Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) Status Report
April 6, 2009
1. U.K. Students Contact the ISS
On Monday, March 30, students from Parkside Community College in Cambridge, U.K. took part in an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact. Spaceflight Participant Charles Simonyi, KE7KDP/HA5SIK answered 17 questions put to him by the students as an audience of approximately 200 watched. British Amateur Television Club (BATC) streamed video of the event on its Web site.
2. U.S. Girls Speak with Spaceflight Participant via Radio
The Girl's Middle School (GMS) in Mountain View, California experienced a successful Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact on Monday, March 30 via telebridge station K6DUE in Maryland. Twenty girls asked one question each of Charles Simonyi, KE7KDP/HA5SIK as sixty students looked on. The audio was fed into the EchoLink AMSAT and JK1ZRW servers and received 15 connections from stations in the U.S., Poland, Italy, Germany, England, Canada and Brazil.
3. ISS Radio Contact with Japanese Students
An Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact took place on Tuesday, March 31 between Mike Fincke, KE5AIT and students from Science Dream Association (SDA) in Kobe-city, Japan. The original scheduled pass was too low for a successful contact. Mike Fincke and Koichi Wakata made a connection on the following pass and Fincke was able to answer 22 questions before the ISS went over the horizon. An audience of approximately 100 people attended the event and four newspapers provided media coverage.
4. ARISS Contact with Puerto Rican Students
On Tuesday, March 31, students attending Marcelino Canino Canino Middle School in Dorado, Puerto Rico participated in an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact with Spaceflight Participant Charles Simonyi, KE7KDP/HA5SIK. Simonyi answered all 15 questions posed to him by the children. Approximately 300 students and 60 adults, including the Secretary of Education, were present for the event. There was no media coverage, but the school plans to provide television stations with a DVD of the contact. Marcelino is a 2005 NASA Explorer School (NES).
5. Australian Students Question Astronaut
Kalori Catholic School students in Wallaroo, Australia spoke with Mike Fincke, KE5AIT on Wednesday, April 1. The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact was facilitated by telebridge station WH6PN in Hawaii. Students were able to have all seventeen questions answered. The audio was fed into the EchoLink AMSAT and JK1ZRW servers and received six connections from stations in England, Germany, Switzerland, and the U.S.
6. Florida Students Speak with Spaceflight Participant
Milwee Middle School students in Longwood, Florida spoke with Charles Simonyi, KE7KDP/HA5SIK on Wednesday, April 1. This Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact was made possible through telebridge station ON4ISS in Belgium. The students were able to ask 11 questions of the spaceflight participant before the ISS went over the horizon. The audio was fed into the EchoLink AMSAT and JK1ZRW servers and received 10 connections from stations located in Belgium, England, Germany, Switzerland and the U.S.
7. Japanese Students Radio ISS
On Thursday, April 2, students from Miyahara Elementary School in Saitama, Japan participated in an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact. Fourteen students asked one question each of Koichi Wakata, KC5ZTA in front of an audience of 450. Media coverage included two television stations, including NHK (The Japan Broadcasting Corporation), seven newspapers and two magazines.
8. ARISS - France Contact Successful
Albert Camus and Jules Verne Elementary Schools in Viry Châtillon, France experienced a joint Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact on Thursday, April 2. Mike Fincke, KE5AIT answered 16 questions posed to him by the students. Approximately 150 were present for the event including the mayor of Viry-Chatillon and Mr. Alberto Novelli, representing ESA. Local newspapers and "Le Parisien" reported the news. The audio was fed into the EchoLink AMSAT and JK1ZRW servers and received three connections from stations in the U.S., China and England.
This was the last contact of Expedition 18 and Mike Fincke's 40th contact during this increment.
9. Carl Sandburg Elementary Participates in ARISS Contact
On Thursday, April 1, students attending Carl Sandburg Elementary School in Kirkland, Washington experienced an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact which was made possible through telebridge station W6SRJ in California. Charles Simonyi, KE7KDP/HA5SIK answered the 20 questions put to him by the students. An audience of approximately 75 students, teachers and parents were present for the contact. The audio was fed into the EchoLink AMSAT and JK1ZRW servers and received ten connections from stations located in England, New Zealand, Turkey and the U.S.
King-TV posted an article covering the event. See:
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_040209EDB-space-station-simonyi-K…
10. ARRL Article on Dayton Award Winners
The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) ran an article, "Dayton Amateur Radio Association Announces 2009 Award Winners." The Special Achievement Award will go to Spaceflight Participant Richard Garriott, W5KWQ who participated in many Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) activities while onboard the ISS. See: http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/04/01/10743/?nc=1
The ARRL Web site has 100,000 regular readers.
11. ARISS News on Amateur Radio Newsline
On April 3, the Amateur Radio Newsline Report 1651 ran 2 Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) news items. The first, "Names in the News: Dayton Hamvention Announces 2009 Award Winners," covers Richard Garriott as the Special Achievement Award recipient. The second item, "Ham Radio in Space: KE7KDP Again Operating from the ISS," is about Charles Simonyi's mission, including his ARISS school contacts. See: ftp://ftp.arnewsline.org/quincy/News/news.txt
12. Charles in Space Web Site
The Charles in Space Web site has a section where the public has posted space related questions concerning Charles' current mission and his Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) activities. To view the questions and answers, see:
http://www.charlesinspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=Read_the_Answers.welcome#
13. General Contacts and SSTV
Over the past week, Charles Simonyi, KE7KDP/HA5SIK made several general contacts with ground stations around the world including those in the U.S., Canada, Australia, Hungary and Venezuela.
He also transmitted Slow Scan Television (SSTV) images using the VC-H1. Images may be viewed on the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) SSTV gallery site: http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/SSTV/
14. Astronaut Training Status
On Monday, March 30, the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) team provided training to Mike Fossum to prepare him for the ham radio licensing exam. ARISS member Kenneth Ransom is also working with other astronauts from Expeditions 25 - 28 to get them trained and licensed.
Hi again:
?
This past Tuesday a school here had an ARISS contact, and today at 00:04 had the opportunity to work Charles, full quieting. Heard him work two US, 4 from here and one from Venezuela.
?
Cheers,
Angel Santana - WP3GW
Puerto Rico FK78aj
Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2009-04-04 03:00 UTC
Quick list of scheduled contacts and events:
TBD
Crossband repeater and packet have been active! Don’t forget to do Doppler
correction for the crossband repeater!
Don’t forget the keyword here is Repeater. Repeaters have the FM capture
effect. Strongest into the machine wins momentarily.
Expedition 18 has now set the record for ARISS contacts by an expedition.
Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school contacts is 429.
Total number of ARISS supported terrestrial contacts is 22.
QSL information may be found at:
http://www.arrl.org/ARISS/arissfaq.htmlhttp://www.rac.ca/ariss/oindex.htm#QSL's
ISS callsigns: DP0ISS, NA1SS, OR4ISS, RS0ISS
*****************************************************************************
The complete schedule page has been updated as of 2009-04-04 03:00 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 2009-04-03 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 have been rumors in the past indicating 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.
*****************************************************************************
Exp. 18 on orbit:
Michael Fincke KE5AIT
Yury Lonchakov RA3DT
Koichi Wakata KC5ZTA
Exp. 19 on orbit:
Gennady Padalka RN3DT
Michael Barratt KD5MIJ
Space Flight Participant on orbit:
SFP Charles Simonyi KE7KDP/HA5SIK
*****************************************************************************
73,
Charlie Sufana AJ9N
One of the ARISS operation team mentors
**************Feeling the pinch at the grocery store? Make dinner for $10 or
less. (http://food.aol.com/frugal-feasts?ncid=emlcntusfood00000001)
Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2009-04-03 05:00 UTC
Quick list of scheduled contacts and events:
Miyahara Elementary School, Saitama, Japan via 8J1KW
Contact was successful: Thu 2009-04-02 09:14:35 UTC 29 deg (***)
CAMUS, Viry Châtillon, France, direct via F8BPA
Contact was successful: Thu 2009-04-02 13:35:48 UTC 87 deg (***)
Carl Sandburg Elementary - Lake Washington School District, Kirkland, WA
telebridge via W6SRJ
Contact was successful: Thu 2009-04-02 19:35:38 UTC 36 deg (***)
Congratulations to Koichi Wakata KC5ZTA for his first ARISS school contact!
(***)
Crossband repeater and packet have been active! Don’t forget to do Doppler
correction for the crossband repeater!
Don’t forget the keyword here is Repeater. Repeaters have the FM capture
effect. Strongest into the machine wins momentarily.
Expedition 18 has now set the record for ARISS contacts by an expedition.
Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school contacts is 429. (***)
Total number of ARISS supported terrestrial contacts is 22.
QSL information may be found at:
http://www.arrl.org/ARISS/arissfaq.htmlhttp://www.rac.ca/ariss/oindex.htm#QSL's
ISS callsigns: DP0ISS, NA1SS, OR4ISS, RS0ISS
*****************************************************************************
The complete schedule page has been updated as of 2009-04-03 05:00 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 2009-04-03 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 have been rumors in the past indicating 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.
*****************************************************************************
Exp. 18 on orbit:
Michael Fincke KE5AIT
Yury Lonchakov RA3DT
Koichi Wakata KC5ZTA
Exp. 19 on orbit:
Gennady Padalka RN3DT
Michael Barratt KD5MIJ
Space Flight Participant on orbit:
SFP Charles Simonyi KE7KDP/HA5SIK
*****************************************************************************
73,
Charlie Sufana AJ9N
One of the ARISS operation team mentors
**************Feeling the pinch at the grocery store? Make dinner for $10 or
less. (http://food.aol.com/frugal-feasts?ncid=emlcntusfood00000001)
All,
I wanted to clarify some statements made by Miles, based on where ARISS was
when I stepped down.
In his e-mail he states:
-----------------------
SSTV Status:
We have two SSTV systems on ISS. One is the Kenwood VCH1 sstv microphone.
This is the system which th4 crew has been using the most. The system only
runs on AA batteries at this time due to flight safety limitations.
The second system is the Marex Software system called SpaceCam1. This
system will run manually for fully automatic. The software system has not
been used much because of a problem with the VOX cable that goes to the D700
transceiver. When the Vox cable is used the radio sticks in the
Transmitting mode until 3-minute watchdog timer expires. ARISS has tried
two different cables with the same results. The Vox gets its power from the
D700 and it appears the dc power has too much RF and is causing Vox circuit
to keep the radio stuck transmitting.
Marex is proposing a completely different VOC using that has been tested
extensively.
----------------------
The ARISS-provided VC-H1 currently does run on AA batteries. The use of AA
batteries was not due to flight safety limitations at all. Given the tight
schedule that we had for Richard Garriott's flight and the need to fly a
hardware-based SSTV system, we concentrated on certifying the VC-H1 with the
understanding that there was a surplus of AA batteries on ISS. On ISS,
batteries for critical functions are taken out of service and replaced
before they are fully used up. These partially-used batteries can easily be
used for non-critical devices like the VC-H1. The ARISS team is working on a
battery eliminator (power supply) for the VC-H1 that will be flown at a
later date.
There are 3 SSTV systems on board, one hardware system (VC-H1) and two
software-based systems, MMSSTV and SpaceCam. The primary rationale for
making the VC-H1 prime is that the ARISS team gets very limited use (read
as: almost no use) of an on-board computer. So the SSTV operations over the
past few years was nearly zero. Only when the VC-H1 was introduced in
October 2008 did SSTV on ISS really take off. Some self-interference issues
have been observed on the software-based system that were not observed on
the ground prior to flight. As of right now, it is unclear what is causing
this issue. The ARISS team has not had an opportunity to fully debug this
issue on-orbit. (It is very hard to get a computer and the crew time at the
same time) So I would not speculate what the issue is. Also, there are
some subtle differences in the radio system on-board ISS as compared to the
ground-based equivalents.
Any proposals for new amateur radio hardware and software systems need to be
approved by the ARISS project selection and use committee. They then need
to be presented to the space agencies. The space agencies then determine if
there is volume/power/mass available on-board for the system and give the
ARISS team a yes/no answer as to whether they are willing to fly the
equipment. The proposal then needs to get a final concurence from the ARISS
international delegates to move forward as an official project.
Miles' proposal (above) has not gone through that process yet.
I hope this clarifies.
73, Frank Bauer, KA3HDO
This morning ZL1KJ received a very good SSTV image from the International Space Station here in Warkworth, North of Auckland City, courtesy of Charles, and afterwards a brief Voice contact with him as well.The time of this contact was Friday morning 08.19.am.Local Time (Thursday 1919 Hrs UTC). de Gary
Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2009-03-31 18:00 UTC
Quick list of scheduled contacts and events:
Science Dream Association (SDA), Kobe-city, Japan, direct via 8N3S
Contact was successful: Tue 2009-03-31 09:56:03 UTC 25 deg (***)
Marcelino Canino Canino Middle School, Dorado, Puerto Rico, 2009-01-27,
direct via KP4RF
Contact was successful: Tue 2009-03-31 15:36:19 UTC 74 deg (***)
Kalori Catholic School, Wallaro, Australia, telebridge via WH6PN
Contact is a go for: Wed 2009-04-01 07:25:38 UTC 70 deg
Milwee Middle School, Longwood, Florida telebridge via ON4ISS
Contact is a go for Wed 2009-04-01 17:55:42 UTC 33 deg
Miyahara Elementary School, Saitama, Japan via 8J1KW (***)
Contact is a go for: Thu 2009-04-02 09:14:35 UTC 29 deg
CAMUS, Viry Châtillon, France, direct via F8BPA
Contact is a go for: Thu 2009-04-02 13:35:48 UTC 87 deg
Carl Sandburg Elementary - Lake Washington School District, Kirkland, WA
telebridge via W6SRJ
Contact is a go for Thu 2009-04-02 19:35:38 UTC 36 deg
Congratulations to Mike Fincke KE5AIT! He now holds the record for the most
ARISS school contacts on a single expedition as well as the most for
multiple missions. (***)
Crossband repeater and packet have been active! Don’t forget to do Doppler
correction for the crossband repeater!
Don’t forget the keyword here is Repeater. Repeaters have the FM capture
effect. Strongest into the machine wins momentarily.
Expedition 18 has now set the record for ARISS contacts by an expedition.
Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school contacts is 424. (***)
Total number of ARISS supported terrestrial contacts is 22.
QSL information may be found at:
http://www.arrl.org/ARISS/arissfaq.htmlhttp://www.rac.ca/ariss/oindex.htm#QSL's
ISS callsigns: DP0ISS, NA1SS, OR4ISS, RS0ISS
*****************************************************************************
The complete schedule page has been updated as of 2009-03-31 18:00 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 2009-03-31 18:00 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 have been rumors in the past indicating 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.
*****************************************************************************
Exp. 18 on orbit:
Michael Fincke KE5AIT
Yury Lonchakov RA3DT
Koichi Wakata KC5ZTA
Exp. 19 on orbit:
Gennady Padalka RN3DT
Michael Barratt KD5MIJ
Space Flight Participant on orbit:
SFP Charles Simonyi KE7KDP/HA5SIK
*****************************************************************************
73,
Charlie Sufana AJ9N
One of the ARISS operation team mentors
**************Feeling the pinch at the grocery store? Make dinner for $10 or
less. (http://food.aol.com/frugal-feasts?ncid=emlcntusfood00000001)
Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2009-04-01 23:45 UTC
Quick list of scheduled contacts and events:
Kalori Catholic School, Wallaro, Australia, telebridge via WH6PN
Contact was successful: Wed 2009-04-01 07:25:38 UTC 70 deg (***)
Milwee Middle School, Longwood, Florida telebridge via ON4ISS
Contact was successful: Wed 2009-04-01 17:55:42 UTC 33 deg (***)
Miyahara Elementary School, Saitama, Japan via 8J1KW (***)
Contact is a go for: Thu 2009-04-02 09:14:35 UTC 29 deg
CAMUS, Viry Châtillon, France, direct via F8BPA
Contact is a go for: Thu 2009-04-02 13:35:48 UTC 87 deg
Carl Sandburg Elementary - Lake Washington School District, Kirkland, WA
telebridge via W6SRJ
Contact is a go for Thu 2009-04-02 19:35:38 UTC 36 deg
Congratulations to Mike Fincke KE5AIT! He now holds the record for the most
ARISS contacts on a single expedition as well as the most for multiple
missions. (***)
Crossband repeater and packet have been active! Don’t forget to do Doppler
correction for the crossband repeater!
Don’t forget the keyword here is Repeater. Repeaters have the FM capture
effect. Strongest into the machine wins momentarily.
Expedition 18 has now set the record for ARISS contacts by an expedition.
Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school contacts is 426. (***)
Total number of ARISS supported terrestrial contacts is 22.
QSL information may be found at:
http://www.arrl.org/ARISS/arissfaq.htmlhttp://www.rac.ca/ariss/oindex.htm#QSL's
ISS callsigns: DP0ISS, NA1SS, OR4ISS, RS0ISS
*****************************************************************************
The complete schedule page has been updated as of 2009-04-01 23:45 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 2009-04-01 23:45 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 have been rumors in the past indicating 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.
*****************************************************************************
Exp. 18 on orbit:
Michael Fincke KE5AIT
Yury Lonchakov RA3DT
Koichi Wakata KC5ZTA
Exp. 19 on orbit:
Gennady Padalka RN3DT
Michael Barratt KD5MIJ
Space Flight Participant on orbit:
SFP Charles Simonyi KE7KDP/HA5SIK
*****************************************************************************
73,
Charlie Sufana AJ9N
One of the ARISS operation team mentors
**************Feeling the pinch at the grocery store? Make dinner for $10 or
less. (http://food.aol.com/frugal-feasts?ncid=emlcntusfood00000001)
