

Amateur Mars Satellite 107
Hobbyspacer writes "The German AMSAT-DL
group recently announced
formal approval of the
Phase 5-A project to send a spacecraft to Mars in the
2007 or 2009 launch window. The spacecraft will use the
same structure as
AO-40 (formerly Phase 3-D) that was launched into earth orbit
in the fall of 2000. Like AO-40 the Mars probe will piggyback on
an Ariane 5 launch and use the same 400 N propulsion system. (I
expect they will solve the problem that caused the
engine misfiring
that nearly destroyed the spacecraft.) The Phase 3-E
project was also approved to follow up AO-40 and to test various techniques and technologies for the Mars mission. The document
P5A-to-Mars!(712k pdf)
describes the technical challenges and possible solutions for
such an ambitious mission. AO-40 cost several million dollars and the Mars probe should cost considerably more, requiring they obtain funds outside of AMSAT members and the ham radio community. The long list, though, of spectacular contributions made by AMSAT to the development of micro sats and space communications gives the program high credibility."
A big leap? (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:A big leap? (Score:2)
AMSAT groups have been putting satellites in space for years now from the tiny and simple to the complex and large (Oscar Phase IIId). It's like the difference between building aircraft and avionics. Boosters and satellites are two completely different animals.
This probe will be on a commercial booster in a series with a well proven track record.
Re:A big leap? (Score:2)
Bruce
Exactly. (Score:1)
Re:A big leap? (Score:2)
Remember that we are talking "amateur" as in "amateur radio," not in the more general context of "non-professional." AMSAT as an organization is concerned with launching satellites for the use of amateur radio operators, not with putting a man in space or a probe on the moon.
I might also point out that the reason why there are no AMSATs in geostationary orbit has more to do with the fact that (useful) geostationary orbital slots are a scarce resource than anything else. AMSAT 3-D was launched into a geosynchronous transfer orbit (presumably as a piggyback on something else going to geosync) but its final orbit is highly elliptical, a useful orbit that is not at all scarce.
-Isaac
Re:At the risk of sounding offtopic... (Score:1)
Re:At the risk of sounding offtopic... (Score:1)
However, I don't see a lot of private capital entering the picture just yet, and I don't see a lot of cooperation betweeen the public and private sector for a while- at least in America. NASA still has some lessons to learn, and the private sector needs to get seriously involved. The ISS seems to be a significant reason for both the unification of involved public space agencies and the continued lack of participation of commercial agents.
Re:hmm (Score:1)
-Karl
Better not use a compass to orientate the lander.. (Score:1)
Re:Better not use a compass to orientate the lande (Score:1)
'nuff said.
how can i sign up? (Score:2)
Re:how can i sign up? (Score:1)
The hippies bother you more than PHB's?
Re:how can i sign up? (Score:2)
At 400% markup or overruns
Re:how can i sign up? (Score:1)
Join AMSAT or send a donation (Score:1)
There are also other national AMSAT organizations [amsat.org] in countries around the world.
Contamination and porly funded projects (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Contamination and porly funded projects (Score:2)
Just use a PC speaker and special software [slashdot.org]
Re:Contamination and porly funded projects (Score:2)
The real problem with contamination would probably be that we'd risk a false-positive on the who alien life thing.
Re:Contamination and porly funded projects (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Contamination and porly funded projects (Score:1)
There are likely no common species between Earth and Mars, so even if the probe is contaminated by any terrestrial bacteria/diseases, they will not be designed to infect or otherwise compromise Martian species. Not to say it would be impossible to kill of Martian life with terrestrial organisms, but just that your analogy is fallacious.
Re:Contamination and porly funded projects (Score:2, Insightful)
Contamination? Howabout colonization? (Score:1)
I'm all for keeping natural environments untouched when there's a clear reason or there's something we're actually protecting...but what would you suggest is being damaged on the Moon or Mars? And, personally, I find the idea of "contaminating" Luna to be ludicrous. We're not talking intelligent life out there, nor are we talking about nutrient-rich environments. We're barely talking atmosphere. The moon (and, it seems, Mars) are about as close to the true definition of "wasteland" as you can get. And, if we kill off the native Martian unicellular organisms, so be it. I want that place to be well on its way to terraforming by the time I head up there with the first wave of manned flights.
Best way to get at that all that locked-up water and use that carbon dioxide atmosphere would be to send some tough bacteria, with some of your basic algaes and lichens to start putting down roots...
Re:Contamination? Howabout colonization? (Score:1)
Re:Contamination? Howabout colonization? (Score:2)
If you nuke a polar cap with CO2, you could get more CO2 in the air. If you nuke a polar cap covered by lichens, you could end up with carbon dust on the poles and CO in the air.
Re:Contamination and porly funded projects (Score:3, Funny)
AMERICAN QUARTER, MARS RESEARCH BASE (MSNAP) -- MSASA researchers have discovered what appears to be a 2012-model German Sony Aibo in a region of Plateau 148 that was previously believed unexplored.
The artificial dog had a spent CO2 cannister strapped to its back and flexible solar panels in place of floppy ears.
"Basically, we're thinking this is probably the work of some amateur who thought it would be fun to illegally land on Mars before we got here," Mars Station Director Johnson said. "We are currently swabbing the dog for fingerprints and have been assured the full cooperation of the German police force in bringing this criminal to justice."
According to initial reports, researchers first thought they had encountered an intelligent extra-terrestrial life form but lost interest when it didn't seem to understand English. A week later, a team carrying a German exchange scientist encountered the Aibo and was able to make it sit up, beg, and sing the Sony Anthem in German.
The minimum penalty for sending your own property to another planet without MSASA permission is 3 years confinement on the roving Lunar Prison, which is designed to remain on the dark side of the moon at all times.
"I'd like to remind everyone," Director Johnson said, "that you can't go around sending things to other planets. This isn't a joke. Leave this serious business of interplanetary travel to the professionals."
Re:Contamination and porly funded projects (Score:1)
Re:Contamination and porly funded projects (Score:1)
Re:Contamination and porly funded projects (Score:1)
Circle around the pole (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Circle around the pole (Score:2)
Won't work. Think how to stay out of sunlight on the earth for three years....would staying at the North/South Pole work? Would circling around it work?
Re:Contamination and porly funded projects (Score:2)
But I do remember those pictures of Bdale without the face mask in Kouru. It seems they didn't have one that fit him.
Bruce
Re:Contamination and porly funded projects (Score:1)
contamination on the first lunar lander that
touched down on the Moon on 1967.
Yeah, and look what happened to that lush, green
planet!
Guess I've been an Amateur too long. (Score:2)
73 de NNN0WYZ
challenge beyond Moonbounce, research opportunity (Score:1)
They'll undoubtedly also get some funding from universities who would like to put research payloads on the spacecraft. For example, AMSAT's P3D/AO-40 satellite carried a research payload from NASA (to map GPS reception from above the GPS satellites.) since it was going into a highly-elliptical "Molniya" orbit that NASA didn't have any birds in.
Re:challenge beyond Moonbounce, research opportuni (Score:1)
Somehow, talking via a satellite around Mars seems like that, cubed. Count me out. I was into this to learn electronics, and to meet new people, not to prove that I have the most disposable income.
Re:challenge beyond Moonbounce, research opportuni (Score:1)
of the Mars Cup [acutally, it is the Elser-Mathes
Cup]?
Actually heats up the race!
Advertising? (Score:1)
<Power to The User> [dnsart.com]
Then again, they would probably misfire, and I would be out $20, unless they refund donations.
Re:Ariane 5? (Score:1)
Re:Ariane 5? (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:A COMPARISON OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS (Score:2)
Americans: You Invented Rap Music and Carjacking
Re:A COMPARISON OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS (Score:2)
Re:Computers invented to decode the Enigma code (Score:2)
Imperial vs. Metric (Score:1)
Here's hoping that they don't mix up Kilometers with Miles.
Re:Imperial vs. Metric (Score:1)
-Karl
What's Next (Score:1)
Amature brain surgery?
Re:What's Next (Score:1)
Amateur != neophyte (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Amateur != neophyte (Score:2)
And to add fuel to the fire - by definition all new ideas are proposed by amateurs. It's only after things have setteled down, do the professionals stands atop the pioneers and pronouce themselves clever.
Re:Amateur != neophyte (Score:2)
But hey, if you like the stuipd, lazy and criminal - then keep at it. You're doing a pretty good job at the first.
As for over-breeders beeing in 'need' - thats false. They are gready to over-breed and expect everybody else to pay the bill.
This will really piss you off - I *enjoy* giving money to Planned Parenthood. I know every doller I spend will save me money in the long run.
You posted AC because the label fit.
Re:Amateur != neophyte (Score:1)
Chomsky has some well founded ideas about many things, but from an academic perspective not a personal one and that is where he fails. Like descarte before him he should of spent his days concentrating on listening to others' common sense before he donned the intellectual cap.
Re:Amateur != neophyte (Score:2)
Once the little vermen are in the world - I do think we should shower them with education, prosperity and opertunity. It's the only chance we have to stop the cycle of stupidity, squalor and greed.
Re:Amateur != neophyte (Score:1)
Re:Amateur != neophyte (Score:2)
Unfortunaly, it's easier to colonise the open seas than space right now - hopefully things will change soon. Working fusion reactors would help a lot right now..
Re:Amateur != neophyte (Score:1)
Re:Amateur != neophyte (Score:2)
Well, thats easy! We just set up giant pits filled with spikes - put a few signs around stating "Warning, Giant Pit Filled With Spikes. Stay Away!"
All rational people will take a look, shrug, and back away - the stupid will, of course, fall in.
Re:Amateur != neophyte (Score:1)
All rational people will take a look, shrug, and back away - the stupid will, of course, fall in. ;)
I came up with another method, a reverse lottery: you go to the convenience store, and stick your hand in a machine that most likely will give you two dollars, but there's a one in 100,000 chance it will electrocute you to death on the spot.
We'd soon have a pile of dead stupid people, all for only $200,000 each!
Re:Amateur != neophyte (Score:2)
Re:Amateur != neophyte (Score:1)
Regards, Ulli
AMSAT going to mars?! (Score:1)
73 DE KE6ISF
Calling Mars... (Score:3, Funny)
"Mars is on the other side of the Sun, wait a few months"
"I'm working the bounce off Saturn."
"Oh. Any luck?"
"Won't know until morning. Light speed delay."
Finally win the ARRL cup for QSO with mars? (Score:1)
at ARRL HQ for the first QSO with mars will
finally be awarded to someone?