There is nothing that says they have to be useful to the general ham community in order to exist. What they do is provide a mechanism for university students to learn engineering and science. Elementary students don't contribute to mathematics by learning to multiply, and likewise there isn't necessarily an expectation that cubesats contribute to the state of the art of anything. Yet, they often do. Commercial users are now looking at cubesats and the technologies developed within them, as alternatives to the VW bus sized satellites of the past. NASA is doing real science through cubesats and NSF grants (although I agree these are a poor fit for the amateur bands).
In the long term view, inclusion and support of cubesats into our community will benefit all the AMSATs more than derision and ridicule has to this point. Several cubes have attempted or will attempt to support amateur two-way packages, i.e. DO-64, CO-65, PWsat, FunCube, UKube, Fox. Let's encourage that, and stop with the self-centered view of the service. 73, Drew KO4MA -----Original Message----- >From: wa4...@comcast.net >Sent: Dec 8, 2011 10:36 AM >To: AMSAT <amsat-bb@amsat.org> >Subject: [amsat-bb] cube sats and turn signals > >Cube sats are about as worthless to the ham op as turn signals are on our >cars, who uses them. How much can be learned from them that hasnt already been >done. Why cant the schools all get together and use the info from all the ones >in the past or did they really learn anything. beep beep beep >_______________________________________________ >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 _______________________________________________ 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
