[Ground-station] Haifuraiya Update - Status, JAMSAT, next steps

[Michelle Thompson]

Thank you to everyone that has written in so far. I'm going to detail a few
more things and propose a direction. I'd like your feedback on this.

There's recommendations to reach out to JARL and JAXA. I don't know anyone
at either organization, but if you do, then your advice is appreciated.
There's recommendations to double down on propulsion. We have spent a lot
more time on propulsion, having secured a solid technical path, enough
funding to machine the parts we need, and a testbed for the communications
synchronization work.

We have tried very hard to serve and collaborate with traditional amateur
radio organizations. We've had a variety of experiences ranging from
insults, exclusion, and threats to apathy to genuine interest and
appreciation. Interest and appreciation are wonderful. However, we need
more than that to get things done.

What's worked much better over the past year or so for ORI is conversations
and progress with commercial companies. This is somewhat non-intuitive,
since we're a non-profit and started out entirely devoted to the amateur
satellite service. However, we have had multiple good interactions with
commercial, research, and professional organizations.

So, the questions is: shall we put our effort into finding an integrator
from outside ham radio that will work with us?

Specifically, this advice has come from Jan King, was something that both
Wally Ritichie and Franklin Antonio advised, and has been echoed by
multiple companies and organizations that have gotten in touch with us at
the board level for various reasons. We've heard it from several
Universities as well.

Is it time to take this advice seriously?

My view is that we have to complete prototype work in order to be taken
seriously and get into space. The same work can be used terrestrially to
great effect. It directly benefits amateur radio services regardless of how
much or little support traditional organizations give.

If you want to see this succeed, then contribute what you can. Contribute
technically. Contribute financially. Give your perspective on how to "tune
up" our overall strategy. The starting page is here:
https://www.openresearch.institute/getting-started/ please share it with
people that you think would be interested.

Thank you to everyone supporting what we do - we wouldn't be able to get
the point of having to have these discussions without your help.

-Michelle Thompson




On Sat, Jan 28, 2023 at 10:18 AM Michelle Thompson <
mountain.michelle at gmail.com> wrote:

> Greetings all!
>
> Here's an update about Haifuraiya, the world's first open source HEO/GEO
> communications satellite design.
>
> Progress is good on communications and propulsion. If you're on our Slack,
> please join the #haifuraiya channels. You'll also see activity from #fpga
> and #general
>
> I assume you've seen the presentation from QSO Ham Expo about this project?
>
> If not, then: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqnovpV2fww
>
> The repository with the high level summary work is here:
> https://github.com/phase4ground/documents/tree/master/Papers_Articles_Presentations/Slide_Presentations/haifuraiya
>
> This project was presented to AMSAT-NA in 2014. It was not received well
> at all.
>
> ORI revived this proposal, as we believed it had been unfairly overlooked
> given the progress we'd made on the regulatory side, and we presented it to
> JAMSAT in late 2022.
>
> In November 2022, the project proposal was translated to the JAMSAT
> Journal so the members could review it. The project was presented at
> JAMSAT's monthly web meeting (on Zoom). This presentation was made to QSO
> Today Ham Expo as well, with very positive feedback and great reviews.
>
> We have the use of a patent, that we have permission to open source, for
> the propulsion technology. We have a pledge of 50,000 USD if an "operating"
> organization will collaborate. We have dozens of technical volunteers ready
> to work. We have demonstrated multiple sections of the design. We have
> solved the regulatory problems that have prevented this work from happening
> since the 1980s in the US.
>
> Despite all of this, the board of directors of JAMSAT considered the
> project, and has decided "no". They did not approve the project as a JAMSAT
> effort. The members were not interested in the project.
>
> We thank JAMSAT for their consideration. JAMSAT published ORI work. They
> presented it to their membership. It has been talked about at the board of
> directors level. This is much more than we've seen from any other AMSAT
> organization. In other cases, ORI work has been excluded. JAMSAT did not do
> this.
>
> No one from ORI was invited to the JAMSAT board discussions, but I have to
> assume these discussions were done with care. I believe that they
> understand all the work we have done to date. They simply do not have
> people available. The lack of technical volunteers at JAMSAT was brought up
> with me as a concern multiple times. I did all I could to assure JAMSAT
> that we have a lot of technical volunteers, and that we would get a lot
> more - from Japan - if they accepted the proposal. I agreed to a Japanese
> project manager and accepted all conditions.
>
> I think we should look for other groups in Japan that might want to work
> with us to get a HEO or GEO that would serve Japan. If you are in this area
> of the world, and can put us in touch with an integrator, university, or
> another amateur satellite group, please do! We are dedicated to getting
> satellite work done and really just need willing partners.
>
> If you're unfamiliar with the overall approach, ORI met with the FCC to
> spell this out. The ex parte filing about this can be found here:
>
>
> https://github.com/phase4ground/documents/blob/master/Regulatory/MVP_FCC_Presentation/Open%20Research%20Institute%20Minimum%20Viable%20Product%20Amateur%20Radio%20Satellite%20Service.pdf
>
> Thank you to everyone that has helped Haifuraiya to date - especially Jan
> King for all he's contributed towards this effort.
>
> We're also looking towards local integrators in San Diego, CA area, and
> the cubesat community through DEFCON. If you can help with any of this
> outreach and support, then please get in touch.
>
> -Michelle Thompson
> +1 858 229 3399
>
>
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