ARISS NEWS RELEASE

no. 17-05

March 8, 2017

David Jordan, AA4KN

ARISS PR

aa4kn@amsat.org

Frank Bauer, KA3HDO

2017 Dayton Amateur of the Year Winner

The Dayton Hamvention has selected ARISS International Chair, Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, for its top award, Amateur of the Year for 2017. Each year, Hamvention recognizes radio amateurs known for making major contributions to the art and science of amateur radio, and it's no surprise why Bauer was chosen. A few things from his lengthy list of achievements follow.

In 1995, Bauer proposed an experiment for the AMSAT Phase 3D satellite (AO-40) to measure the strength of the signal from the GPS satellite constellation. For years after, the aerospace industry cited this experiment because the results helped engineers improve the GPS system, led to new applications for GPS, and changed navigation at High-Earth Orbit (HEO) and Geosynchronous Orbit (GEO) altitudes, allowing new missions to operate in these orbits.

Prior to NASA astronaut Owen Garriott, W5LFL, flying in space and taking along ham radio in 1983, Bauer came up with a plan for, and helped set up and operate, the worldwide retransmission of space shuttle air-to-ground communications by the Goddard Amateur Radio Club station, WA3NAN (now K6DUE). Tens of thousands of hams enjoyed listening to most every shuttle mission's astronaut communications, and amateurs used these to help them make ham contacts with crewmembers who had their amateur licenses. Bauer's work with this system also let to his becoming part of the SAREX (Shuttle Amateur Radio EXperiment) team.

Bauer attended Purdue University where he earned its prestigious bachelor's degree and master's degree in aeronautics and astronautics. This led to a long and full career with NASA followed by a move to the private aerospace industry. He earned his amateur radio license in 1974, and has been the AMSAT-NA Vice President for Human Spaceflight for many years.

What Bauer has spent, and now spends, the most time and energy on is the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) program. He helped set up the very first meeting of worldwide volunteers at NASA's behest in 1996, working as AMSAT's representative, alongside Rosalie White, K1STO as ARRL's representative. People from the world's AMSAT societies and IARU organizations answered their calls to attend the meeting at NASA Johnson Space center in Houston, and the rest is history--20 years of growing ARISS into how it is today...still growing!

White wrote, "Frank didn't just think about where amateur radio in space should be; he always thought about where it was headed--he still does. His multi-faceted background and experience in aerospace, NASA, and amateur radio is the ideal combination resulting in effectively spearheading the ARISS team in offering to hams, students, and the general public, ARISS success after ARISS success."

Very hearty congratulations from the ARISS team to Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, on his new title, Dayton Hamvention 2017 Amateur of the Year!

About ARISS

Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) is a cooperative venture of international amateur radio societies and the space agencies that support the International Space Station (ISS). In the United States, sponsors are the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT), the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The primary goal of ARISS is to promote exploration of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) topics by organizing scheduled contacts via amateur radio between crew members aboard the ISS and students in classrooms or informal education venues. With the help of experienced amateur radio volunteers, ISS crews speak directly with large audiences in a variety of public forums. Before and during these radio contacts, students, teachers, parents, and communities learn about space, space technologies, and amateur radio. For more information, see www.ariss.org, www.amsat.org, and www.arrl.org.

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Contact:

David Jordan, AA4KN

ARISS PR

aa4kn@amsat.org

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