The truth is that from a monetary standpoint a 3U cubesat to HEO is likely in the realm of being affordable. However, the technology available at this time does not allow us to reliably make a HEO 3U cubesat but that doesn't mean that years down the road we will get to that point. Look at computers, they used to be the size of rooms now a computer much faster than some of the first supercomputers fits in your pocket.
*This of course assumes that the launch industry remains the same with the use of expendable vehicles.* The launch industry at the moment is like buying a plane ticket and when you get to your destination you scrap the airplane. It's wasteful and costly. Vertical takeoff and vertical landing technology is on the fringe of happening with companies like SpaceX (Disclaimer, I can't speak for SpaceX this is personal opinion). Check out the Grasshopper divert video<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2t15vP1PyoA>which shows the Grasshopper test platform horizontally moving during flight. The end goal is to land all stages of Falcon 9 back on land<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSF81yjVbJE>, minimal refurbishment, refueling, and launch. Fuel costs are negligible compared to the vehicle costs. While many near billion dollar satellites may not mind spending a few hundred million dollars on a launch and forgo a used vehicle (until reliability is proven) organizations like AMSAT would likely jump on an opportunity of a low cost used rocket :D. Low cost launches on reusable rockets will ideally be happening well within your lifetime :D Bryce KB1LQC On Thu, Sep 19, 2013 at 2:06 PM, Michael <mat...@charter.net> wrote: > I said this a couple of weeks back but since reading all the responses in > this thread, I think I'll say it again. I'm almost fifty one years old. I > highly doubt that I will ever see an HEO bird launched in my remaining > lifetime. The economic realities of this day and time make the possibility > of a launch extremely remote and I don't see that changing in the near > future. I can't understand why AMSAT continues to string people along with > promises of "maybe someday if you donate". Why can't they just be upfront > about it and tell people, " Hey it aint going to happen". There is > absolutely nothing wrong with the new direction AMSAT has taken in pursuing > cubesat technology and launches, I applaud them for it but the continued > lip service to the " we want an HEO crowd" gets old. I for one am not > that gullible. Quit telling people what they want to hear and tell them the > truth. > 73, > Michael, W4HIJ > > On 9/17/2013 7:02 PM, i8cvs wrote: > >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "John Becker" <w0...@big-river.net> >> To: <amsat-bb@amsat.org> >> Sent: Tuesday, September 17, 2013 8:58 PM >> Subject: [amsat-bb] so long >> >> I have decided to leave the list till something changes with this FM >>> only satellite attitude only changes. That was the reason for me as >>> well as other joining AMSAT in the first place. >>> >>> Please inform me if anything such as a replacement for AO 40 >>> happens. >>> >>> John >>> >>> Hi John,W0JAB >> >> I was AMSAT member numbar 798 since OSCAR-6 but I decided >> to live my membership after AO40 died because AMSAT changed >> his policy with only FM satellites. >> >> I remember that OSCAR-10,OSCAR13 and AO40 where called >> "the satellites for all" and I invested a lot of money for equipments >> and antennas dedicated for HEO satellites for nothing in the near >> future. >> >> In my opinion the satellite operation is not only an activity to collect >> grids but it is mostly experimentation in the VHF/UHF/SHF and >> particularly into microwave as it was with AO40 Mode-S/K and >> it was very nice until lasted. >> >> As soon AMSAT-NA will work or cooperate with AMSAT-DL >> to built a new HEO satellite I will call Martha and I will pay all >> my old duties to cover my previous not covered years of >> membership. >> >> By the way I am not against AMSAT-NA because I understand >> the ITAR and during the last 10 years I have cooperate to write >> many technical articles for the AMSAT Journal without any >> money reward. >> >> If Martha says that the actual AMSAT members are in the order >> of 3,000. and if Les Rayburn, N1LF claim to be member of >> AMSAT #38965 it means that in the last 10 years many >> members abandoned AMSAT because of no future with no >> HEO satellites and only the FM LEO cubesat for no two >> ways communications between continents was not a >> satisfactory task. >> >> Many years ago early in 1972 I joined AMSAT because they >> promised us to communicate worlwide much better than using >> the HF but things changed and our antennas are becaming >> rusty over the roof for very small or for nothing........Sorry ! >> >> 73" de i8CVS Domenico >> >> >> ______________________________**_________________ >> >> > ______________________________**_________________ > 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<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
