AMSAT-DL was the lead for phase 3 because they were able to get almost-free
launches from ESA. However, ESA terminated that policy 10 years ago and
AMSAT-DL has been trying to get government funding through their Mars
program. That was rejected a year or two ago. Private launch companies are
asking for $8,000,000..The world-wide fund raising by AMSAT-DL, AMSAT-UK,
AMSAT-NA, AMSAT-Japan, ARRL and RSGB for each of the phase 3 launches
acheived less than 10% of what is now required for a launch.
In the past, a launch opportunity was identified by ESA and then a satellite
was built by AMSAT. P3E did the reverse -- building a satellite and hoping
for a launch. I brought up AMSAT-DL because someone was complaining that
AMSAT-NA was leading them on about HEO possibilities. They should review
videos of the AMSAT-DL presentations at the annual AMSAT-UK meetings.
AMSAT-NA has been much more realistic.
73,
John
KD6OZH
----- Original Message -----
From: "Rob" <pabut...@gmail.com>
To: <amsat-bb@amsat.org>
Sent: Friday, September 20, 2013 12:34 UTC
Subject: [amsat-bb] Phase 3
Wait .... wasn't AMSAT-DL always the lead when it came to Phase-3
satellites ???
Also, AMSAT-DL has a platform already constructed awaiting launch
opportunity.
http://amsat-uk.org/2013/02/25/the-next-amsat-phase-3-satellite/
Issues with ITAR aside, why can't we just support our international
partners ... somehow ... ???
Getting an amateur radio satellite into orbit costs real green dollars
(Euros, GBP, whatever) we would do better pooling resources for the good
of
all.
There are all kinds of players in the launch market these days .... US,
ESA, Russia, China, Japan, India .... and a lot of up and coming private
launch vendors .... call me naive but I think conditions are BETTER now
(ITAR aside) than they were in the days of AO-10 ....
Why can't we focus on the possibilities .... ????
de KA2PBT
On Fri, Sep 20, 2013 at 2:30 AM, John Stephensen <kd6...@comcast.net>
wrote:
AMSAT-NA abandoned the Eagle project years ago. Only AMSAT-DL has an
"active" HEO project. with P3E.
73,
John
KD6OZH
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_______________________________________________
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