RE: [amsat-bb] All the Hype!!! and a suggestion to amsat.org

["Alan K. Adamson" <ne1h@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Bob, and all, my comments below...

-----Original Message-----
From: Bob Bruninga [mailto:bruninga@usna.edu]
Sent: Saturday, August 18, 2001 3:58 PM
To: ne1h@highrf.com
Cc: amsat-bb@AMSAT.Org
Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] All the Hype!!! and a suggestion to amsat.org


On Sat, 18 Aug 2001 ne1h@highrf.com wrote:

> The Amsat Journal publishes an article about future Sats.  There is a
> specifically written article about CESAR-1 that is suppose to launch
> in July.  July comes and goes and not one more word about it...

> Aug 31.  Bob was pretty good about giving status on PCSat, but now
> with him in Alaska, no more information.  And Sapphire, did any of
> you know it was going to be an Opal II ?  Did any of you hear
> anything about it?

> I think it would be a wonderful addition to the amsat.org site for
> a "future launches" section to be created ...

Great idea.  It wo uld be great for someone to volunteer to upadate
that web page.  I think all someone needs to do is put a link to each of
the satelites in work.  ALL of them have a WEB page already, just no
easy way to find it.....

> .....  For example, what happened to all the cubesats, they were
> suppose to launch starting in Oct of this year.  I've gone to most
> all of their webpages, and with the exception of the www.stensat.org
> gang, they are all completely stale and out of date.

> One thing that seems to run true, when an org gets ready to launch a
> bird, they want all kinds of help in determining is it on? Is it
> transmitting anything valid, etc?  But they seem less interested in
> telling us the status as it moves along the design to lauch path.

I wouldn't say less interested, but just to darn busy.  And every day that
you have new news, it CHANGES the next day.  Here we are 2 weeks from
launch and NO ONE KNOWS WHEN LAUNCH IS.  Not NASA, not Lockheed Martin,
not DOD....  I could make a full time job of tyring to keep everyone
informed about nothing that is concrete.  I would accomplish nothing,
except just cause more speculation and missinformation...

The launch business is an unbelievable critical evolution.  Be sure that
when anyone knows anything that is CERTAIN and that they are willing to
post wihtout having to retract it the next day.... they will....

But I do think you have a very good idea.  AMSAT should maintain a list of
links to ALL amateur satellites that are in "work"...

Also, I am very hesitant to post anyting that I am not absolutely certain
about, becasue this AMSAT-BB will crucify you if you make a mistake.  One
of the biggest GRIPES on AMSAT-BB is the "HYPE" about new satellites. Such
complainers have certainly caused me to hold back on sharing the fun of
this launch campaign, because if it all goes in the drink or fails to
work, I don't want to have my head on an AMSAT-BB silver platter for
lunch...

I am very cautiously holding back on ANY promises or ANY expectations
until it is in orbit.  Yes, we need some people to help.  If they can,
they will, but there is NO reason to spin up everyone else in such a
risky business as satellite launches.  Remember, it took 18? laucnch
attempts for one of the last amateur satellite launches.  It wore everyone
out.  Only the dedicated will reallly be there when needed, and everyone
else will just bitch and complain about delays and why they were not each
individually informed of every little glitch along the way...

AKA - Your points are all good ones, but what I am suggesting is that the
"team" include a "publicist".  This person as a fundamental member of the
team.  They need to be involved with everything that happens and be able to
generate the status information on their own with proof or editorial
privilege going to the experts.  But that should be tweaks and not
re-writes.

My other.  I'm not suggesting that once you reach a point of unknown that
you continue to have to make stuff up.  But just tell us that you are at the
point and give us a date in the future when you will report.  That report
may again be - we are on hold.  That's ok, it's the no information or no
expectation for a level set that is frustrating.

> Come on you guys, provide updated information in the form of a
> current webpage, or give the information to Amsat-NA and let them do
> it, or publish it here on the amsat-bb.  Either way, if you want help
> after the launch, include us in the information before the launch.

> I'd also like to propose a concept to Amsat-NA or any other
> organization currently or planning on developing a satellite.
> Designate a "Publicist" as a part of your team.

Which of the 3 of us working 16 hour days for the last 2 months do you
want to do this?

AKA - to my point above.

>  Their complete job is to inform and educate the remaining
> organizations about the status of the project as it moves along.  A
> great example is the A0-40 team.  If they would have had this person
> designated, I'm sure that Stacey, Peter, and James would have had some
> additional bandwidth to do real work.  The Publicist would be the one
> that is responsible for communication, let the experts do what the
> experts do, but designate a person to provide status information and
> keep that status up-to- date.

Great, and WHO is going to keep the publicist up to date?  Only someone
who is here every day 16 hours a day and is in on every phone call and
conference call and trip to alaska.  As you say, a publicist is a full
time job.  and that means 16 hour days for thee last 2 months working with
the other 3 of us... then he might konw what to report, and/or he would
know that no one knows...

We welcome anyone that wants to come live here in the lab with us....

> Just my .02, Alan >

Thanks.  Thats my nickles worth, <grin>

AKA - BTW, I sincerely appreciate your feedback and your statusing.  I'll
tell you however, the guys at StarShine or Sapphire need to think about the
same.  For example, the last update on Sapphire is on 8/13 and it's from a
guy via email in ST. Louis.  What the heck is that, he makes mention of
coming back from Alaska, but nothing more.  I wondered, did they have
problems and scratch the launch all together or what?

I know this might appear to be to your point about "getting torn to shreds"
on amsat-bb.  Not my intention, my intention is only to try to stimulate
some feedback on all the launches that are suppose to be happening.....AND
AGAIN, WHAT THE HECK HAPPENED TO CESAR-1???

Alan

de WB4APR@amsat.org, Bob

ISS-APRS FAQ:       http://www.ew.usna.edu/~bruninga/iss-faq.html
PCsat Design        http://www.ew.usna.edu/~bruninga/pcsat.html
CUBESAT Designs     http://www.ew.usna.edu/~bruninga/cubesat.html
APRS LIVE pages     http://www.ew.usna.edu/~bruninga/aprs.html
APRS SATELLITES     http://www.ew.usna.edu/~bruninga/astars.html
MIM/Mic-E/Mic-Lite  http://www.toad.net/~wclement/bruninga/mic-lite.html


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