RE: [amsat-bb] Idea about an P4A (Moon relay station)

["Edward R. Cole" <al7eb@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

>Hi, 
>
>If the moon is a crazy idea ...why is amsat putting resourses in a mars
>project ?? I wonder what use it wil have for amateurs ?? 
>
>73 on1dse , jan

Jan,

What?  You mean you don't have a 60m dish in your backyard?  Your microwave
receiver isn't cryogenically cooled to 4K by liquid helium?  A Cray-4
computer to DSP the signal?  You don't have $100K (US) for the project?

OK, OK, I was just having fun above!  It will take extraordinary (for hams)
equipment to hear a Mars probe...but may be possible by a chosen few hams.
I wonder what freq. is being considered?

As far as an Amsat project...which Amsat?  I believe this is the
"brain-child" of the Amsat-DL gang...not Amsat-NA.   Feel any better?  I
believe one purpose was to relay data for scientific surface probes (no
present restriction of this use of ham freq. on Mars)...and probably its
the challenge for the DL-gang!

Regarding a Lunar Ham Repeater (or something like that), well it is out of
technical-monetary reach of "us" for the forseeable future.  I see NO
PROBLEM  with examining the idea and laying some ground-work planning for
something that may have a ride in 20-30 years (or sooner...who is to say).
It will likely ride up with NASA when man returns to the Moon, though!

A serious project is the Far-side Radio-Telescope Project.  Could be that
may be the ride opportunity.  Radio Astonomers are having an increasing
problem with RF interference to their ground-based (on Earth) antennas, so
I think this project may get serious backing (possibly the first to have
earthings return to the Moon).  Any such project will need a Lunar-limb
located relay station for sending science data back to Earth and commanding
the installation (there is a good place for a microwave Ham "peater" (all
the logistical needs supplied)...my guess freq. coord would be a stickler).

So fantasize, plan, discuss....have a ball...get your kids (or grandkids)
involved in your dream...get them licensed and signed up with Amsat...as
they will be the ones to do this project!  ...my two "loony" cents!

Ed, AL7EB
{in the year 2032 I will be a "young" 88 year-old!  eh? what's that sonny!} 

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