AMSAT News Service

AMSAT News Service Bulletin posts. These are meant for the AMSAT News Service section of the website and will not be presented on the homepage.

Fox-1 launch update

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The following is excerpted from the Apogee View column of AMSAT President Barry Baines, WD4ASW, as published in the latest AMSAT Journal:

Grace L-55 will launch on a similar Atlas V
Grace L-55 will launch on a similar Atlas V

The launch of Grace/L55 from Vandenberg AFB is slipping from December 2014 into Summer 2015 due to governmental priorities. Fox-1 is currently manifested on that launch as part of the ELaNa-12 group of satellites. Instead of launching our vehicle in December, another launch vehicle with payload is taking precedence, forcing a reschedule of ELaNa-12. Currently, we are now scheduled to fly on 1 AUG 2015 rather than December 2014.

This delay is mixed news for AMSAT. While we are disappointed that this will mean that Fox-1 will not fly in 2014, it also means that we have more time to complete and test the spacecraft prior to delivery to SRI. In the overall scheme of things, it allows AMSAT to have greater confidence in the delivery of a thoroughly tested spacecraft by taking more time to allow for unforeseen contingencies and to do the ground testing.

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Memorial Service for Anthony “Tony” J. Monteiro, AA2TX (SK) Scheduled

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AMSAT has received word from the family of Tony Monteiro, AA2TX that a
service for Tony will be held on Saturday, April 26th at 4:00 PM at the North
Parish of North Andover Unitarian Universalist Church, 190 Academy Road, North
Andover, MA 01845.  During the service there will be an opportunities for people
to share their “Tony stories”.  For individuals wishing to share their stories
via e-mail, they should be sent to [email protected]. They will be read
at the service.

AMSAT VP-Engineering and Board of Directors Member Tony Monteiro of North Andover, MA passed away on March 26, 2014 at age 55 from cancer.  More details on his life and passing may be found here and in the Lowell Eagle-Tribune.

Jerry Buxton, N0JY selected as AMSAT’s VP-Engineering

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AMSAT-NA Engineering VP Jerry Buxton, N0JY
New AMSAT-NA VP-Engineering Jerry Buxton, N0JY

In a special AMSAT Board of Directors meeting held via GoToMeeting on Tuesday, April 1st, the board unanimously approved the selection of Jerry Buxton, N0JY of Granbury, TX as AMSAT VP-Engineering.  Jerry replaces Tony Monteiro, AA2TX who passed away on March 26th.

Given the significance of completing Fox-1 for delivery on time later this year, the Board recognized that the Fox Program must continue under leadership that is focused on completing AMSAT’s latest satellite.  Selecting a new VP-Engineering is an important step towards maintaining the momentum that was developed under Tony’s leadership and to avoid creating an engineering  leadership vacuum as work continues on the satellite.  The Engineering Team deserves to have the new leadership identified in order to be in position to make the appropriate engineering decisions.

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AMSAT Board Elects Senior Officers for 2013-2014

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BoD_Photo
Board of directors meeting 2013

Election of AMSAT’s Senior Officers was one of the first orders of business at the AMSAT Board of Directors meeting on October 31 in Houston, Texas.

The following positions were voted upon and filled:

  •  Barry Baines, WD4ASW – President
  • Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA – Vice-President Operations
  • Gould Smith, WA4SXM – Vice President User Services
  • Tony Monteiro, AA2TX – Vice-President Engineering
  • Frank Bauer, KA3HDO – Vice-President Human Spaceflight
  • EMike McCardel, KC8YLD – Vice-President Educational Relations
  • Alan Biddle, WA4SCA – Secretary
  • Keith Baker, KB1SF/VA3KSF- Treasurer
  • Martha Saragovitz – Manager

The following Senior Officer positions remained open at this time awaiting appointments:

  • Executive Vice President
  • Vice-President Marketing