The bidding begins January 21 on a handsome original sculpture of the AO-40 satellite as AMSAT-NA auctions off the work of art on eBay to help fund the AMSAT-OSCAR ECHO (AO-ECHO) satellite launch campaign. The auction will run for 10 days, and the winning bid will be recognized as a donation to the launch campaign.
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\n“This bronze is one of only four pieces, created by long time AMSAT member Floyd Thorn, N5SVP, now a Silent Key,” said AMSAT Marketing Manager Jim Jarvis, N2EA. “It has been donated to AMSAT by his family to support the AO-ECHO launch campaign.”<\/p>\n
Jarvis said the sculpture measures 11×4 inches and weighs just over a pound. The wooden base bears a brass plaque with the sculptor’s name and call sign. Visit the AMSAT-NA Web site http:\/\/www.amsat.org <\/a> for details and to link to the auction.<\/p>\n The AO-ECHO fund currently stands at nearly $49,000. AMSAT-NA says it will need $110,000 for the launch–currently scheduled for March 31, although the launch window remains open until May.<\/p>\n