06/03/2020
AMSAT says the aim of its developing "Greater Orbit, Larger Footprint" (GOLF[1]) satellite program is to place amateur radio transponders in low-Earth orbit (LEO), medium-Earth orbit (MEO), and eventually high-Earth orbit (HEO).
"The goal of the GOLF program is to work by steps through a series of increasingly capable spacecraft to learn skills and systems for which we do not yet have any low-risk experience. Among these are active attitude control, deployable/steerable solar panels, radiation tolerance for commercial off-the-shelf components in higher orbits, and propulsion," AMSAT explains. "The first step is to be one or more LEO satellites similar to the existing AO-91 and AO-92, but with technologies needed for higher orbits.�With proven technologies, an interim high LEO or MEO satellite would follow on."
AMSAT says the eventual goal is an HEO satellite similar to AO-10, AO-13, and AO-40, "but at a currently affordable cost combined with significantly enhanced capabilities, which, in turn, will allow the use of much less complex ground stations."
[1]
http://www.amsat.org/greater-orbit-larger-footprint-an-introduction-to-the-amsat-golf-program/
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