February 2007 - Sarex (INACTIVE)

ISS STSTUS REPORT #07-11
by Arthur Rowe 23 Feb '07

23 Feb '07

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468 *International Space Station Status Report #07-11* *11 a.m. CST Thursday, Feb. 22, 2007* *Expedition 14 Crew* Expedition 14 Commander Michael Lopez-Alegria and Flight Engineer Mikhail Tyurin retracted a stuck antenna on a cargo spacecraft during a 6-hour, 18-minute spacewalk that ended at 10:45 a.m. CST Thursday. On Oct. 26, the antenna did not properly retract when the Progress vehicle docked to the station's Zvezda Service Module. Moving the antenna was necessary to ensure it would not interfere with the Progress undocking in April. Lopez-Alegria and Tyurin had planned to release the antenna latch with a punch and a hammer. When clearance issues prevented that, they cut struts supporting the antenna. That enabled them to partly retract the antenna and secure it with wire ties. They reported it had about six inches of clearance from Zvezda, adequate for undocking. Early in the spacewalk, Tyurin had problems with his spacesuit's cooling system, which caused his visor to fog up. But he and Lopez-Alegria were able to complete a number of other tasks. They began the spacewalk by photographing a Russian satellite navigation antenna and changing out a Russian materials experiment. They also inspected and photographed an antenna for the Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV). The European cargo craft has more capacity than the Progress and is scheduled to make its first trip to the station later this year. The spacewalkers also photographed ATV docking targets. They photographed a German robotics experiment, inspected, remated and photographed hardware connectors and inspected retention mechanisms and bolted joints on a hand-operated Strela crane that helps transport people and equipment outside Pirs. They also stowed two foot restraints on a ladder at Pirs before ending the spacewalk. The spacewalk from the Pirs docking compartment was conducted in Russian Orlan spacesuits. It was the 81st for station assembly and maintenance, the 53rd from the station, the 20th from Pirs and the fifth for this station crew. This was the 10th spacewalk for Lopez-Alegria, a U.S. record, and the fifth for Tyurin. The next station status report will be issued Friday, March 2, or earlier if events warrant. For more about the crew's activities and station sighting opportunities, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/station ###

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Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2007-02-22 21:15 UTC
by AJ9N＠aol.com 22 Feb '07

22 Feb '07

Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2007-02-22 21:15 UTC Quick list of scheduled contacts and events: Vasant Valley School, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi, India, telebridge via WH6PN Sat 2007-02-24 08:50 UTC 82 deg via WH6PN Will be covered on Echolink, IRLP, and the web (via Verizon Business and also Discovery IRLP Reflector 9010) Escola Camilo Castelo Branco, Portugal 2790-096, Carnaxide, 2004-12-22, telebridge via VK5ZAI Mon 2007-02-26 15:51 UTC 56 deg Will be covered on Echolink, IRLP, and the web (via Verizon Business and also Discovery IRLP Reflector 9010) Virginia Run Elementary School in Centreville, Virginia, direct via K4HTA Fri 2007-03-02 16:18 UTC 50 deg Total number of ARISS school contacts is 268. 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 2007-02-22 21:15 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 2007-02-12 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 14 on orbit: Michael Lopez-Alegria KE5GTK Mikhail Tyurin, RZ3FT Expedition 14/15 on orbit: Sunita Williams, KD5PLB ***************************************************************************** 73, Charlie Sufana AJ9N One of the ARISS operation team mentors ************************************** AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more about what's free from AOL at http://www.aol.com.

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ISS STATUS REPORT #SS07-10
by Arthur Rowe 22 Feb '07

22 Feb '07

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468 Katherine Trinidad Headquarters, Washington 202-358-0602 John Ira Petty Johnson Space Center, Houston 281-483-5111 Feb. 22, 2007 STATUS REPORT: SS07-10 International Space Station Status Report: SS07-10 HOUSTON - Expedition 14 Commander Michael Lopez-Alegria and Flight Engineer Mikhail Tyurin retracted a stuck antenna on a cargo spacecraft during a 6-hour, 18-minute spacewalk that ended at 10:45 a.m. CST Thursday. On Oct. 26, the antenna failed to retract when the Progress vehicle docked to the station's Zvezda Service Module. Moving the antenna was necessary to ensure it would not interfere with the Progress undocking in April. Lopez-Alegria and Tyurin had planned to release the antenna latch with a punch and a hammer. When clearance issues prevented that, they cut struts supporting the antenna. That enabled them to partly retract the antenna and secure it with wire ties. They reported it had about six inches of clearance from Zvezda, adequate for undocking. Early in the spacewalk, Tyurin had problems with his spacesuit's cooling system, which caused his visor to fog up. But he and Lopez-Alegria were able to complete a number of other tasks. They began the spacewalk by photographing a Russian satellite navigation antenna and changing out a Russian materials experiment. They also inspected and photographed an antenna for the Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV). The European cargo craft has more capacity than the Progress and is scheduled to make its first trip to the station later this year. The spacewalkers also photographed ATV docking targets. They photographed a German robotics experiment, inspected, remated and photographed hardware connectors and inspected retention mechanisms and bolted joints on a hand-operated Strela crane that helps transport people and equipment outside Pirs. They also stowed two foot restraints on a ladder at Pirs before ending the spacewalk. The spacewalk from the Pirs docking compartment was conducted in Russian Orlan spacesuits. It was the 81st for station assembly and maintenance, the 53rd from the station, the 20th from Pirs and the fifth for this station crew. This was the 10th spacewalk for Lopez-Alegria, a U.S. record, and the fifth for Tyurin. For more about the crew's activities and station sighting opportunities, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/station <http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/main/index.html>

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Station Crew Wraps Up Successful Spacewalk
by Arthur Rowe 22 Feb '07

22 Feb '07

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468 *Station Crew Wraps Up Successful Spacewalk* Michael Lopez-Alegria during the spacewalk on Feb. 22, 2007. Image above: Expedition 14 Commander Michael Lopez-Alegria in front of the Pirs docking compartment toward the end of the spacewalk on Feb. 22. Image credit: NASA TV TO VIEW IMAGE GO TO:http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/main/index.html International Space Station Flight Engineer Mikhail Tyurin and Commander Michael Lopez-Alegria completed a 6-hour, 18-minute spacewalk at 11:45 a.m. EST Thursday. During the spacewalk, they retracted a balky antenna of an unpiloted Progress cargo carrier at the aft port of the Zvezda Service Module. The antenna did not fully retract before the spacecraft docked Oct. 26. They also checked navigation systems in preparation for the summer docking of a European cargo craft known as the Automated Transfer Vehicle. Lopez-Alegria and Tyurin conducted their increment’s fifth spacewalk – a record for station crews.

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ARISS event - Escola Camilo Castelo Branco, Carnaxide, Portugal, Monday, (26 Feb) 15:51 UTC
by Ransom, Kenneth G. (JSC-OC)[BAR] 22 Feb '07

22 Feb '07

An International Space Station Expedition 14 ARISS school contact has been planned with students at Escola Camilo Castelo Branco, Carnaxide, Portugal on Monday, 26 Feb. The event is scheduled to begin at approximately 15:51 UTC. The contact will be a telebridge between stations NA1SS and VK5ZAI. The contact should be audible in portions of Southeastern and Eastern 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: 6037110 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. _________________________________ Camilo Castelo Branco is a high school in Carnaxide, a city about 10 kilometers from Lisbon. There are about 750 pupils, boys and girls, aged 12 to 18 years old. The school teaches science and technologies, humanities, professional and educational grades. Two more schools participate to this ARISS contact: - the school Manuel Vaz in Barcarena (95 pupils) - the school Jorge Mineiro in Queluz de Baixo (420 pupils) All three schools depend from the same regional council: Oeiras. Students will ask as many of the following questions as time allows: 1. Before leaving for any mission in space, you have many months of preparation. Is the reality very different from the tests you go through on Earth? 2. Isn't it difficult to live in a small closed space during so long a time? 3. What kind of food do you eat? 4. Is there any process of recycling water in space? If so, what is it? 5. How do you manage to keep the level of oxygen steady inside the spaceship? 6. How do you get rid of your waste? 7. Do you have any trouble in falling asleep? How do you distinguish if it's day or night? 8. What's the official language on the ISS? 9. What do you feel when you see the Earth from the space? What's the feeling? 10. Isn't it boring only to see stars, planets and space? 11. What do you miss the most when you are in space? 12. Is the relationship between astronauts strictly professional or have you become friends? Have you ever had any arguments? How did you solve them? 13. How can you repair the spaceship if it is somehow damaged? 14. For how long can you stay in space? What is the maximum time? Is there a limit for the number of missions an astronaut can do in space? 15. When you come back to Earth from a space mission, how do you adapt to gravity? Do you need any external help? What kind of help? 16. What kind of scientific research are you doing now? 17. What's the importance of space research to science and technical progress? 18. What do you think about other planets colonization? Will it be possible or is it only fiction? Please note, the amateur equipment on the ISS is not functioning in the automatic modes properly and may be silent more than usual. Information about the next scheduled ARISS contact can be found at http://www.rac.ca/ariss/upcoming.htm#NextContact . Next planned event(s): Virginia Run Elementary School in Centreville, Virginia, direct via K4HTA Fri 2007-03-02 16:18 UTC 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

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Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2007-02-22 16:45 UTC
by AJ9N＠aol.com 22 Feb '07

22 Feb '07

Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2007-02-22 16:45 UTC Quick list of scheduled contacts and events: Vasant Valley School, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi, India, telebridge via WH6PN Sat 2007-02-24 08:50 UTC 82 deg via WH6PN Will be covered on Echolink, IRLP, and the web (via Verizon Business and also Discovery IRLP Reflector 9010) *** Escola Camilo Castelo Branco, Portugal 2790-096, Carnaxide, 2004-12-22, telebridge via VK5ZAI Mon 2007-02-26 15:51 UTC 56 deg Will be covered on Echolink, IRLP, and the web (via Verizon Business and also Discovery IRLP Reflector 9010) *** Virginia Run Elementary School in Centreville, Virginia, direct via K4HTA Fri 2007-03-02 16:18 UTC 50 deg Total number of ARISS school contacts is 268. 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 2007-02-22 16:45 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 2007-02-12 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 14 on orbit: Michael Lopez-Alegria KE5GTK Mikhail Tyurin, RZ3FT Expedition 14/15 on orbit: Sunita Williams, KD5PLB ***************************************************************************** 73, Charlie Sufana AJ9N One of the ARISS operation team mentors ************************************** AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more about what's free from AOL at http://www.aol.com.

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Spacewalkers Successfully Retract Antenna
by Arthur Rowe 22 Feb '07

22 Feb '07

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468 *Spacewalkers Successfully Retract Antenna* Image above: Expedition 14 Commander Michael Lopez-Alegria works to retract the ISS Progress 23 antenna during the spacewalk on Feb. 22. Image credit: NASA TV TO VIEW IMAGE GO TO:http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/main/index.html Station Flight Engineer Mikhail Tyurin and Commander Michael Lopez-Alegria opened the airlock of the Pirs docking compartment at 5:27 a.m. EST to begin their spacewalk and have successfully retracted and secured the balky antenna of the ISS Progress 23 cargo craft. The antenna did not fully retract before the spacecraft docked Oct. 26. They are also checking navigation systems in preparation for the summer docking of a European cargo craft known as the Automated Transfer Vehicle. Lopez-Alegria and Tyurin are conducting their increment’s fifth spacewalk – a record for station crews. + Read more about the Feb. 22 spacewalk <http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/expedition14/exp14_ev…> <http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/timelines/index.html>

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SPACEWALK UNDERWAY
by Arthur Rowe 22 Feb '07

22 Feb '07

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468 *Spacewalk Underway* TO VIEW IMAGE GO TO: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/main/index.html Image above: Expedition 14 Commander Michael Lopez-Alegria exiting the Pirs docking compartment (at right) at the beginning of the spacewalk on Feb. 22. Image credit: NASA TV Coming and going, or at least getting ready to go, haven't been easy for the ISS Progress 23 unpiloted cargo carrier docked at the aft port of the International Space Station's Zvezda service module. Station Flight Engineer Mikhail Tyurin and Commander Michael Lopez-Alegria opened the airlock of the Pirs docking compartment at 5:27 a.m. EST on a spacewalk aimed at retracting the balky antenna of the Progress. The antenna did not fully retract before the spacecraft docked Oct. 26. They are also checking navigation systems in preparation for the summer docking of a European cargo craft known as the Automated Transfer Vehicle. Lopez-Alegria and Tyurin are conducting their increment’s fifth spacewalk – a record for station crews. + Read more about the Feb. 22 spacewalk <http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/expedition14/exp14_ev…> + Expedition 14 Mission Status Briefing Materials, Jan. 26, 2007 <http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/expedition14/exp14_ms…> + Read more about Expedition 14 <http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/expedition14/index.ht…> + Read more about Expedition 15 <http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/expedition15/index.ht…> + View crew's daily timelines <http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/timelines/index.html>

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ARISS event -Vasant Valley School, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi, India, Saturday, (24 Feb) 08:50 UTC
by Ransom, Kenneth G. (JSC-OC)[BAR] 21 Feb '07

21 Feb '07

An International Space Station Expedition 14 ARISS school contact has been planned with students at Vasant Valley School, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi, India on Saturday, 24 Feb. The event is scheduled to begin at approximately 08:50 UTC. The contact will be a telebridge between stations NA1SS and WH6PN. The contact should be audible in Hawaii. 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: 6036972 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._________________________________ Vasant Valley School , New Delhi , established in 1990, is a self-financing day school with a current enrollment of 1257 in classes Foundation to Twelve. The school campus spreads over eight acres, and has fully equipped Science and Computer laboratories. Whilst high academic achievement is a priority, the school aims to create a community of well rounded individuals, where a spirit of cooperation and mutual respect exists among the students and teachers. The school organizes many activities throughout the year where qualities such as leadership and self-discipline are inculcated and there is an emphasis on the individuals' intellectual and emotional growth. The senior students participate in awareness programs i.e visits to hospitals, paper recycling, education of the under-privileged, hygiene in villages, and so on. A number of sports are played in the school and give the students an opportunity to express their individual talent. Drama, Performing Arts, Arts and Design, Debating and Music form a significant part of the curriculum. Students will ask as many of the following questions as time allows: 1. Is there pollution in space due to the international space station? 2. What are the most memorable moments that you know will forever stay with you of your spacewalk? 3. What mode of entertainment do you have in space? 4. Has zero gravity taken a toll on your body and fitness? If yes how do you counter it so as to stay fit? 5. If a gold fish is taken up to a microgravity environment how will the fish react to the lack of gravity as it already floats in a fish tank? 6. What is the temperature in space? Since the temperature is very low. If you pour water into a beaker does it crystallize/freeze immediately? 7. What happens to the respiratory gases that are released and remain inside the ISS (like CO2)? 8. How can we save the ISS from any asteroids or meteorites falling from the space? 9. Why do only some planets have rings? 10. Can a black hole swallow another black hole? 11. What happens to a bullet fired in space? 12. What inspired you to become an astronaut? 13. What kind of activities are you carrying out? How will they be beneficial to man kind? 14. We were told that resources are highly limited in the ISS. How do you go about this difficulty for example: How much water are you carrying and is there any facility of re using it over and over again? 15. What kind of food you eat in the ISS and with what frequency? Please note, the amateur equipment on the ISS is not functioning in the automatic modes properly and may be silent more than usual. Information about the next scheduled ARISS contact can be found at http://www.rac.ca/ariss/upcoming.htm#NextContact . Next planned event(s): Escola Camilo Castelo Branco, Carnaxide, Portugal, telebridge via VK5ZAI Mon 2007-02-26 15:51 UTC Virginia Run Elementary School in Centreville, Virginia, direct via K4HTA Fri 2007-03-02 16:18 UTC 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

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STS-117 Astronauts Take the Test
by Arthur Rowe 21 Feb '07

21 Feb '07

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468 *STS-117 Astronauts Take the Test* STS-117 crew arrive at Kennedy for TCDT Image above: The STS-117 mission astronauts land at Kennedy's Shuttle Landing Facility. Photo credit: NASA/KSC TO VIEW IMAGE GO TO:http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html * 02.21.07 - 12:25 p.m. * The flight crew of Space Shuttle Atlantis arrived at Kennedy Space Center in Fla. today to take part in a full launch dress rehearsal known as the terminal countdown demonstration test. The test typically takes place a few weeks prior to launch and provides the crew an opportunity to participate in various simulated countdown activities, including equipment familiarization and emergency egress training. The astronauts will be at Kennedy from Feb. 21-23 and then return to Johnson Space Center in Houston to continue training for mission STS-117. The flight of Atlantis to the International Space Station has been targeted for March 15. During the 11-day mission, the six-member crew will install a new truss segment, retract a set of solar arrays and unfold a new set on the starboard side of the station. Lessons learned from two previous missions will provide the astronauts with new techniques and tools to perform their duties. Commanding the 117 crew is Frederick Sturckow, a veteran of two shuttle missions (STS-88, STS-105), while Lee Archambault will be making his first flight as the shuttle's pilot. Mission Specialists James Reilly (STS-89, STS-104) and Patrick Forrester (STS-105) will be returning to the station. Steven Swanson and John Olivas, both mission specialists, join the crew for their first flight into space. *STS-117 Mission* + The Crew <http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts117/index.html> + The Mission <http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts117/mission_ov…> + The Integrated Truss Structure <http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/structure/elements/its.html>

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