At 10:11 AM 9/15/2007, Ransom, Kenneth G. (JSC-OC)[BAR] wrote:
We have this sort of discussion every year before field day. ARRL permits contacts VIA the ISS for credit as a satellite but does not count contacts TO the ISS crew for credit (though many are made just for fun).
Since the ISS is a unique situation (currently being the only manned satellite with amateur radio gear), the ARRL has some conflicting rules to deal with. It is a satellite so contacts via it should be legitimate. It is a manned craft not in contact with the Earth so it does not count for contacts just like an aeronautical mobile contact does not count.
I personally do not think having the ISS declared a DXCC entity is a good idea. The crew would be overwhelmed when on and the ISS is not a permanent installation.
On the other hand, what do you think the ARRL will do with manned amateur radio locations on the moon?
Kenneth - N5VHO
Ken,
In my opinion astronaut contacts at ISS should be regarded as satellite contacts. But then ISS and shuttle contacts are so unique they deserve their own recognition and a QSL from them is certainly one. I suppose a WWAS (worked all space shuttles) or WAA (worked all astronauts) might be considered? But we already had a space-race so do not need to repeat that with ham contacts :-)
Regarding Moon contacts I would suppose the Moon would be set up with grids like earth, so each grid would suffice (exploration of the lunar landscape will probably dictate some demarcation scheme). I would guess that off-world radio contacts would not be included into the DXCC for the same reason as ISS. But as the Moon and planets are populated an ETDXCC would evolve. Of course this already exists as an award from the SETI-League.
73, Ed - KL7UW ====================================== BP40IQ 50-MHz - 10-GHz www.kl7uw.com 144-EME: FT-847, mgf-1801, 4x-xpol-20, 185w DUBUS Magazine USA Rep dubususa@hotmail.com ======================================