May 2007 - Sarex (INACTIVE) - mailman.amsat.org

Veteran Astronaut Walter Schirra Dies
by Arthur Rowe 03 May '07

03 May '07

NASA News wrote: > May 3, 2007 > > David Mould > Headquarters, Washington > 202-358-1898 > > RELEASE: 07-100 > > VETERAN ASTRONAUT WALTER SCHIRRA DIES > > LA JOLLA, Calif. - Pioneering astronaut Walter "Wally" Schirra, the > only man who flew in all three of America's first human space > projects - Mercury, Gemini and Apollo - died Wednesday night. He was > 84. Schirra's family reported he died of natural causes. > > Schirra was one of America's original seven astronauts, selected in > 1959, and was commander of the first crew to fly into space aboard an > Apollo capsule, Apollo 7, following the tragic launchpad fire that > claimed the lives of the crew of Apollo 1. > > "With the passing of Wally Schirra, we at NASA note with sorrow the > loss of yet another of the pioneers of human spaceflight," NASA > Administrator Michael Griffin said. "As a Mercury astronaut, Wally > was a member of the first group of astronauts to be selected, often > referred to as the Original Seven." > > Schirra's first space flight was piloting the fifth Mercury mission on > Oct. 3, 1962, orbiting Earth six times in 9 hours and 13 minutes. > During the flight he took hundreds of photos of Earth and space > phenomena. Schirra's capsule, Sigma 7, splashed down only 5 miles > from the recovery carrier. > > As commander of Gemini 6-A, which launched on Dec. 15, 1965, Schirra > flew with astronaut Tom Stafford on a mission that included the first > rendezvous of two manned, maneuverable spacecraft. Gemini 6-A and > Gemini 7 flew in formation for five hours, as close as one foot to > one another. > > During his 11-day Apollo 7 flight, which began Oct. 11, 1968, he and > fellow crewmembers Walt Cunningham and Donn Eisele tested the Apollo > systems and proved Apollo was ready to take astronauts to the moon. > > "We shared a common dream to test the limits of man's imagination and > daring," Schirra wrote of America's early astronauts. "Those early > pioneering flights of Mercury, the performances of Gemini and the > trips to the moon established us once and for all as what I like to > call a spacefaring nation. Like England, Spain and Portugal crossing > the seas in search of their nations' greatness, so we reached for the > skies and ennobled our nation." > > Schirra retired from the Navy as a captain and from NASA in 1969 and > became a commentator with CBS News. His enthusiasm and knowledge of > the space program coupled with his charismatic on-the-air presence > made him an even more widely known national and international figure. > > > He complemented CBS anchorman Walter Cronkite and the two became a > powerful space-coverage team. Schirra worked for CBS from 1969 to > 1975. He also engaged in a range of business activities and in 1979 > formed his own consultant company, Schirra Enterprises. > > Walter M. Schirra, Jr., was born in Hackensack, N.J., on March 12, > 1923. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1945, and from > Naval Flight Training at Pensacola Naval Air Station, Fla., in 1947. > After service as a carrier-based fighter pilot and operations > officer, he attended the Naval Test Pilot School at Patuxent River, > Md. During the Korean War he flew F-86 Sabres under an exchange > program with the Air Force. > > Schirra was chosen as one of the original "Mercury Seven" from among > 110 selected test pilots from the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps > after exhaustive physical and psychological examinations. > > Known for lively storytelling and practical jokes, one of his > best-known anecdotes from astronaut training came when he and the > others were continually being examined and subjected to demands for > samples of body fluids. When one nurse insisted he provide a urine > sample, Schirra reportedly filled a 5-gallon jug with warm water, > detergent and iodine and left it on her desk. > > "Levity makes life a lot easier," he once told a Houston reporter. > > Griffin noted that "It was impossible to know Wally, even to meet him, > without realizing at once that he was a man who relished the lighter > side of life, the puns and jokes and pranks that can enliven a > gathering. But this was a distraction from the true nature of the > man. His record as a pioneering space pilot shows the real stuff of > which he was made. We who have inherited today's space program will > always be in his debt." > > The Mercury Seven trained initially at NASA's Langley Research Center > in Hampton, Va. In 1961 they moved to the newly established Manned > Spacecraft Center (now the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center) near > Houston. > > Schirra's Sigma 7 mission was called "the perfect flight" by space > reporter and author Howard Benedict. After Schirra's splashdown near > the carrier USS Kearsarge near Midway Island in the Pacific, he > pronounced himself "healthy as a bear" and "happy as a lark." > > Schirra's Gemini flight with Stafford was something of an > improvisation. They had been scheduled to rendezvous in orbit with an > unmanned Agena to be launched 90 minutes before the Gemini liftoff. > But six minutes after the Atlas-Agena left the pad it exploded, and > the Gemini 6-A launch was postponed. > > Eventually it was decided to use Gemini 7 as a rendezvous target for > Gemini 6-A. Both were to be launched from Pad 19 at Cape Canaveral, > so a record turnaround of the launch pad was necessary. Working > around the clock, crews got the pad ready in just eight days after > the Gemini 7 liftoff. > > The Gemini 6-A countdown reached zero on Dec. 12, 1965, and the rocket > engines ignited - then shut down. The two astronauts had to wait > almost half an hour atop the fueled rocket before getting out of the > capsule. The problem turned out to be minor, the failure of an > electrical connection. > > Three days later, Gemini 6-A was launched without a hitch. The mission > proved the spacecraft could be readily maneuvered. It was an > encouraging development in the race to reach the moon. > > By the launch of Apollo 7 in October 1968, the moon landing seemed to > be coming within reach. The success of the flight proved that it was. > Accomplishments of the mission commanded by Schirra resulted in the > next flight, Apollo 8, being sent around the moon. > > Apollo 7 had not been all smooth sailing. All three astronauts had > colds. Schirra was occasionally firm in rejecting requests from the > ground to insert additional events in the already-crowded flight > plan. > > "Television will be delayed, without any further discussion, until > after the rendezvous" (with a spent rocket stage), he said. He > subsequently was even more critical of efforts to add events to the > flight plan. Eventually the almost daily television transmissions > from Apollo 7 became popular mainstays of the mission coverage. > Schirra subsequently apologized for the tone of some of his > criticisms, though not for their content. > > After leaving NASA, he participated in a number of television > presentations and films, and served as national spokesman for several > organizations and companies. He also held numerous directorships for > a variety of businesses, in addition to his consulting work. He also > wrote two books, "We Seven" published in 1960 and "Schirra's Space" > published in 1988. > > Schirra's military awards included the Navy Distinguished Service > Medal, three Distinguished Flying Crosses, three Air Medals, two NASA > Distinguished Service Medals, the NASA Exceptional Service Medal and > the Philippines Legion of Honor. > > He was awarded honorary doctorates by several institutions of higher > learning. > > He was active in a number of organizations. He was on the Advisory > Committee of the Oceans Foundations, the Advisory Board/Council of > U.S. National Parks, the Advisory Board of International "Up With > People" and was a founding member and director of the Mercury Seven > Foundation. > > He also was a director of the San Diego Aerospace Museum, a trustee of > the Scripps Aquarium, and a member of the International Council of > the Salk Institute. > > Schirra lived in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. Survivors include his wife > Josephine, his daughter Suzanne and son Walter Schirra III. > > Images and video from Schirra's years with NASA can be seen at: > > http://www.nasa.gov/vision/space/features/walter_schirra.html > > > -end- > > > > To subscribe to the list, send a message to: > hqnews-subscribe(a)mediaservices.nasa.gov > To remove your address from the list, send a message to: > hqnews-unsubscribe(a)mediaservices.nasa.gov > >

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Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2007-05-03 02:30 UTC
by AJ9N＠aol.com 02 May '07

02 May '07

Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2007-05-03 02:30 UTC Quick list of scheduled contacts and events: Liceo Scientifico Statale “Lorenzo Respighi”, Piacenza Italy, direct via IZ4JSC (***) Sat 2007-05-05 10:24 UTC 37 deg Erweiterte Realschule, Weiskirchen D-66709, Germany, direct via DL0ERW (***) Sat 2007-05-05 13:34 UTC 78 deg Space Day 2007, National Air and Space Museum, Washington D.C., USA, telebridge via W6SRJ (***) Sat 2007-05-05 18:01 UTC 34 deg (***) Sunset Mesa Schools, Albuquerque, New Mexico, direct via W5SCA Wed 2007-05-09 14:39 UTC 49 deg Escola Secundaria de Estarreja, Estarreja, Portugal, direct via CT6ESE Wed 2007-05-09 14:58 UTC 58 deg Total number of ARISS school contacts is 290. 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 2007-04-30 15:00 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 2007-04-29 05:00 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 Expedition 15 on orbit: Fyodor Yurchikhin RN3FI Dr. Oleg Kotov Expedition 15 future: Clayton Anderson KD5PLA Daniel Tani KD5DXE Soyuz 14S/13S on orbit: Charles Simonyi KE7KDP/HA5SIK ***************************************************************************** 73, Charlie Sufana AJ9N One of the ARISS operation team mentors ************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.

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Crew Conducts Medical Proficiency Training - 5/2/07
by Arthur Rowe 02 May '07

02 May '07

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468 *Crew Conducts Medical Proficiency Training* Flight engineers Oleg Kotov and Sunita Williams performed the Crew Health Care Systems/Crew Medical Officer on-board training drill, a 30-minute video and audio refresher course to hone their skills in emergency medical operations. Wednesday's proficiency drill was guided by a number of training videos and concluded with a self-assessment questionnaire. The training focused on skills and techniques required for eye treatment, medication administration, and treating fractures and dislocations. ISS015-E-05649 --- Sunita Williams works with the Lab-on-a-Chip Application Development-Portable Test System experiment Image to right: Sunita Williams works with the Lab-on-a-Chip Application Development-Portable Test System experiment. Image credit: NASA - TO VIEW IMAGE GO TO: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/main/index.html Williams also conducted the periodic two-hour acoustic survey of noise level measurements in the station's interior, while Kotov continued maintenance work on a failed air conditioner. Williams continued work on the spacesuit batteries by ending the discharge process on the first of two sets, which began on April 30. She then started the procedure on the second set. The batteries will be required for the STS-117 spacewalks. The periodic maintenance consists of fully discharging and then recharging the storage units to prolong their useful life. Commander Fyodor Yurchikhin and Kotov again had an hour each allocated for station familiarization and adaptation to help in adjusting to their new surroundings and activities. + View Expedition 14 landing images <http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/multimedia/exp14_landing_images.h…> + 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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Re: Future ISS amateur radio modes
by George Henry 02 May '07

02 May '07

-----Original Message----- >From: "Ransom, Kenneth G. (JSC-OC)[BAR]" <kenneth.g.ransom(a)nasa.gov> >Sent: May 2, 2007 1:20 PM >To: sarex(a)AMSAT.Org >Subject: [sarex] Re: Future ISS amateur radio modes > [snip] > >Another difference is that the ISS is setup more like a club station >than a satellite. Future enhancements could convert it into a more >satellite-ish operation but we have a lot of those orbiting already. > >Kenneth - N5VHO > Yeah, but none with a 15-watt downlink!!!! George, KA3HSW

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Re: Future ISS amateur radio modes, Marex
by richard＠g3rwl.demon.co.uk 02 May '07

02 May '07

Miles wrote: > The PL tone suggestion just needs to be tested to get a realist feel on what to expect. We have had issues in the past, with putting stuff in space that was not properly tested end to end. You can't do a real test until something in orbit sends a PL tone ... but theres another, related, effect which someone might be able to check. On a spaceborne 9k6 packet signal someone could observe the extracted 9k6 clock signals and see what happens to them; there will be a doppler-related drift in the clock frequency. Certainly when I was QRV on 9k6 pacsats I saw this (albeit small) effect. > Packet is affected by Doppler when it begins to get above 2.0 kHz. The amount of error is also dependent on the Signal level at the receiver. The issue here is received signal distortion caused by being off-tune. It is not the same effect as doppler 73 Richard G3RWL

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FW: ARISS event -Erweiterte Realschule Weiskirchen, Germany, Saturday (May 05) 13:39 UTC
by Ransom, Kenneth G. (JSC-OC)[BAR] 02 May '07

02 May '07

An International Space Station Expedition 15 ARISS school contact has been planned with students at Erweiterte Realschule Weiskirchen, Germany on 05 May. The event is scheduled to begin at approximately 13:39 UTC. The contact will be a direct between stations NA1SS and DN1ERW. The contact should be audible in most of Europe. Interested parties are invited to listen in on the 145.80 MHz downlink. The participants are expected to conduct the conversation in English. ERS Weiskirchen is a general education school where the pupils can achieve a standard and secondary graduation. The school participates as one of 11 pilot schools from the federal states Saarland, Rheinland-Pfalz and Hessen in the project "Innovative all-day school". As special example concerning the project, the school has successfully performed the launch of a balloon to the stratosphere in cooperation with the radio club "DARC Ortsverbandes Wadern, Q21". Following this contact with radio technology, a core-team of interested pupils has been formed. With the support of radio amateurs, a radio station has been set up and a radio club has been founded. Several students have passed examinations and are now amateur radio licensees, operating with their own callsign. Students will ask as many of the following questions as time allows: 1. What subjects do you need to have studied to become an astronaut? 2. How long did you need to prepare yourself for the flight? 3. What amateur radio equipment is there on the ISS? 4. Can the radio apparatus be kept on continuous operation or would that use up too much energy? 5. Besides the Earth, can you see other planets with the naked eye from the ISS? 6. Is it possible to recognize buildings on Earth from the ISS? 7. There are often wildfires on Earth. Could you see any of them from the ISS? 8. How many sunrises and sunsets can you see as you orbit the Earth and how do you manage your own waking and sleeping patterns? 9. How do you utilize your free time on board? 10. Do you snore more or less in weightlessness of Space than you do on Earth? 11. Are you repelled backwards when you sneeze in Space? 12. How did you feel during the shuttle launch? 13. When did you last take a shower? 14. What are your expectations of your stay in Space and is there anything that you would particularly wish to achieve? 15. Does your seat belt have to be fastened whilst you are sleeping? 16. Do you need be physically fit to become an astronaut? 17. If someone falls ill aboard the ISS, how can they receive help? 18. How did you feel during the shuttle launch? 19. Do you need to do special exercise to improve muscle strength before you return to Earth? 20. What do you eat aboard the ISS and how do you overcome the difficulties of eating in a weightless environment? 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): Sunset Mesa Schools, Albuquerque, New Mexico, direct via W5SCA, Wed 2007-05-09 14:39 UTC Escola Secundaria de Estarreja, Estarreja, Portugal, direct via CT6ESE, Wed 2007-05-09 14:58 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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ARISS event - Liceo Scientifico Statale "Lorenzo Respighi", Piacenza, Italy, Saturday (May 05) 10:29 UTC
by Ransom, Kenneth G. (JSC-OC)[BAR] 02 May '07

02 May '07

An International Space Station Expedition 15 ARISS school contact has been planned with students at Liceo Scientifico Statale "Lorenzo Respighi", Piacenza, Italy on 05 May. The event is scheduled to begin at approximately 10:29 UTC. The contact will be a direct between stations NA1SS and IK4MED. The contact should be audible in most of Europe. Interested parties are invited to listen in on the 145.80 MHz downlink. The participants are expected to conduct the conversation in English. Natural sciences, foreign languages, music and computer science are the main subjects of the high school "Liceo Scientifico Statale Lorenzo Respighi" in Piacenza. At present about 1076 students aged 14 to 19 attend the school. Piacenza is located about 60 km southeast of Milan and lies on the right bank of the biggest Italian river Po. It was founded 218 B.C. by 6,000 Roman veterans. The University of Piacenza is an important element of the city's economy. The high school is in possession of the first Italian educative license issued by the Ministry of Telecommunication. The students are legally entitled to use the amateur radio school station in the presence of a licensed operator. Students participating in the ARISS contact were involved in different scientific projects such as the universal gravitation law, the experiments in absence of gravity and, of course, the International Space Station. Students will ask as many of the following questions as time allows: 1. Do you have to do any particular manoeuvres with the ISS or with the vehicle that brings you up there? 2. What kind of experiments and research do you do in the ISS? 3. Why is it important to do experiments and research in the ISS rather than in any lab on Earth? 4. What happens if you fall ill during your mission and how can you get medical treatment? 5. Is the air inside the ISS similar to the air on Earth and how long can you survive if you have problems with pressurization inside the ISS? 6. How long does it take to get used to zero gravity and how do you move without gravity? 7. Does the absence of gravity have any effect on your body? 8. How can you sleep without gravity? 9. In case of a breakdown are you able to repair the broken part of any kind of equipment? 10. Do you have any private space inside the ISS? 11. What's your conception of time when you are in space? 12. When will be completed the assembly of the ISS and what vehicles carry all the materials needed on board the ISS? 13. How do you organize the day on board the ISS and how do you spend your spare time? 14. What is the distance between Earth and the ISS and for what reason the ISS stays in that orbit? 15. Would you like to go on a mission to Mars? 16. Have you ever had any emergencies on board the ISS? 17. Did you have to do any psychological tests before leaving for space? 18. What is the temperature inside the ISS and does it change if the ISS is in sunlight or in shadow? 19. How long do you have to train for a space mission and how do you train? 20. Do you believe that old space vehicles like the Shuttle or the Soyuz will soon be replaced by more modern ones? 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): Erweiterte Realschule, Weiskirchen D-66709, Germany, direct via DN1ERW, Sat 2007-05-05 13:39 UTC Sunset Mesa Schools, Albuquerque, New Mexico, direct via W5SCA, Wed 2007-05-09 14:39 UTC Escola Secundaria de Estarreja, Estarreja, Portugal, direct via CT6ESE, Wed 2007-05-09 14:58 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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ISS amateur radio Mode
by Patrick McGrane 02 May '07

02 May '07

Greetings from patrick n2oeq Regarding my previous email about future modes, it seems every time I bring up a request or express an opinion, the packet crowd takes particular offense to my comments and reacts in an overly protective manner. To the ham in Maricopper county, youve had almost exclusive use of the iss gear for packet for quite a few years so dont be so upset about my request for crossband repeat. Sorry to ruffle feathers but I prefer to talk to humans instead of playing with computers. Without the ability to exchange mail with the crew, I'm uninterested. Concerning the idea of using a subaudible tone, I thought that was constructive but what I am trying to do is appeal for a mode change. To bob; the frequency idea was also constructive but I'm sure you wish to maintain control of the D700. Arent years enough? In my opinion , its time for a change or shared usage. I assure everyone I'm not stupid; I realize the crew is busy so quite throwing that at me. What I am asking for is the use of cross-band repeat with the D700. Then we could talk to each other on the ground and like the past, maybe the crew will be listening and get on and say hello. I'm making a request, not a demand, so spare me the heated replies. On a social note, I believe amateur radio on the ISS is a great opportunity to promote world friendship. On a political note; Making war is easy, making peace is hard. Thats why I support ARISS. Thanks for your comments but dont take it personally. 73, pat

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ARRL Foundation provides second donation to ARISS Columbus project
by Thomas Frey 02 May '07

02 May '07

ARRL Foundation provides second donation to ARISS Columbus project http://www.arrl.org/?artid=7423 Mit freundlichen Grüssen, Regards, 73 Thomas Frey, HB9SKA ______________________________________________________________________ Thomas Frey, Holzgasse 2, CH-5242 Birr, Tel. + Fax: 056 444 93 41 http://home.datacomm.ch/th.frey/ Packet Radio (AX.25): HB9SKA @ HB9PD.CHE.EU

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Expedition 15 Crew Busy With Station Maintenance Tasks
by Arthur Rowe 01 May '07

01 May '07

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468 Expedition 15 Crew Busy With Station Maintenance Tasks Flight Engineer Sunita Williams began Tuesday with the second session of the new Elastic Memory Composite Hinge experiment, which studies the performance of an advanced type of composite hinge to determine its suitability for use in space. Building new spacecraft structures in space necessitates unfolding items that have been launched from Earth, and elastic memory technology may eliminate the need for highly complex deployment mechanisms by providing a simpler, lighter-weight alternative. ISS015-E-05649 --- Sunita Williams works with the Lab-on-a-Chip Application Development-Portable Test System experiment Image to right: Sunita Williams works with the Lab-on-a-Chip Application Development-Portable Test System experiment. Image credit: NASA - TO VIEW IMAGE GO TO: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/main/index.html Williams' main task Tuesday was the removal and replacement of the failed Remote Power Controller Module that governs electrical routing for several systems in the Destiny Laboratory. Flight Engineer Oleg Kotov and Commander Fyodor Yurchikhin performed inflight maintenance to remove a defunct air conditioner and the crew also spent time working on the Elektron oxygen-generating system. Yurchikhin and Kotov again had an hour each allocated for station familiarization and adaptation to help in adjusting to their new surroundings and activities. These unstructured and discretionary sessions have become a valuable standard requirement for new station occupants. + View Expedition 14 landing images + Read more about Expedition 15 + View Crew's Daily Timelines

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