Yes, we are all disappointed that the deployment of ARISSat-1 has been delayed - in direct violation of handshakes and written agreements.
But that does not mean that we should ignore the historical event that April 12 is bringing us: the 50th anniversary of Yuri Gagarin's space walk. This is an opportunity for us. I have signed up with one organization to throw a little party at my house ... http://tinyurl.com/YURI-K6LCS We'll have exclusive videos to share with attendees (even one from Bill Nye, the Science Guy!), history to relate, and a tentative pass of the ISS here in Southern California at 9:41PM on the 12th to hopefully monitor ARISSat-1. The YurisNight.net people ( http://yurisnight.net/partylist/?partyid=1381 ) have put together quite a Web site. "We" can learn a lot by perusing their promotional materials and press/media releases. I would love for us to be thinking along the same lines for our future satellite announcements and launches. There's not a huge cost involved to put together such media alerts and promotional pieces. We DO have professional public relations people among us. As I read through the Sponsorship Kit and Media Kit on YurisNight.net, I envisioned how such materials would benefit AMSAT and our cause ... Our friends across the pond have put together another great Yuri resource - http://www.yurigagarin50.org/ SO, at least in the Bradford household in Mira Loma CA US, we are CELEBRATING on April 12. I will be sending my local newspapers a media alert on the ARISSat-1 project and Yuri's anniversary (one newspaper will print it - the other is a 50/50 proposition). I am using the date to promote AMSAT and ARISSat-1. There will be live video from our back yard transmitted to the planet via UStream if we are able to hear ARISSat-1 that evening. We ALL can "use" this date to promote everything we're here for: AMSAT, amateur radio, and the future of manned space travel. Clint Bradford, K6LCS 909-241-7666 http://www.work-sat.com _______________________________________________ Sent via [email protected]. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
