AMSAT's Fox-1Cliff Satellite Launched, Initial Telemetry Received

It's always great to make a QSO.

Are you and/or your daughter aware of the Nat Geo cable channel series titled "MARS"? It was produced by and for Elon Musk as a sort of docu-drama interleaving a futuristic story with today's science as background, and a big dose of infomercial image ad for SpaceX.

In particular I think you both would at least enjoy watching the introductory prequel episode, available on You Tube, titled "Before MARS" It tells the story of the two main characters, young girls who, get this, are inspired to become astronauts because of ... amateur radio and the ARISS. It's a quite touching story, reminds me of your own.

It also makes me feel that Musk is very aware of amateur radio / amateur radio sats, but perhaps not cognizant of all of their potential, not just technically, but socially and in regards to public-relations.

Not at all obsessed. Just concerned that AMSAT-NA is not viable or even sustainable in the longer term. AMSAT seems somewhat aware of that too, has implied that memberships and associated internal contributions are not enough, future missions will require financial support from elsewhere as well. Realize that merging doesn't at all have to mean disappear.

 

Well its been awhile. LEO sat interest waxes and wanes for me. I grow bored with the limitations quickly. Hostility toward just asking fair questions online isn't helping restore gumption either.

The WX being so nice now here I may drag out the Arrow and rig up the HT and/or FT-817 and try playing a bit. Hope to run into you and/or your YL.

My first sat QSO was back at least 25 years ago, one of the many Radio Sputniks, perhaps RS-15 which I recently still heard on 10m.

I was active again about 10 years ago. Here is a sample from my log, you might recognize some of the call signs.

Call Date Time Mode
N5AFE 20051030 2300 FM
W6GMT 20051030 2300 FM
W8SH 20051031 120 FM
KC8ZFN 20051106 2120 FM
VE3OSC 20051106 2120 FM
VO1ONE 20051110 146 USB
W2NBJ 20051110 146 USB
KA4KYI 20051111 2215 FM
W7JPI 20051111 2218 FM
WB3JVD 20051111 2219 FM
K6IA 20051114 2230 FM
K7MT 20051114 2230 FM
KG7EZ 20051114 2230 FM
N5AFE 20051114 2230 FM
VA3HY 20051114 2230 FM
W5QAP 20051114 2230 FM
KI4GVB 20051115 2200 FM
W0SAT 20051115 2200 FM
K5HGH 20051125 400 FM
KD5MSS 20051125 400 FM
VE4NSA 20051125 400 FM
W8EH 20051125 1544 FM
K8ZZU 20051125 1545 FM
N5AFV 20051125 1545 FM
VE3ELB 20051125 1545 FM
W5RVB 20051125 1545 FM
W7JPI 20051125 1545 FM
WT0A 20051125 1545 FM
KE5FGC 20051125 2220 FM
W6GMT 20051125 2227 FM
K4CMS 20060227 2115 FM
W0SAT 20060227 2115 FM
NA1SS 20060322 2206 FM
N9RXM 20061218 328 USB
WA4KFZ 20061218 328 USB
N9RXM 20061218 328 USB
WA4KFZ 20061218 328 USB

 

Have you stopped to consider that your original question came across to everyone else as terse? That the accompanying statement was so pointed and direct to, dare I say, come across as accusatory? And that as a result maybe you got back what you put out?

For someone so concerned about AMSAT's public perception, you don't appear to take much responsibility about your own. Based on this statement and the things you've said in this thread... you come across like some sort of self appointed watch dog for the general ham public and go on to claim the role of savior for the future of AMSAT. And all because someone made a one line, loosely worded, generalized request for donations and didn't phrase it to your liking???

Dude, maybe you need to get a reality check. You get what you give... If you feel like any responses to you were unfriendly, maybe you should consider that possibly it's because you EXPECTED that... (maybe even, what you were looking for?) Just consider what you said to me in response to what I considered to be friendly (albeit slightly defensive, given what I was responding to) attempt to 'frame' the issues involved:

So, yeah...who has an unfriendly tone? How about instead you could have politely disagreed and then made an attempt to discuss? (as opposed to just informing all of how incorrect they are) I mean come on, any reasonable person has to admit... pointed questions, hostile to all responses, demanding answers... This is why my response to that statement was that you seemed to be picking a fight. I stand by that assessment. You could have re-evaluated how you were being perceived, backed up (and apologized?), then reworded your original inquires. But, no... you go ahead and make derogatory statements about the people that are simply taking the time to try and respond to you (a considerate act, not the furtherance of a conspiracy). And thereby become the one that is, if not out creating, at least furthering the hostile character of the exchange. In short, you really need to take responsibility for your own dominate part in creating that 'not friendly tone' instead of dumping it on everyone else.


I believe the younger internet generation (I'm not that old, but I started out programming on mainframes and then installing PCs running CP/M systems) would refer to what you are doing as trolling... So in that vain, as is proffered widely as the only sensible response to such activity, I will be making use of the QRZ 'ignore' feature and paying this/you no more attention. (If things continues, I encourage all others to do same.) But I think I will indulge myself by taking one last parting shot sourced from an earlier generation...



(Hey, could be worse... I could have gone with 'Eat my shorts'.)

 

In my first posts I clearly began and ended with "Please" and "Thanks in advance".

If you want to really see "terse" try seriously making the solicitation posed in the OP to someone capable of and considering making a large donation, or worse, their representative lawyer or banker.

For the rest I will just repeat again - fanatical responses, irrelevant to the fair questions, deserve to get called out for how they may appear, and are not worthy nor conducive to furthering the cause they allege to represent.

LLAP OM - 73, John, WØPV

 

Whatever you say, Sheldon...

 

A good BAZINGA !!!

Doesn't help AMSAT-NA membership look attractive

 

It looks plenty attractive to me and to thousands of others that want to help keep amateur radio in space. I think you are just trolling and, by doing so, harming efforts of AMSAT-NA. I'll say it again, become a paid member and vote for the leadership/change you would like to see. Otherwise, your complaints don't mean a thing. Cheers!

 

Thank you, Jeff. I'll go one step further and then I'm done with this thread permanently. I've got much better things to do.

The big "win" for amateur radio space enthusiasts is when volunteering brings ideas to fruition through action - not words.

Is AMSAT a perfect organization? Absolutely not! Opportunities abound for volunteers to contribute their time and talents helping AMSAT become a better organization.

I'll close on this point: Forum and social media posts are not where the real work is done.

 

During the next steps of commissioning we discovered an anomaly with her receive capability. After a few days of tests, analysis, and discussion, it appears that Fox-1Cliff/AO-95 will not be commissioned as our fourth Fox-1 amateur radio satellite.

 

Details?

 

https://www.amsat.org/fox-1cliff-ao-95-commissioning-status/

 

Sad to see that. Despite apparent misunderstanding or disagreements between my thoughts and some of its members and/or its management, I still have best wishes for AMSAT in recognizing its problems and providing solutions.

73, John, WØPV

 

WHAT ARE THEY TRYING TO HIDE??!!?! They must give us all information immediately! /sarcasm

 

I forgot to add the: "It's all just a moneymaking scam to line their own pockets! They're trying to destroy Amateur Radio!"

 

Is there some reason the radio frequency info is being kept secret on this site?