Original AO-40 sculpture to help launch of AMSAT Echo
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Original AO-40 sculpture to help launch of AMSAT Echo |
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Jan 2004
A beautifully made, original sculpture of AO-40 was given to the person donating the most toward the AMSAT Echo launch campaign in an eBay auction. Ron Marosko, Sr., K5LLL of Mcdade, Texas had the winning bid of $1225.
This bronze is one of only four pieces, created by long time AMSAT member Floyd Thorn, N5SVP(SK). It has been donated to AMSAT by his family, to support the AMSAT Echo launch campaign. The piece measures 11" x 4" and weighs just over 1 lb. The wood base bears a brass plaque with the sculptor’s name and callsign.
Floyd Thorn, PhD, was a physicist with interests in astronomy, space communications, amateur radio, and jewelry making. A long time member of AMSAT, Floyd flew F4F’s and PBY’s in WWII and developed a business providing cathodic protection systems to the petroleum industry.
The AMSAT Echo satellite’s planned launch window runs from March to May of this year. Echo will enable satellite voice communications using simple handheld FM transceivers, along with other interesting modes.
