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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>All,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>In the past weeks and especially the past days AMSAT’s
engineering department has experienced some difficult times. Some might even
call it a meltdown. However, the majority of the active volunteers have just
been awaiting guidance and direction so I would like to provide a first glimmer
of that now. At the present time I am acting VP Engineering. In that role I
will be the team leader of all active teams and I will be the arbiter of the guidance
provided to engineering by the Board. I am generally accessible because I work
from home so anyone who would like to speak directly with me can call
410-987-7835 day or early evening Eastern Time.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>I want to thank Bob McGwier N4HY for his service as VP Engineering. He
single handedly revitalized the department and brought on many new high quality
volunteers to work on AMSAT new vision. He has also been the genesis of new
concepts like the use of software defined radio concepts as the basis for our
new high performance linear transponder design (SDX) and for the implementation
of a better HELAPS transmitter design using modern digital techniques to
control its linearity. Fortunately Bob is staying actively involved in AMSAT
and in our engineering efforts. He will be a key asset as we continue our march
toward achieving AMSAT Mission and Vision.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Attached is an advanced copy of my Apogee View for the (late) May/Jun
issue that will be in your hands very soon. In it I begin a process of
providing you with information that I hope will give AMSAT and our design teams
a unifying message that will allow everyone to pull together and see how their
efforts fit in the grand plan for AMSAT’s future. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>The path forward for AMSAT requires some refinement so the AMSAT Board
and Senior Officers will be meeting in August to review our vision and
particularly to review our plans for a high orbit satellite. In the mean time,
regardless of what new ideas may be discussed on our mailing lists, AMSAT is
committed to the path we have undertaken from the beginning to launch one or
more payloads each consisting of one or both of the following payloads:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<ul style='margin-top:0in' type=disc>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>An SDX-based linear
transponder with U and L-band uplinks and V and S1-band downlinks.<o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>An Advanced
Communications Payload that uses modern digital technology to provide, at
a minimum, quality voice and data communications to the Amateur Radio
community using no more than a 60 cm TVRO style dish antenna. Additional
modes and user classes were added by engineering, but this is the minimum acceptable
definition to achieve our mission goals.<o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
</ul>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>I would also like to acknowledge that AMSAT engineering has other
important tasks such as SuitSat-2, software upgrades for AO-51 and the
reconstruction of the AMSAT Lab. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Any changes to fundamental Eagle goals will come from the Board and
Senior Officers team through me as engineering team leader. If anyone would
like to suggest new ideas for consideration you have free access to express
yourself either through your engineering team leader or directly to the members
of the Board and Senior Officers team (see the links at <a
href="http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/AboutAmsat/officers.php">http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/AboutAmsat/officers.php</a>).
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>AMSAT engineering needs some guidance to keep things moving and to
minimize the chances for more destructive conflict. I will be implementing
changes with advice from a presidential advisory commission I have established
and from all of you. It is my intention to come to the West Coast soon to meet
with as many of you as possible. I want to get to know you and have you get to
know me. In the mean time, I hope that those of you doing work on Eagle (SDX
and ACP as well as RF, mechanical, etc.) will either continue working or resume
your work. At this time, all group leaders on the Eagle project are relieved of
their leadership duties. Responsibilities will be refined and particular
emphasis will be placed on interfaces such as the ACP signal in space, and digital
to RF interfaces in SDX and ACP. For example, I would like to see work resumed
on the SDX RF modules (two transmit and two receive modules). I would like a
document written to describe the ACP signal in space to which both the ACP and
the ground station teams will be working. I would like to se RF modules developed
for ACP. If you are working on these or other important elements of Eagle
please let me know who you are and what you are doing. If you would like to
lead an activity please tell me.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Rick<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>W2GPS<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>AMSAT </span>President<o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>410-987-7835<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>
<hr size=2 width="100%" align=center tabindex=-1>
</span></font></div>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma;font-weight:bold'>From:</span></font></b><font size=2
face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'> Rick Hambly
(W2GPS) [mailto:w2gps@cnssys.com] <br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> Tuesday, July 08, 2008 7:16
PM<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> 'bod@amsat.org'<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Cc:</span></b> 'namaste-dev';
'eagle@amsat.org'; 'officers'<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> Engineering</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>All,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>I expect everyone is anxiously awaiting the next chapter in the ongoing
conflicts within AMSAT’s engineering department. I can assure everyone
that AMSAT’s Board and the President are working hard behind the scenes
to get matters resolved quickly so AMSAT can get back on track toward a
successful implementation of our <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Mission</st1:City></st1:place>,
especially the design, construction and launch of a high orbit satellite. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>If anyone has concerns or wishes to express their opinions on this
matter they should call me, preferably during working hours or early evening
(Eastern time) at 410-987-7835 or, if I’m out, on my cell phone at
410-299-2147.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Rick<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>W2GPS<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>AMSAT President<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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