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KP4IG > SAT 21.12.03 05:16l 86 Lines 3588 Bytes #999 (0) @ AMSAT
BID : ANS-355.01
Read: DB0FHN GUEST
Subj: December Presidents' Letter
Path: DB0FHN<DB0FOR<DB0SIF<DB0EA<DB0RES<ON0AR<WB0TAX<KP4IG
Sent: 031221/0307Z @:KP4IG.#JD.PR.USA.NA #:20014 WFBB7.00i $:ANS-355.01
From: KP4IG@KP4IG.#JD.PR.USA.NA
To : SAT@AMSAT
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 355.01 From AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD. December 21, 2003
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-355.01
A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to All AMSAT members around the
world,
What ever your personal religious beliefs may this season bring to you and
your family both Joy and Happiness and may your "Rigs" never fail and always
be
exactly on frequency!
As we enter into 2004 let us consider ourselves lucky that we are members of
one of the most technical amateur groups in this world and that through our
own technical and financial efforts there are a number of satellites waiting
to
be launched in this coming year.
The two satellites that I know are almost ready are our own ECHO and VUsat
from India.
I am pleased to report that from the regular communications I have had over
the last two weeks, ECHO is passing final integration and testing with
flying
colors. Many thanks to the teams who have provided components and also to
Jim
White and Mike Kingery who have recently spent much time integrating and
checking testing etc.
I am looking forward to the end of March when we expect the ECHO launch to
take place, that is only just over three months from now, and we still have
to raise $70,737 for the launch campaign. Remember that if you want to be
able to put your donation against taxes (in the USA) your donation must
reach
Martha, at the AMSAT Office before the first of January.
Don't leave it too late as Martha has some vacation time due!. I hope that
we can reach the 50% or $55K mark by December 25 and $60K by January 1.
VUsat which had some problems in testing, has resolved the nature of the
problems (a filter) and corrections are being made. I understand that a
launch is possible in the late summer or Fall of 2004. Details of the
payloads of both ECHO and VUsat may be found on the AMSAT-NA web page,
(www.amsat.org) and more details of VU sat on the AMSAT-India Web Page.
An exciting year is ahead.
Looking back over the past 12 months, I would like to thank our benefactors,
yes, all of you who have put time, effort or financial help into AMSAT.
Whatever your role, I can tell you that it is very much appreciated. I will
not single out more people as the list would be very long, but in an
organization such as AMSAT membership is really only the first step,
participation in any form is the next, and I might add, very satisfying.
October 2004 will see the completion of my term as President, by then ECHO
should be in Orbit and you should be working it very easily, but let me add
just one word of warning, to re-phrase Yogi Berra " it ain't up and working
till it's up and working". Generally our launches and commissioning has been
excellent, but we, like many other organizations in the Space business, have
had our problems and I hope learnt by them.
To finish this letter where I began, Congratulations to the AMSAT
membership,
you are on the leading edge of technology in many areas. Consider that only
100 years after Wilbur and Orville, there have been 50 OSCARS in orbit, many
successful shuttle flights with Ham Radio on Board plus the RS satellites,
MIR (Ham Radio and SSTV) and now the ISS with ARISS (Phase one and two).
The irony of it is, that we still call ourselves "AMATEURS" can you imagine
any other amateur group making this sort of Achievement? Aren't you proud
to belong? I am !
Seasons Greetings and 73
Robin Haighton VE3FRH
President AMSAT-NA
[ANS thanks Robin Haighton, VE3FRH for the above information]
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