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ZL2VAL > SAT 21.02.04 23:42l 80 Lines 4342 Bytes #999 (0) @ AMSAT
BID : ANS-053.01
Read: GUEST
Subj: President's February Letter
Path: DB0FHN<DB0RGB<DB0AAB<F6KFT<F6KMO<ON0AR<ON0AR<ZL2BAU<ZL2BAU<ZL1AB<
ZL2AB
Sent: 040221/2125Z @:ZL2AB.#46.NZL.OC #:36361 [New Plymouth] FBB7.00g $:ANS-053
From: ZL2VAL@ZL2AB.#46.NZL.OC
To : SAT@AMSAT
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 053.01 From AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD. February 22, 2004
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-053.01
To All members,
I was disappointed to learn of the additional delay in the ECHO launch, as
you are aware we had hoped that ECHO would be launched last fall, then we
learnt that it would be this Spring, and now it appears to bet his Summer
with the launch window starting on June 29th.
In the fall I pointed out that we could take advantage of the delay by
allowing AMSAT some extra time for integration and testing, and to a much
lesser degree this could still be true, let us hope that this will be the
last delay. I should point out that none of these delays have been at the
request of AMSAT, I am informed that the latest delay is due to a delay in
the primary payload, we are a long way down the list from the primary, so
we have to take what we can get, but the price is right.
Talking of Price, the latest information I have on the "ECHO Launch
Campaign Fund" advises me that we have $57,750 or over 52% of our goal, I
note that there are people who would like to give to EAGLE as well as ECHO,
and I am instructing the appropriate Officers to open a "thermometer" on
the web page to show the funds collected for the design and construction
phases of EAGLE so that you may all see the goals we have to meet and the
challenges in front of us as well as the progress made.
This "EAGLE thermometer" will start with an initial goal of $600,000 a
figure to be confirmed and possibly increased following Eagle design
meetings, it does not include the launch cost which is at the present
unknown and needs to be determined, but almost certainly it will exceed
another $600,000 and possibly be as high as .... well your guess is as good
as mine, but you can be sure we will be working to reduce it to a minimum.
HEO is an expensive proposition for launch.
As we have attempted to do throughout the development of ECHO, we will
continue to do with EAGLE, that is, to try and keep you informed of the
progress in design, development, construction and testing of the satellite
and as soon as we have a launch available as many details as possible will
be made available. Eagle will be an "Open Project" allowing full access to
the details wherever possible. Note I did not say completely full access as
there may be cases where it is prudent to spend you money on a proprietary
item at a lower cost than to develop an equivalent but new device, AMSAT
may not have access to the full details of the proprietary item or may be
legally bound not to disclose the technical details. "What are those
items?" you may ask ... right now I do not know, but I would be surprised
if some do not show up.
Recently there has been a discussion on AMSAT-BB about the AMSAT
leadership, our lack of attention to the -BB and how we spend money. The
Leadership of AMSAT constantly keeps in touch with the membership, and
spends a great deal of time doing so. Many members choose to E-mail us
directly asking good questions and getting the answers. The membership
also consists of many people who read the -bb and do not participate on it.
Your board and executives have received many E-mails of support from these
people over the last two weeks or so for which we thank them.
What is the purpose of -BB? It is there firstly for the use of the
membership to exchange technical information and to ask technical questions.
Secondly it is there to ask other non-technical questions regarding
Satellite operations, licensing, regulations etc.
Thirdly it can be used to trade ideas for future satellites and influence
AMSAT future policy in this regard. There are three good ways to use -BB
and I am sure you can think of more constructive items.
Let us get out of the negative thinking modes, for if you want the BoD and
Officers to read the BB on a regular basis, then let's make it a
constructive exercise. I realize that these thoughts only apply to a small
minority of the membership and quite often to non-members.
My best regards to you all - it's nearly spring..
[ANS thanks Robin, VE3FRH, for the above information.]
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