August 2006 - Sarex (INACTIVE)

EXP 13 STATUS REPORT #SS06-39
by Arthur Rowe 25 Aug '06

25 Aug '06

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468 Aug. 25, 2006 Grey Hautaluoma Headquarters, Washington 202-358-4769 James Hartsfield Johnson Space Center, Houston 281-483-5111 STATUS REPORT: SS06-039 INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION STATUS REPORT: SS06-039 With the countdown clock ticking toward the launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis on the STS-115 mission, the International Space Station crew continues to prepare for visitors. Commander Pavel Vinogradov, Flight Engineer, NASA Science Officer Jeff Williams and European Space Agency astronaut Thomas Reiter of Germany are ready for Atlantis to deliver a new section of the station's girder-like truss. Atlantis is set for launch on Sunday, which would result in docking with the station on Tuesday. During Atlantis' mission, astronauts will attach the new P3/P4 truss, a segment that includes a huge new set of solar arrays and a giant rotary joint to allow them to track the sun. To prepare for Atlantis' visit, the station crew members packed items that will be returned to Earth on the shuttle. They also reviewed spacewalk plans, talked with the shuttle crew in a long-distance conference and trained to photograph the shuttle's heat shield as Atlantis does a backflip while approaching the station. Flight controllers tested the operation of a U.S. air scrubbing system in advance. The Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly, or CDRA, was turned on for an extended period to test its capability to remove carbon dioxide from the air. The CDRA augments the Russian air scrubber, Vozdukh, which was turned off during the test. Engineers are continuing to evaluate data from the CDRA operations. The station was raised 2.5 miles by firing the ISS Progress 21 engines Wednesday. The boost places the complex at the optimum position for Atlantis' rendezvous and docking. It also puts the station at the optimum altitude for the launch of the next station resident crew, Expedition 14, from Kazakhstan in September. Williams replaced filters in part of the station's cooling system. The used filters will be returned to Earth for engineering analysis to confirm their success at removing fine particles from water in coolant lines. Williams completed runs of the Dust and Aerosol Measurement Feasibility Test, or DAFT experiment. DAFT is testing the effectiveness of a commercial hand-held air quality monitor called P-Trak that counts ultra-fine dust particles in microgravity. The study provides data that may help in the design of fire detection systems on future spacecraft. Its data also may prove useful for fire detection hardware in extreme environments on Earth, such as submarines or underwater laboratories. The station crew continued with the set-up and check-out of the European Modular Cultivation System (EMCS) that was delivered on STS-121. This experiment system contains a centrifuge that can subject a wide range of small plant and animal experiments to partial gravity conditions. The first experiment that will be performed in EMCS is the Analysis of a Novel Sensory Mechanism in Root Phototropism, called Tropi, which seeks to identify the genes responsible for successful plant growth in microgravity. The experiment studies mustard seeds. Vinogradov and Reiter participated in European Space Agency science experiments that test the cardiovascular system's response to microgravity for long durations. The next station status report will be issued after the STS-115 shuttle mission. The status of the ISS will be included in the twice-daily shuttle mission status reports issued during STS-115. For more about the crew's activities and station sighting opportunities, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/station -end-

1 0

Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2006-08-25 21:00 UTC
by AJ9N＠aol.com 25 Aug '06

25 Aug '06

Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2006-08-25 21:00 UTC Quick list of scheduled contacts and events: Quick list of scheduled contacts and events: Sendai Yoshinari Junior High School, Sendai, Japan, direct via 8J7YJH Fri 2006-08-25 08:12 UTC 36 deg Successful! ARISS is requesting signal reports from this contact. (***) Northeast Middle School, Clarksville, TN via telebridge VK4KHZ Contact is a go for: Mon 2006-08-28 16:00 UTC via VK4KHZ 34 deg (***) See below for webcast and IRLP info. ARISS is requesting signal reports for this contact. (***) Total number of ARISS school contacts is 251. QSL information may be found at: http://www.arrl.org/ARISS/arissfaq.html http://www.rac.ca/ariss/oindex.htm#QSL's ISS callsigns: DP0ISS, NA1SS, RS0ISS ***************************************************************************** The schedule page has been updated as of 2006-08-25 21:00 UTC. Here you will find a listing of all scheduled school contacts and questions, other ISS related websites, IRLP and Echolink websites, and instructions for any contact that may be streamed live. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.txt The successful school list has been updated as of 2006-08-25 19:00 UTC http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/Successful_ARISS_schools.rtf Frequency chart for packet, voice, and crossband repeater modes showing Doppler correction as of 2005-07-29 04:00 UTC http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/ISS_frequencies_and_Doppler_correctio… tf Listing of ARISS related magazine articles as of 2006-07-10 03:30 UTC: http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/ARISS_magazine_articles.rtf ***************************************************************************** There has been a rumor that the ISS was having direct contacts on the 40 meter band. There is no HF radio equipment on board and available yet. The HF antenna is mounted. Sometimes WA3NAN will retransmit shuttle audio. ***************************************************************************** Expedition 13 on orbit Pavel Vinogradov RV3BS Jeff Williams KD5TVQ Expedition 13/14 Thomas Reiter DF4TR Expedition 14 crew: Michael Lopez-Alegria KE5GTK Sunita Williams, KD5PLB Mikhail Tyurin, RZ3FT ***************************************************************************** 73, Charlie Sufana AJ9N One of the ARISS operation team mentors

1 0

ARISS Event - Northeast Middle School, Clarksville, TN, USA, Monday (Aug 28 ) at 15:59 UTC
by Ransom, Kenneth G. (JSC-OC)[BAR] 25 Aug '06

25 Aug '06

An International Space Station Expedition 13 ARISS school contact has been planned with students at Northeast Middle School, Clarksville, TN USA for Monday, 28 Aug, 2006. The event is scheduled to begin at approximately 15:59 UTC. The contact will be a telebridge between stations NA1SS and VK4KHZ . The contact should be audible to anyone in the eastern portions of Australia. Interested parties are invited to listen in on the 145.80 MHz downlink. Additional listening options are listed below. The participants are expected to conduct the conversation in English. IRLP - Connect to the IRLP reflector 9010. You may also connect via the IRLP Discovery website at http://www.discoveryreflector.ca/listen.htm. EchoLink - The audio from this contact will be available on the EchoLink *AMSAT* (node 101 377) and the *JK1ZRW* (node 277 208) conference rooms. Please connect to the *JK1ZRW* server to keep the load light on the *AMSAT* server. This will ensure good audio quality for all listeners. _________________________________ AUDIO STREAMING AND AUDIO REPLAY PARTICIPANT INFORMATION: To join the event: URL: https://e-meetings.mci.com CONFERENCE NUMBER: 4081260 PASSCODE: SPACE STATIO To access the Audio Replay of this call, all parties can: 1. Go to the URL listed above. 2. Choose Audio Streaming under Join Events. 3. Enter the conference number and passcode. (Note that if this is a recurring event, multiple dates may be listed.) Replays are available for 30 days after the live event. _________________________________ Northeast Middle School opened in the fall of 1990 to relieve overcrowding in three existing middle schools and to accommodate the closing of another one. It is located in one of the fastest growing areas of Clarksville, Tennessee, which is the fifth largest city in Tennessee. The school serves grades 6-8, with approximately 1280 students enrolled. It is comprised of 41% military, with 37% of the students having a parent or both parents serving in Iraq at this time. Despite having a large number of students who move in and out each year, Northeast Middle continues to score above the state of Tennessee on state testing. Participants at Northeast Middle School will ask as many of the following questions as time allows: 1. Why did you want to become an astronaut and if you could choose another job what would it be? 2. Do you get lonely when you are there and your family isn't with you? 3. How do you sleep on a bed while floating around? 4. What do you do if you have a medical emergency while you are up there? 5. How can you breathe in the space shuttle or on the space station without wearing a space suit? 6. If the Space Station is International, how many different nationalities are representing their countries and do you all speak one common language? If so, what language is it? 7. What different types of food do you eat on the International Space Station? 8. What would you do if you were outside making repairs and your line broke? 9. How do you talk from space down to the command center on earth? 10. How long will you be staying at the International Space Station? 11. Are the astronauts experimenting on plant survival rates at the space station? 12. What is going through your mind when you are in space? 13. How important is being physically fit in a weightless environment? 14. Are you at zero gravity the whole time you are up there or do you experience some gravity? 15. How do you eat in space without having gravity? 16. What is the maximum time limit you could stay at the International Space Station before you started having medical problems or muscle weakness? 17. Is it difficult to use the restroom on the International Space Station? 18. Is it scary to you when you're coming in for a landing? 19. What are the most important safety precautions used on the Space Station? 20. What type of research will you be doing at the Space Station? Please note, the amateur equipment on the ISS has been unavailable due to recent SSTV testing. After the contact, radios will likely remain powered off in preparation for the three US spacewalks planned for the STS-115 shuttle mission. Information about the next scheduled ARISS contact can be found at http://www.rac.ca/ariss/upcoming.htm#NextContact. Next planned event(s): TBA ARISS is an international educational outreach program partnering the participating space agencies, NASA, Russian Space Agency, ESA, CNES, JAXA, and CSA, with the AMSAT and IARU organizations from participating countries. ARISS offers an opportunity for students to experience the excitement of Amateur Radio by talking directly with crewmembers on-board the International Space Station. Teachers, parents and communities see, first hand, how Amateur Radio and crewmembers on ISS can energize youngsters' interest in science, technology, and learning. Further information on the ARISS program is available on the website http://www.rac.ca/ariss (graciously hosted by the Radio Amateurs of Canada). Thank you & 73, Kenneth - N5VHO

1 0

Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2006-08-25 19:00 UTC
by AJ9N＠aol.com 25 Aug '06

25 Aug '06

Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2006-08-25 19:00 UTC Quick list of scheduled contacts and events: Quick list of scheduled contacts and events: Sendai Yoshinari Junior High School, Sendai, Japan, direct via 8J7YJH Fri 2006-08-25 08:12 UTC 36 deg Successful! (***) ARISS is requesting signal reports. (***) Northeast Middle School, Clarksville, TN via telebridge VK4KHZ Contact is a go for: Mon 2006-08-28 15:59 UTC via VK4KHZ 34 deg See below for webcast and IRLP info. Total number of ARISS school contacts is 251. (***) QSL information may be found at: http://www.arrl.org/ARISS/arissfaq.html http://www.rac.ca/ariss/oindex.htm#QSL's ISS callsigns: DP0ISS, NA1SS, RS0ISS ***************************************************************************** The schedule page has been updated as of 2006-08-25 19:00 UTC. Here you will find a listing of all scheduled school contacts and questions, other ISS related websites, IRLP and Echolink websites, and instructions for any contact that may be streamed live. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.txt The successful school list has been updated as of 2006-08-25 19:00 UTC http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/Successful_ARISS_schools.rtf Frequency chart for packet, voice, and crossband repeater modes showing Doppler correction as of 2005-07-29 04:00 UTC http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/ISS_frequencies_and_Doppler_correctio… tf Listing of ARISS related magazine articles as of 2006-07-10 03:30 UTC: http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/ARISS_magazine_articles.rtf ***************************************************************************** There has been a rumor that the ISS was having direct contacts on the 40 meter band. There is no HF radio equipment on board and available yet. The HF antenna is mounted. Sometimes WA3NAN will retransmit shuttle audio. ***************************************************************************** Expedition 13 on orbit Pavel Vinogradov RV3BS Jeff Williams KD5TVQ Expedition 13/14 Thomas Reiter DF4TR Expedition 14 crew: Michael Lopez-Alegria KE5GTK Sunita Williams, KD5PLB Mikhail Tyurin, RZ3FT ***************************************************************************** 73, Charlie Sufana AJ9N One of the ARISS operation team mentors

1 0

NASA INVITES STUDENTS TO HELP ASTRONAUT COUNT THE STARS
by Arthur Rowe 25 Aug '06

25 Aug '06

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468 Aug. 25, 2006 Sonja Alexander Headquarters, Washington 202-358-1761 Charles Henry Guillaume Canadian Space Agency, Montreal 450-926-6651 NASA INVITES STUDENTS TO HELP ASTRONAUT COUNT THE STARS NASA and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) are collaborating on a new education activity that helps students become astronomers. The Star Count Project will investigate the visual quality of the night sky and help assess the extent of atmospheric light pollution. There are many factors that affect how many stars can be seen at night. NASA and the CSA are inviting U.S. and Canadian students to participate in an effort to study these factors. The project was suggested and is being supported by CSA astronaut Steve MacLean. He is a member of the crew of the Space Shuttle Atlantis on the next mission, designated STS-115, to the International Space Station. The mission is scheduled to launch Sunday, August 27. MacLean will perform the Star Count experiment during the mission. While in space he will upload star observation information into a database via the Star Count Web site. As part of the project, students will learn how to estimate the number of stars observed based on random samples of sections of the sky. Students will add to the database by entering their location, number of stars observed and information about their viewing conditions. The students will be able to compare their observations with MacLean's and other observers. Star Count is a project of the NASA Student Observation Network. The network is a collection of online inquiry-based activities that challenge students to find answers to research questions by making their own observations and interpreting them with NASA data. To participate in the Star Count Project, students should visit: http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/starcount/home/index.html or http://www.space.gc.ca/asc/eng/educators/resources/stars/default.asp The Star Count Project is directly tied to NASA's major education goal of attracting students to science, technology, engineering and mathematics studies. NASA is committed to engaging and retaining students in these disciplines which are crucial to the agency's future missions. For information about NASA education programs, Star Count Project and the Student Observation Network, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/education -end-

1 0

STS-115 STATUS
by Arthur Rowe 25 Aug '06

25 Aug '06

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468 The Atlantis crew arrived at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida today to begin final preparations for mission STS-115. Flying T-38 trainer jets, the astronauts landed at the Shuttle Landing Facility at 11:30 a.m. EDT. Commander Brent Jett introduced the crew and spoke briefly about the upcoming mission to the International Space Station. "Speaking for myself and my fellow crewmates, I can assure you that we are ready for the challenge and we're ready to restart the assembly sequence." He added, "We have a saying back in Texas: 'It's time to walk the walk.' " Mission Specialist Joe Tanner expressed the crew's appreciation to all the space workers who have worked tirelessly to prepare for the mission, adding, "When we climb aboard Atlantis on Sunday, we do so with confidence that the vehicle is ready, prepared by the best technicians, engineers and managers in the business." Later today, Jett and Pilot Chris Ferguson will return to the runway to practice landings in the Shuttle Training Aircraft. The countdown officially began at noon EDT today, at the T-43 hour mark. The countdown includes about 36 hours of built-in hold time prior to a targeted 4:30 p.m. EDT launch on Sunday; it is the middle point in the launch window that extends for 10 minutes. At the 10 a.m. Countdown Status Briefing, NASA Test Director Steve Payne reported that the launch team is working no issues, saying, "Atlantis is in excellent shape and we're on track for the preparations for Sunday's launch to bring the P3 and P4 truss to the orbiting space station and return her crew safely home." STS-115 Payload Manager Robbie Ashley expressed satisfaction that the P3/P4 segment would be joined to the space station soon, adding, "it's been a long time coming." He said, "We're anxious to see them get on orbit and perform the job they were intended to do." Shuttle Weather Officer Kathy Winters provided a generally positive outlook for launch day conditions. "Overall the weather is looking pretty good for launch day. We do have a 30 percent chance of weather prohibiting tanking in the morning," she said. "We have a 30 percent chance of weather prohibiting launch." She added, "Generally, pretty good weather when it comes to an afternoon summertime day here in Florida." The next status briefing is scheduled for 10 a.m. EDT Friday and will be carried live on NASA TV. + Watch NASA TV <http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html> The STS-115 crew consists of Commander Brent W. Jett Jr., Pilot Christopher J. Ferguson and Mission Specialists Heidemarie M. Stefanyshyn-Piper, Joseph R. Tanner, Daniel C. Burbank and Steven G. MacLean, who represents the Canadian Space Agency. + Learn more about the crew <http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts115/index.html> With this mission, NASA is ready to get back to building the International Space Station, marking the first time in almost four years that a space station component has been added to the orbiting outpost. That also means the shuttle program is coming up on some of the most challenging space missions ever. + Learn more about the mission <http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts115/mission_ov…> During their three spacewalks, crew members of Atlantis will install the P3/P4 integrated truss and a second set of solar arrays on the space station, doubling the station’s current ability to generate power from sunlight and adding 17.5 tons to its mass. + Learn more about the truss <http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/behindscenes/truss_segment.html>

1 0

Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2006-08-24 22:30 UTC
by AJ9N＠aol.com 24 Aug '06

24 Aug '06

Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2006-08-24 22:30 UTC Quick list of scheduled contacts and events: Sendai Yoshinari Junior High School, Sendai, Japan, direct via 8J7YJH Fri 2006-08-25 08:12 UTC 36 deg Northeast Middle School, Clarksville, TN via telebridge VK4KHZ Contact is a go for: Mon 2006-08-28 15:59 UTC via VK4KHZ 34 deg See schedule page for webcast and IRLP info. (***) Total number of ARISS school contacts is 250. QSL information may be found at: http://www.arrl.org/ARISS/arissfaq.html http://www.rac.ca/ariss/oindex.htm#QSL's ISS callsigns: DP0ISS, NA1SS, RS0ISS ***************************************************************************** The schedule page has been updated as of 2006-08-24 22:30 UTC. Here you will find a listing of all scheduled school contacts and questions, other ISS related websites, IRLP and Echolink websites, and instructions for any contact that may be streamed live. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.txt The successful school list has been updated as of 2006-08-18 17:00 UTC http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/Successful_ARISS_schools.rtf Frequency chart for packet, voice, and crossband repeater modes showing Doppler correction as of 2005-07-29 04:00 UTC http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/ISS_frequencies_and_Doppler_correctio… tf Listing of ARISS related magazine articles as of 2006-07-10 03:30 UTC: http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/ARISS_magazine_articles.rtf ***************************************************************************** There has been a rumor that the ISS was having direct contacts on the 40 meter band. There is no HF radio equipment on board and available yet. The HF antenna is mounted. Sometimes WA3NAN will retransmit shuttle audio. ***************************************************************************** Expedition 13 on orbit Pavel Vinogradov RV3BS Jeff Williams KD5TVQ Expedition 13/14 Thomas Reiter DF4TR Expedition 14 crew: Michael Lopez-Alegria KE5GTK Sunita Williams, KD5PLB Mikhail Tyurin, RZ3FT ***************************************************************************** 73, Charlie Sufana AJ9N One of the ARISS operation team mentors

1 0

ATLANTIS CREW FLIES INTO KENNEDY
by Arthur Rowe 24 Aug '06

24 Aug '06

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468 STS-115 crew members arrive in T-38 jets, streaking across the Florida sky before landing at the Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility TO VIEW THE 3 PLANES THAT BROUGHT THEM TO KENNEDY GO TO:http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/multimedia/index.html

1 0

News from the ESA International Space Station Human Spaceflight and Exploration pages
by Félim Doyle M3HIM 23 Aug '06

23 Aug '06

ESA astronaut Thomas Reiter's 3 August spacewalk from the ISS http://www.esa.int/esaHS/SEM490815QE_iss_0.html ESA astronaut Hans Schlegel assigned to European Columbus laboratory mission to the ISS http://www.esa.int/esaHS/SEM8VDBUQPE_iss_0.html German Chancellor makes in-flight call to ISS http://www.esa.int/esaHS/SEMHI0BUQPE_iss_0.html 73 de Félim M3HIM IO91ot Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, UK

1 0

NASA Announces Space Shuttle Web and TV Coverage
by Arthur Rowe 22 Aug '06

22 Aug '06

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468 > Aug. 22, 2006 > > Grey Hautaluoma > Headquarters, Washington > 202-358-0668 > > Bruce Buckingham > Kennedy Space Center, Fla. > 321-867-2468 > > > > NASA ANNOUNCES SPACE SHUTTLE WEB AND TV COVERAGE > > NASA TV and the agency's home on the Internet, http://www.nasa.gov, > will provide extensive prelaunch and launch day coverage of the Space > Shuttle Atlantis mission STS-115 to the International Space Station, > scheduled for a Sunday, Aug. 27 launch. > > A prelaunch webcast is set for 11 a.m. EDT Saturday, Aug. 26, from > NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Fla. It will feature a mission overview > hosted by Jon N. Cowart, Orbiter Project Office manager at Kennedy. > Highlights will include an interview with STS-114 astronaut Steve > Robinson who will discuss the STS-115 mission and astronaut training. > > > Live countdown coverage from NASA's Launch Blog begins at 10:30 a.m. > EDT Aug. 27. Coverage features real-time updates as countdown > milestones occur, streaming video clips highlighting launch > preparations and liftoff. > > A panel of experts answered questions about NASA's preparation for the > STS-115 mission. Those responses are available online and in > podcasts. > > To access these interactive features and more, go to NASA's Space > Shuttle main page at http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle and follow the links > provided in the right column under the "Mission Information" section. > > On launch day NASA TV will begin broadcasting mission commentary at > 10:30 a.m. EDT. For NASA TV streaming video, scheduling and downlink > information, visit: > > http://www.nasa.gov/ntv > > > -end- > > >

1 0