Rick, I have a "back pocket" slide for my presentation when someone asks about P3. It is titled "The Future Isn't What It Used to Be!" which walks through the technical and financial changes which have required the paradigm shift.
73s, Alan WA4SCA -----Original Message----- From: amsat-bb-boun...@amsat.org [mailto:amsat-bb-boun...@amsat.org] On Behalf Of Rick Tejera Sent: Friday, August 30, 2013 5:14 PM To: 'amsat-bb' Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: High orbit satellites? Andrew, I for one do appreciate the work the board and other volunteers do. It's certainly something I'm far from qualified to do and to be honest, I probably would not want to. I came into the hobby long after the HEO era ended, so I can only live vicariously through others recollections and hope "Someday" That being said I also can see there is a new launch paradigm and we have to adjust to it. I commend the board for accepting this and doing what they can to adapt to the new reality. I imagine the engineering obstacles to get a 3u Cubesat that would be viable in HEO are many, which most likely put that well into the future. When I give my talk on Satellite engineering principles to local clubs, the most common question I get asked is "When are we going to get an HEO?" My Answer is Not for a long time. 73 and looking forward to Fox.. Rick Tejera (K7TEJ) Saguaro Astronomy Club www.saguaroastro.org Thunderbird Amateur Radio Club www.w7tbc.org -----Original Message----- From: amsat-bb-boun...@amsat.org [mailto:amsat-bb-boun...@amsat.org] On Behalf Of Andrew Glasbrenner Sent: Friday, August 30, 2013 7:22 AM To: Jeff Moore; amsat-bb Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: High orbit satellites? >On 8/30/2013 1:25 AM, Jeff Moore wrote: >> How about hitting up the new COMMERCIAL launchers like SpaceX?? >> Those guys originated as amateur rocketeers. I would hope that folks have a little more faith in AMSAT leadership as far as exploring opportunities for launches, even if you don't read about every contact or discussion in ANS or QST. SpaceX is Elon Musk's company, who founded PayPal and Tesla Motors as well. He's not an amateur anything; he's one of the most successful businessmen in the world, a real-life Tony Stark. AMSAT-DL has met with Space-X, and this fact has been published in many places (http://amsat.org/pipermail/ans/2010/000378.html). SpaceX rarely launches pure test flights, they normally have paying customers even on first launches. Secondary payloads are handled through Spaceflight Services, and their rates are published at http://spaceflightservices.com/pricing-plans/ . Fifty kg, or about half of what Eagle would have been, to GTO would cost 3 million dollars. Hey! that's only like $1000 per member! P3E, at 150kg, would be closer to 8 million, IF it could be made to fit the space available, and most likely mounted and launched sideways. Opportunities may still be out there to go to HEO, but it's a fairy tale to think that all we have to do is knock on the door and ask. It is also disheartening to see that so many just assume that we aren't trying. 73, Drew KO4MA _______________________________________________ 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 _______________________________________________ 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
