Re: [amsat-bb] AMSAT has a SECRET!

[Jon Ogden <na9d@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

on 5/31/01 8:16 PM, Larry Kayser at kayser@sympatico.ca wrote:
I wouldn't say it's a secret.  This idea has been floating around for quite
a while.

This satellite will not be a bare bones satellite.  It will have virtually
everything P3D has, but no propulsion system.

I agree with the satellite bands picked.  There are still a LOT of people
who have 2m and 432 only.  Many people cannot afford the extra $$$ to buy
downconverters or transverters after purchasing an FT-847 or similar.  I
urge the BOD NOT to drop any bands.

>From my understanding the satellite will have LEILA, Rudak and other stuff
(perhaps I am wrong, but I had a conversation with an AMSAT big wig at
Dayton and I thought he said that would be on it).

So this won't be a "basic" satellite by any means.

The biggest thing of all this is that AMSAT-NA is running this program.
AMSAT-NA has not done a satellite program since the microsats in the early
90s.  They have not done a HEO bird ever from my knowledge.  AO-10, AO-13
and AO-40 were all under the management of AMSAT-DL.

To me, this is the biggest news of all.  It's not to say that AMSAT-DL
doesn't know what they are doing or anything like that.  It's just nice to
have the AMSAT I belong to as the managing entity on the new program.

73,

Jon
NA9D


> Greetings:
> 
> You heard it here first, AMSAT has a SECRET!  Without fanfare or really
> saying it very loud, the end of an era has finally happened.  The AMSAT BOD
> has approved the development of a new satellite, and unlike the creative
> wording used by the ARRL for this BOD decision, this new satellite will not
> be "AO-40 Lite".  The new satellite will return to the basics finally after
> nearly 20 years of the other approach.  I say it again, FINALLY the
> minimalist approach to amateur satellites returns.
> 
> Go quickly and read the AMSAT announcement.  Then reread it, study what is
> says and what it does not say.
> 
> What the announcement says to me is that there will not be any techno wizzy
> stuff, just linear RF repeaters operating from a synchronous transfer orbit.
> All the rest of the gee wiz stuff is gone.  Hopefully the things that go
> bump in the night are gone as well.
> 
> A Satellite for amateur radio is a basic device that provides signal gain
> for amateur signals using the system as a repeater.  The use of multiple
> bands on an amateur satellite always works to the economic disadvantage of
> those who might invest in one band mode combination and are disenfranchised
> when the satellite is operated in other band modes.  The membership needs to
> help the AMSAT BOD keep the new satellite as simple as possible.  To help
> the BOD along I suggest that the 2M and 5.6 GHz bands need to be abandoned.
> 
> The new goal is the result of a rethink of the concept model for the next
> satellite.  The issue is maybe just maybe, and this is were the membership
> needs to start singing a loud chorus, that AMSAT will focus on the users and
> create a maximum life cycle for value satellite system.  I offer that the
> best way to achieve maximum participation in AMSAT is to focus on the users
> economics and keep the satellite a very simple device that has great
> reliability for the users.  Workers in the builder group need to have a much
> better understanding of the works of W Edwards Deming and graduate level
> Economics on an equal footing with the latest radiation hardened
> microprocessor.
> 
> AMSAT's challenge is to show the amateur community and the satellite users
> that AMSAT can deliver service reliability and consistent functionality to
> the user community.  The AMSAT board has put is toe in the waters of change,
> they need strong support to provide the leadership to bring a
> new service delivery model to the AMSAT community.
> 
> We badly need more satellites that achieve their 20th anniversary delivering
> full functionality to the user community.
> 
> I urge the AMSAT membership to support the board, to push hard for the
> concept of minimalism for amateur satellites.  To focus on reliability and
> serviceability.  What we must NOT get  is an "AO-40 Lite".
> 
> Larry
> VA3LK
> AMSAT Life Member #3
> 
> 
> 
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> 


-------------------------------------
Jon Ogden
NA9D (ex: KE9NA)

Member:  ARRL, AMSAT, DXCC, NRA

http://www.qsl.net/ke9na

"A life lived in fear is a life half lived."

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