don't take this personally, and 
understand that it comes from a long time space 
enthusiast who wants only to be part of this 
frontier but is effectively denied.

Whilst ARISS may be a diplomatic and 
administrative success, in terms of delivering 
results it has been an abject failure. From a 
users point of view the only project that works as 
advertised is the schools contact project.

If that is to be ARISS' focus, then it's time to 
let someone else take up some challenges. Whatever 
Miles' fractured relationship is with the rest of 
ARISS, I and most others care little. He has 
raised some specific points that I for one would 
like answered.

One of the strengths of the human spirit is to be 
able to examine our failures as well as our 
successes. Only then can there be improvement.



73 de Norm, VK3XCI
Mildura, Australia
The Wintersun City
QF15bt.

Frank H. Bauer wrote:
> Miles,
> 
> I find it really sad that you have stooped this low.....character
> assassination and the like.  This e-mail is filled with so many inaccuracies
> and wrong statements that it would be a disservice to the amateur community
> to go through this and challenge each of your statements.  
> 
> While I am no longer part of the ARISS team, I think it would be best for me
> to respond to this e-mail as I think some clarifications are worthy of a
> response.  And given the fact that I led the ARISS team for 13 years.
> 
> Your main gripe was that you were not invited to the ARISS meeting at ESA
> Estec a few months ago.  It should be noted that AMSAT did not make this
> final decision.  Specifically, it was your (Miles) actions that caused you
> to be not invited.  Not some  "closed" organization as you (Miles)
> stipulate.  The crux of the issue is that if one disregards verbal or
> written direction from space agencies and, as a result, you violate space
> agency policy or company/agency proprietary rules, then a significant
> element of distrust is built up.  ARISS cannot let this happen.  And Miles,
> through your actions, you did this.  And as a result, you did this to
> yourself.
> 
> Let me also be clear that MAREX as a team was not singled out.  Only Miles.
> So if MAREX had thoughts or proposals, they were and are welcome to share
> them with the ARISS team.  And, if there are other members of MAREX, besides
> Miles, that wanted to attend future meetings, I would expect that they
> probably would be allowed to attend.  As long as they abide by the space
> agency rules.  (But remember, I don't make those decisions)
> 
> ARISS is an international working group consisting of National Amateur Radio
> Societies, AMSAT organizations and the international space agencies from the
> 5 ISS regions (Europe, Japan, Russia, Canada and the USA).  This working
> group works hand-in-hand to develop and operate the amateur radio system on
> ISS.  ARISS cannot do this without the space agencies and the crew on-board.
> ARISS has and continues to do its best to be as transparent (open) as
> possible.  International meetings are open to the public, as long as an
> element of trust is not violated.  While the ARISS model is not perfect,
> nothing is.  But I must say that the international participation and support
> that comes from the ARISS team is some of the best I have ever seen
> anywhere.  To say that ARISS is a failure is ludicrous.
> 
> It is my personal opinion that the national radio society model (e.g. in the
> US ARRL and AMSAT) is the right model for ARISS.  It has worked well and
> provides an outstanding educational outreach program that gives students and
> communities a very positive view of ham radio.  ARISS has not excluded
> universities from participating.  For example, the Kursk University in
> Russia is currently building an experiment for SuitSat-2.  The Santa Rosa
> Junior College in the US is an ARISS telebridge station.  Students at the
> College of New Jersey in the US participated in the testing of the SuitSat-2
> SDX.  And the Wroclaw University of Technology in Poland built the L/S band
> ARISS antennas that are installed on the Columbus module.  
> 
> In summary, I think we should stop the whining.  And recognize that we need
> to work hand-in-glove with the international space agencies if we want to
> sustain a ham radio program on human spaceflight vehicles.  This may mean
> that our pet project might not fly now (or ever).  That there will be times
> when the crew does not get on the ham radio.  And that there will be give
> and take within the international ARISS and international space agency team
> on how hardware gets developed, who develops it and when it gets tested,
> repaired or operated.
> 
> With sincere interest in ARISS Program Success,
> 
> Frank H. Bauer, KA3HDO
> 
> 
>
>