I'm sorry, Bruce, but I'm not buying it. It was a screw-up, plain and simple.
And we can't make lemonade out of it. At least AO-40 had a usable life for some. This thing is just another squawk box in space, like all the "student" satellites that are using the Amateur Radio frequencies for a free downlink. Jim On 08/04/2011 12:20 AM, Bruce Robertson wrote: > I wonder if I might hope that the outrage from us amchair cosmonauts > will abate by tomorrow. > > Let's take a look at what we need and what we've got: as an > organization, we need cheap rides to space; but we have some pretty > find satellite-building expertise. The relationship with ISS will, if > we are reasonable, give us cheap rides. The NASA-TV announcer > repeatedly said that ARISSAT-1 was the prototype of a series of > satellites! Already, we've had the opportunity to fly our first > SDX.The cost of making more along the lines of ARISSAT-1 is minimal > compared to the cost of the ride, so this is a crucial relationship. > > What does ISS want from our relationship? Probably, an increased sense > of purpose: we get a ride, they get recognition, and perhaps a bit > more TV time for the EVA, and a connection with student research. > Here's where it counts for us to be polite in a difficult situation. > Focusing on errors, nationalistic name-calling, and the rest, just > diminish what they get out the bargain, and make things more difficult > for those who work with us who have negotiated these waters. > > Besides, I think the criticisms underestimate the technical difficulty > and novelty of what we've been part of. I've watched many EVAs, and > the feeling that things are not exactly going by plan is pretty common > (even when Americans are running the show :-) How do you most reliably > ship and store a small satellite to an orbiting space station? How do > you most safely jettison it during EVA? As a species we have very > little experience with this, and didn't get it 100% this time. Surely, > kudos is due to AMSAT for being part of the group that is trying to > answer these questions. > > Anyway, I have more fun thinking of it that way. And I'm looking > forward to downloading as much telemetry for Kursk as I can. > > 73, Bruce > VE9QRP > _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
