Re: [amsat-bb] eagle costs

["Gould Smith" <gouldsmi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

You do understand.

ECHO is essentially built from SpaceQuest tested modules, used on many other
satellites.

It certainly can be replicated, that is their business model.

Gould
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <sco@sco-inc.com>
To: "Gould Smith" <gouldsmi@bellsouth.net>
Cc: <amsat-bb@AMSAT.Org>
Sent: Friday, September 03, 2004 11:36 PM
Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] eagle costs


> Here is what I do not understand.
> If it proves out that ECHO(1) works and is still working after 1-2 years.
> WHY don't we build another identical ECHO(2), ECHO(3), etc.
> It can only be much less expensive to build an exact copy of a sat that we
> know works. WHY do we need to have a totally NEW design everytime for the
> next satellite?
>
> If EAGLE is built, launched and works I would plan on building another
copy
> of Eagle for a launch 5-10 years later.
>
> W4SCO
>
> At 09:53 PM 9/3/2004, you wrote:
> >Hello Patrick,
> >
> >If you are really interested, there is a section in the ECHO book on some
of
> >the major areas that go into matching the batteries.  I had always been
> >curious about this, and included it because I though others would find it
> >interesting.  The batteries off the shelf are not terribly expensive,
> >getting 6+ to match very closely is a different story.  Time-Effort-Money
> >
> >Space certification for parts requires that they undergo many tests on
the
> >ground and that they have have been proven to operate in space.  It is an
> >inexperienced person that bets the farm on an inexpensive part, to save
> >money.
> >Considering the time and effort to build and test, not to mention launch
a
> >satellite and expect a 5+ year lifetime,
> >riding on the failure of a cheap unqualified part, is certainly not the
way
> >to manage a project.
> >
> >The thing I think people keep forgetting, we can't put it on the bench
and
> >fix it, like we do so often to so many things here on Earth.  Building
> >something both electrical and mechanical that works continuously for 5
years
> >without repair is a very, very difficult undertaking.
> >
> >Regards,
> >Gould
> >
> >
> >----- Original Message -----
> >From: "Patrick Green" <pagreen@gmail.com>
> >To: "Public Mail List amsat-bb" <amsat-bb@AMSAT.Org>
> >Sent: Friday, September 03, 2004 7:58 PM
> >Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] eagle costs
> >
> >
> > > To add to the below:  Why do things that are "space certified" so
> > > expensive?  I would like to know more on the subject of batteries.
> > > These are the things that seem to be the most sensitive of the whole
> > > package.
> > >
> > > 73 de Pat --- KA9SCF.
> > >
> > >
> > > On 03 Sep 2004 18:49:05 -0400, Chris N1ZPP
<n1zpp_amsat@snowjournal.com>
> >wrote:
> > > > This is an interesting subject and something I've thought a lot
about
> > > > for a while now.
> > > >
> > > > For those of us that don't understand the all the details involved,
why
> > > > exactly does a "cheap" satellite cost $110k?  Unless I'm missing
> > > > something, I'd think one could pull together the right parts for
under
> > > > $5k.
> > > >
> > > > So, where's the cost?  Do those guys in dust suits cost a lot of
money?
> > > > Do the vibration tests cost a lot of money?  Does the launch cost a
lot
> > > > of money?  If an amateur satellite could fly on a commercial load as
> > > > balast, why does it cost much of anything?
> > > >
> > > > How about this for cost... What about flying a small sat into orbit
atop
> > > > an amateur rocket?  I bet there's an amateur rocket group somewhere
out
> > > > there chomping at the idea of being the first amateur group to put a
> > > > satellite in orbit.  So why not team up?  Lets see if an amateur
> > > > satellite could be built for under $10k and launched on an amateur
> > > > rocket for very little cost.  $25k for the whole project, or am I
being
> > > > naive?
> > > >
> > > > --N1ZPP
> > > > //Chris
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > On Fri, 2004-09-03 at 13:53, wa6fwf wrote:
> > > > > Hi All,
> > > > >    having read the latest journal and taking note of Robins
> >"guesstimate"  of
> > > > > the 3 million dollar price tag of EAGLE, I had to wonder that if
we
> >cant
> > > > > raise 110k for ECHO how are we possibly going to do this?
> > > > >
> > > > >    I can only hope that cheaper launch possibilities are being
persued
> >or that
> > > > > we might luck out a get a discounted or free ride from our
non-profit
> > > > > status...
> > > > >
> > > > >   Another possibility is that everyone at a minimum joins up and
> >becomes a
> > > > > member if they are not already one and would consider making a
> >donation on
> > > > > top of their membership.
> > > > >
> > > > >    I'm not sure that Robins suggestion of making the membership
fees
> >$150
> > > > > would fly very far...  but the point is taken... if you want a sat
the
> >money
> > > > > has to come from somewhere.....
> > > > >
> > > > >   The only other alternative would be to downsize Eagle with maybe
> >just mode
> > > > > L/S and drop anything else off, (I picked that mode since a lot of
> >people
> > > > > already have  the mode S equipment from ao40 and L up was becoming
> >popular,
> > > > > but mostly because the antennas are kept small), just keep it
small,
> >simple
> > > > > and cheap and then less weight means  a cheaper launch....
> > > > >
> > > > >     Maybe a less desirable orbit but a simpler cheaper solid fuel
> >boost?
> > > > >
> > > > > Anyone else have any ideas how we can get this show on the road?
> > > > >
> > > > > 73
> > > > > Kevin
> > > > > WA6FWF
> > > > > #19623
> > > > > ----
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