[amsat-bb] Another Yea for a Moon Lander

["J Craswell" <jay@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> If i remember correctly we seem to have had misfortune each time we have
> tried to use
> a propulsion system on our Amsat satellites. Even if the problem was not
> always our fault.
> I hope Amsat will spend our hard ernt cash building satellites that
amateurs
> want ie AO-7 type birds.
>
> 73 keith
> GU6EFB

At the TAPR conference we were asked informally what sort of future project
we though had merit.  I admit to being one of the guys who thought a Moon
Relay was a idea that had great interest to me.  Frankly the idea of a
"Amateur" Moon shot (Or any type) is compelling to me and I think quite a
few others.  I was a kid when the Ranger probes smashed into the moon.  I
had a map (Still do) of the landing sites of all the Surveyor lander and
Russian probes.  The Manned moon landings were added and also very
interesting.  I had to admit that Apollo 12 held the most interest to me
since they had landed next to a Surveyor and brought back some of the parts
to determine long term effects on it.  Would a Moon based "AO-40" have any
benefit communications wise over another AO40?  No, probably not but I see
this as expanded what we as Amateurs can do.  Why climb a mountain?  Why go
to the Moon?  If nothing else imagine the general press we would get!  I
think it would be a big boost for Amateur Radio and I for one would be very
interested.

By the way.  I've also been on the AO-07 bandwagon but can I say that most
of my interest is due to it being one of the sats I got started with and the
fact that it came back to life after so long is the primary reasons for my
interest.  20 minute windows and LEO type operations are not really the goal
I think communications (By Space) should be.  AO-40 and hours long windows
are great.  A lunar translator would give us that and of course you could
walk outside  and look up to see if the "band" was open. <grin>

I think the MARS project is a tough nut to crack, but by all means keep it
on the books and work on it.  Perhaps a ION based Propulsion system will be
the answer for that?  Propulsion is of course a big question about a lunar
project.  Technology is making the payloads lighter and smarter.  Perhaps
this will bring down the difficulty factor.  Plus the question of a Hard vrs
soft landing.  We can emulate the early Soviet Lander instead of the more
difficult  Surveyor program.  Fuels etc all bring up issues to consider.
Lots of interesting stuff and all of it advances our technology and
experiences!  I'm glad to be alive in these interesting times!

73 de Jay W0VNE


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