Wednesday, March 2, 2022

Supply Chain Issues Prompt Amateur Satellite Delay

AMSAT has withdrawn its GOLF-TEE (Greater Orbit, Larger Footprint-Technology Exploration Environment) satellite from the manifest for NASA's ELaNa-46 educational satellite launch mission, citing Covid-related restrictions and supply chain disruptions. 

GOLF-TEE had been selected to participate in NASA's CubeSat Launch Initiative program, according to the ARRL Letter, for a launch scheduled for sometime this year. The GOLF program is a key part of AMSAT's plans to high-altitude, elliptical-orbit, satellites that cover greater distances and are "in view" for longer periods than the current generation of low-Earth orbit (LEO) "easysats."