August 2009 - Sarex (INACTIVE)

2009-08-31 ARISS Status
by Carol Jackson 31 Aug '09

31 Aug '09

Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) Status Report August 31, 2009 1. Upcoming School Contacts Craigmore High School in Blakeview, South Australia, Australia has been scheduled for an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact on Wednesday, September 2 at 00:48 UTC. The school is located approximately 35 Km north of Adelaide, the capital city of South Australia. It encourages participation in projects sponsored by the government and private industry and has established an amateur radio station at the school. An Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact has been scheduled for Vrije Basisschool in De Haan, Belgium on Thursday, September 3 at 07:42 UTC via telebridge station VK4HZ in Australia. This is an ESA Event. Children who will speak to Frank De Winne have been chosen through participation in an ESA competition. An Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact has been scheduled for ESA/European Space Operation Centre (ESOC) in Darmstadt, Germany on Friday, September 4 at 20:10 UTC via telebridge station LU8YY in Argentina. The contact is planned during an open day event, "The Long Night of the Stars," and 3000 visitors are expected. The event will bring space science and space operations in an audio visual show to the visitors. The event will have presentations, demonstrations of space operations, real satellite hardware and children and student oriented attractions like building and launching of small paper rockets. There will be semi-professional telescopes made available on site for direct viewing of the stars. 2. ARISS Contact Between Michael Barratt and Tenison Woods College On Monday, August 24, an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact was held between Tenison Woods College in Mount Gambier, South Australia and Michael Barratt, KD5MIJ, on the ISS. Telebridge station W6DUE in Maryland provided the link-up. Over 100 attended the event. Two television stations, one commercial television station and one Amateur TV as well as the regional newspaper and ABC radio provided news coverage. 3. Volkssterrenwacht Urania Participates in ARISS Contact with De Winne Students visiting Volkssterrenwacht Urania in Hove, Antwerp, Belgium experienced an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact on Monday, August 24 via telebridge station VK4KHZ in Australia. ESA Astronaut Frank De Winne, ON1DWN answered twenty questions posed to him by the students. An audience of approximately 150 attended the event including representatives from one radio station, one television station and a newspaper. Urania is a public observatory which provides lessons for children ages 7 - 16. 4. ARRL Article on STS-128 Crew The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) posted an article on the STS-128 crewmembers. "Space Shuttle Discovery to Launch with Three Hams on Board" may be found at: http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/08/25/11038/?nc=1 The story was also included in the ARRL Letter: http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/09/0828/ 5. ARRL Article on ARISS Satellite The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) covered Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) news in its story, "SuitSat-2 Now Called ARISSat-1." See: http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/08/26/11039/?nc=1 There are approximately 100,000 regular readers of the ARRL Web site. The article also ran in the ARRL Letter (circulation of approximately 77,000). See: http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/09/0828/ 6. ARISS News on Amateur Radio Newsline On August 28, Amateur Radio Newsline Report 1672 reported two Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) news items. To view "Ham Radio in Space: SuitSat 2 now ARISSat-1" and "That Final Item: The Story of the Man who Trains Astronauts to be Hams," see: ftp://ftp.arnewsline.org/quincy/News-A/news.txt 7. Astronaut Training Status Astronauts Timothy Creamer, KC5WKI and Soichi Noguchi, KD5TVP are scheduled for an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) training session on Wednesday, September 9. Calgary school children will participate in the session.

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Upcoming ARISS contact with Craigmore High School, Blakeview, South Australia
by n4csitwo＠bellsouth.net 31 Aug '09

31 Aug '09

An International Space Station school contact has been planned with participants at Craigmore High School, Blakeview, South Australia, Australia on 2 September. The event is scheduled to begin at approximately 00:48 UTC. The duration of the contact is approximately 9 minutes and 30 seconds. The contact will be direct between NA1SS and VK5LZ. The contact should be audible parts of Australia. Interested parties are invited to listen in on the 145.80 MHz downlink. The contact is expected to be conducted in English. Craigmore High School is approximately 35 Km north of Adelaide, the capital city of South Australia. It is a comprehensive school for students from Year 8 to Year 12 with an age range from 12 to 17. The students are predominantly from an English speaking background. However recently a number of refugees, mainly from Africa, have enrolled at the school. We have a student enrollment of approximately 950 with 80 staff. Participants will ask as many of the following questions as time allows: 1. Why doesn't the space station spin to produce artificial gravity similar to earth's gravity? Would this make life aboard more comfortable? 2. If you cut yourself in space would you bleed more than you would on Earth? How often have astronauts had accidents that result in bleeding? 3. How long can you stay in the space station, who has stayed the longest so far and how long was that? 4. Is it possible to bathe and keep clean on the space station? 5. Does the station have rockets to boost it's speed to remain in orbit or is it gradually slowing down and losing height? 6. How do you deal with medical emergencies and how long would it take to get help from Earth? Can you perform operations on the station? 7. What experiments are you running at the moment and are they running as expected? 8. What is the most amazing experience you have had since being on the station? 9. How do you manage to stay in bed? 10 If you are in space for a long period of time, what effects does it have on you? 11. What activities do you do on board to prevent boredom? 12. Before joining NASA what other occupations did you consider and do you think that becoming an astronaut was the right choice? 13. How long will it be before the space station is complete? 14. What are the dangers in being an astronaut? 15. How long will the station remain in orbit? 16. Can you eat normally in space? 17. How hard is life in space? 18. Have you ever seen the asteroid belt? 19. Have you seen any evidence of other life? 20. What would you do if there was a medical emergency on the station? 21. How do you brush your hair? 22. How do you go to the toilet? Information about the upcoming ARISS contacts can be found at http://www.ariss.org/upcoming.htm#NextContact. Next planned event(s): 1. Vrije Basisschool, De Haan, Belgium Thu 3Sep09 07:43 UTC 2. ESA/ESOC Long Night of the Stars, Darmstadt, Germany Fri 4Sep09 20:11 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.ariss.org/ (graciously hosted by the Radio Amateurs of Canada). Thank you & 73, David - AA4KN

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Discovery / External Tank Visual - Aug 29th
by Pete 29 Aug '09

29 Aug '09

..... a beautiful sighting of Discovery, very closely followed ( by just over a Moons diameter or approx 30 mins of arc) by its external tank ( slightly below the shuttle and a definite 'orangey' in colour), this morning from the UK at about 0420 UTC....

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Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2009-08-25 05:00 UTC
by AJ9N＠aol.com 25 Aug '09

25 Aug '09

Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2009-08-25 05:00 UTC Quick list of scheduled contacts and events: Tenison Woods College, Mount Gambier, South Australia, Australia, telebridge via K6DUE Contact was successful: Mon 2009-08-24 07:19:09 UTC 33 deg (***) Volkssterrenwacht Urania, Hove, Antwerp, Belgium, telebridge via VK4KHZ Contact was successful: Mon 2009-08-24 11:30:49 UTC 50 deg VK4KHZ (***) Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school contacts is 468. (***) Total number of ARISS supported terrestrial contacts is 27. 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, OR4ISS, RS0ISS **************************************************************************** ** The complete schedule page has been updated as of 2009-08-25 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.rtf (note change of file type) The successful school list has been updated as of 2009-08-25 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_correction .rtf 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. 19 on orbit: Gennady Padalka RN3DT Michael Barratt KD5MIJ Timothy Kopra KE5UDN Exp. 20 on orbit: Roman Romanenko Frank De Winne ON1DWN Robert Thirsk VA3CSA **************************************************************************** 73, Charlie Sufana AJ9N One of the ARISS operation team mentors

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2009-08-24 ARISS Status
by Carol Jackson 24 Aug '09

24 Aug '09

Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) Status Report August 24, 2009 1. Upcoming School Contacts An Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact has been approved for Tenison Woods College in Mount Gambier, South Australia. The contact is scheduled for Monday, August 24 at 07:19 UTC via telebridge station W6DUE in Maryland. The contact has been integrated into the curriculum's astronomy and physics units through participation in hands-on activities. An Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact has been scheduled for Volkssterrenwacht Urania in Hove, Antwerp, Belgium on Monday, August 24 at 11:30 UTC via telebridge station VK4KHZ in Australia. Urania is a public observatory that raises public awareness of astronomy, meteorology and astronautics. A range of activities and services are available: lessons for beginners and the experienced, guided tours of the observatory, an extended documentation center, various publications, stargazing evenings, conferences, Urania Mobile (Flanders' first mobile observatory) and the astroshop. This "Space Talk" will boost activities at the start of the new season. 2. Timothy Kopra Participates in ARISS Contact with KIPP:3D Academy On Thursday, August 20, the Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP:3D) Academy in Houston, Texas participated in an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact with Timothy Kopra, KE5UDN via telebridge station W6SRJ in California. All 18 prepared questions were answered with time for an additional two. The audio was fed into the EchoLink AMSAT and JK1ZRW conference room servers. 3. ARISS Contact Held with Peruvian University On Thursday, August 20, an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact was held between Gennady Padalka, RN3DT on the ISS and participants in the international forum to discuss small satellite development and launch projects, held at the Peruvian National University of Lima in Lima, Peru. Participants were delegates from different South American countries and technical university representatives from foreign countries. Among the participants was the Kursk State Technical University delegate, Valery Pikkiev, who developed a space experiment for SuitSat-2 (ARISSat-1). 4. Successful ARISS Contact with Scouts of Maur The international year of astronomy inspired a few scout guides from Maur near Zürich, Switzerland, to create a special scout event, the Astrocamp 2009, where participants learn about astronomy and space technology, communication technologies, journalism and public relations. One of the activities scheduled for the event was an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact between the Girl and Boy Scouts of Maur "Pfadimuur," and Frank De Winne, ON1DWN on the ISS. The contact took place on Saturday, August 22. Twelve questions were answered as an audience of approximately 100 listened. Scouts, mass-media representatives, parents and interested parties were present. Television channel TELETOP, radio stations DRS-3, DRS-1 Regional, Radio Energy, Radio 24, Radio Zürichsee and the newspaper Sonntagsblick covered the event. The audio was fed into the EchoLink AMSAT and JK1ZRW conference room servers. 5. Thirsk Participates in ARISS Contact with Nova East Star Party On Saturday, August 22, an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact took place between the Nova East Star Party, sponsored by the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, Halifax Center in Nova Scotia, Canada and Robert Thirsk, VA3CSA, on the ISS. Four hundred people witnessed the contact as Thirsk answered the 18 questions posed to him. Bell Aliant was present to record the event. The Nova East Star Party is Atlantic Canada's oldest and largest Star Party which draws both professional as well as amateur astronomers from the Atlantic Provinces, Quebec, Eastern Ontario and the New England States. The focus of the event is public outreach and education. Through daytime seminars and workshops and evening observing sessions, the public is introduced to the wonders of the night sky. 6. ARISS International Team Meeting Held An Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) teleconference was held on Wednesday, August 19. SuitSat-2 (now ARISSat-1) was among the topics discussed. The minutes have been posted to the ARISS Web site. See: http://www.rac.ca/ariss/arisstel2009-08-19.htm 7. Make Magazine Posts SuitSat Article Make Magazine published an article on Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) project, SuitSat-2 (now ARISSat-1). To view the story, go to: http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2009/08/suitsat_hacking_for_outer_space.ht…

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25th Anniversary Certificate
by Phil - w2lie 24 Aug '09

24 Aug '09

I had a real nice surprise in the mailbox this afternoon... My 25th Anniversary of Amateur Radio in Space Certificate finally arrived. I must say, it was well worth the wait and the artwork is amazing! For all those who are still waiting their certificate, here is a scanned image: http://www.w2lie.net/e107_plugins/gallery2/gallery2.php?g2_itemId=14107 73 Phil / w2lie -- www.w2lie.net Long Island Live Scanner Feeds and Forums.

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Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2009-08-23 07:00 UTC
by AJ9N＠aol.com 23 Aug '09

23 Aug '09

Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2009-08-23 07:00 UTC Quick list of scheduled contacts and events: Girl and Boy Scouts of Maur: “Pfadimuur”, Forch, Switzerland, direct via HB9TSO Contact was successful: Sat 2009-08-22 08:20:04 UTC 26 deg (***) Nova East Star Party, Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, Halifax Center, NS, Canada, direct via VE1MR Contact was successful: Sat 2009-08-22 12:54:08 UTC 47 deg (***) Tenison Woods College, Mount Gambier, South Australia, Australia, telebridge via K6DUE Contact is a go for: Mon 2009-08-24 07:19:09 UTC 33 deg Watch for Echolink and IRLP Volkssterrenwacht Urania, Hove, Antwerp, Belgium, telebridge via VK4KHZ Contact is a go for: Mon 2009-08-24 11:30:49 UTC 50 deg VK4KHZ Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school contacts is 466. (***) Total number of ARISS supported terrestrial contacts is 27. 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, OR4ISS, RS0ISS **************************************************************************** ** The complete schedule page has been updated as of 2009-08-23 07:00 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.rtf (note change of file type) The successful school list has been updated as of 2009-08-23 07:00 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_correction .rtf 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. 19 on orbit: Gennady Padalka RN3DT Michael Barratt KD5MIJ Timothy Kopra KE5UDN Exp. 20 on orbit: Roman Romanenko Frank De Winne ON1DWN Robert Thirsk VA3CSA **************************************************************************** 73, Charlie Sufana AJ9N One of the ARISS operation team mentors **************A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy steps! (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1222846709x1201493018/aol?redir=htt… =JulystepsfooterNO115)

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The ISS and you.
by Tony, VK5ZAI 22 Aug '09

22 Aug '09

I think everyone should remember that it is the "International Space Station" and NOT the "International AMATEUR (HAM) Space Station". As it was on Mir it's a privilege that we have ham radio gear on board the ISS. The majority of crews that have flown have been very active with the ARISS educational linkups that we've had, encouraging students to explore the fields of ham radio, science, and similar activities. Perhaps there are some that should think about the education of our future generation rather than just themselves. Unfortunately some folk never seem to be happy unless they get exactly what they want when they want it. The crews on the ISS are not under any obligation to use the ham gear if they choose not to. They are employed like most of us and are expected to do their days work, and are not paid for playing ham radio. Since year 2000 we have had random voice contacts, Packet, SSTV, X-band repeater, over 450 school contacts and Suit-Sat with another launch expected next year. That's not a bad effort. A lot may not know, to get ham or any other equipment approved for flight on the ISS it must be type tested. This is a lengthy and tedious process that can't be achieved overnight. Lou and the engineering team with ARISS have done a great job and knowing what I do, I fail to see how they can be criticized. I first became involved with manned space flight in 1992 and have been involved ever since so I feel I have a right to comment. I have done many more "scheduled" telebridge linkups with Mir and the ISS than I've had personal QSO's with the crews over the years. ARISS is a great team to work with, but it's many hours of hard work scheduling school contacts, it means many hours of paper work, scheduling one's own social life around ARISS commitments and being called up in the middle of the night to handle a telebridge contact for a school on the other side of the world. Above all it means 100% reliability. I can assure all, there is very little personal ham radio involved. Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining, if I didn't have the time (retired now) or enjoy the work I'm doing I wouldn't do it. I see a big difference between Mir and the ISS , Mir had a crew of generally 2 sometimes 3 and construction was completed by the time I became involved. The ISS is still being built meaning a lot of extra work for the crews. The way I see it is that with only one other person to talk with in 6 months (as on Mir) it would be nice to have ham radio to make other contacts, but with 5 or 6 people on board, as on the ISS now to share your conversation with the desire to use ham radio wouldn't be as great. To add to this the ISS now has an IP phone on board that can link the crew back to earth any time or place so they can have a personal chat to their friends. I don't believe this facility was available on Mir and was not available on the ISS for the first couple of years. Because of this changing situation I would think that only those with an interest in radio would feel compelled to make random QSO's now they have more on board to socialize with during their leisure time. I hope I'm wrong, but put yourself in the same situation! Remember, (1) Not everyone likes ham radio, most astronauts obtain their ham license shortly before they fly as a backup means of communications. (2) They don't get paid for ham radio activities so surely they have the right choice for themselves when and where they wish to use it. (3) Despite all crew members being highly trained in their field of work, they are not necessarily conversant with the ham radio on board and not be capable of changing to the various modes that we would like at times. (4) Be thankful that we have radio on board at all. Finally I would like to congratulate Frank on his past leadership, and all the hours many others put into ARISS to make it the success it is. I don't feel anyone can justify knocking the work that ARISS has done. -- Regards Tony. VK5ZAI J.A.(Tony)Hutchison P.O.Box 470 Kingston SE South Australia 5275 National ARISS Co-ordinator and Satellite Earth Station. Web Site :- http://www.electric-web.org Also click on :- http://www.google.com.au/search?hl=en&q=%22vk5zai%22&btnG=Google+Search&met…

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Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2009-08-21 05:00 UTC
by AJ9N＠aol.com 21 Aug '09

21 Aug '09

Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2009-08-21 05:00 UTC Quick list of scheduled contacts and events: KIPP: 3D Academy, Houston, Texas, telebridge via W6SRJ Contact was successful Thu 2009-08-20 18:16:26 UTC 50 deg (***) Girl and Boy Scouts of Maur: “Pfadimuur”, Forch, Switzerland, direct via HB9TSO Contact is a go for: Sat 2009-08-22 08:20:04 UTC 26 deg Watch for Echolink Nova East Star Party, Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, Halifax Center, NS, Canada, direct via VE1MR Contact is a go for: Sat 2009-08-22 12:54:08 UTC 47 deg Watch the contact via streaming video at http://www.bellaliant.net/SpaceStation Watch for Echolink Tenison Woods College, Mount Gambier, South Australia, Australia, telebridge via K6DUE Contact is a go for: Mon 2009-08-24 07:19:09 UTC 33 deg Watch for Echolink and IRLP Volkssterrenwacht Urania, Hove, Antwerp, Belgium, telebridge via VK4KHZ Contact is a go for: Mon 2009-08-24 11:30:49 UTC 50 deg VK4KHZ Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school contacts is 463. (***) Total number of ARISS supported terrestrial contacts is 27. 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, OR4ISS, RS0ISS **************************************************************************** ** The complete schedule page has been updated as of 2009-08-21 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.rtf (note change of file type) The successful school list has been updated as of 2009-08-21 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_correction .rtf 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. 19 on orbit: Gennady Padalka RN3DT Michael Barratt KD5MIJ Timothy Kopra KE5UDN Exp. 20 on orbit: Roman Romanenko Frank De Winne ON1DWN Robert Thirsk VA3CSA **************************************************************************** 73, Charlie Sufana AJ9N One of the ARISS operation team mentors

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Upcoming ARISS contact with Volkssterrenwacht Urania, Hove, Antwerp, Belgium
by n4csitwo＠bellsouth.net 21 Aug '09

21 Aug '09

An International Space Station school contact has been planned with participants at Volkssterrenwacht Urania, Hove, Antwerp, Belgium, on 24 August. The event is scheduled to begin at approximately 11:30 UTC. The duration of the contact is approximately 9 minutes and 30 seconds. The contact will be a telebridge between NA1SS and VK4KHZ. The contact should be audible over parts of Australia. Interested parties are invited to listen in on the 145.80 MHz downlink. The contact is expected to be conducted in Dutch. Flanders has five public observatories involved in the discovery of the wonderful world of astronomy. Urania is one of them. During antiquity, Urania was the Astronomy Muse. Today, Urania is trying to inspire people with astronomy and side sciences such as meteorology and astronautics. You can thus choose between a whole range of activities and services: lessons for beginners and experienced, guided tours of the observatory, an extended documentation center, various publications, stargazing evenings, conferences, Urania Mobile (Flanders' first mobile observatory) and the astroshop. This "Space Talk" will boost activities at the start of the new season. Participants will ask as many of the following questions (translated) as time allows: 1. Wat ging er in je om vlak voor je vertrek? What was your feeling just before launch? 2. Waar ben je eigenlijk het liefst, op aarde of in de ruimte? Where do you prefer to be, on earth or in space? 3. Slaapt jij in de ruimte ook als wij hier in België slapen? Do you sleep in space the same way we do on earth? 4. Kunnen jullie in de ruimte even goed ruiken en smaken als op de aarde? Can you smell and taste in space as well as on earth? 5. Wordt er aan boord van het ISS nog steeds gewerkt met een solid fuel oxygen generator? Do you still use a solid fuel oxygen generator aboard ISS? 6. Zitten er in het ISS vliegen of muggen? Are there flies or mosquitos in the ISS? 7. Wat eten jullie allemaal in de ruimte? What do you eat in space? 8. Heb je veel planeten gezien? Did you see lots of planets? 9. Zie je sterren naast de zon? Can you see stars close to the sun? 10. Is er ooit al een glazen voorwerp gebroken in het ISS? Has glass ever been broken aboard the ISS? 11. Waarom kan je zweven in het ruimtestation? Why can you float aboard the space station? 12. Kan je van daarboven zien of het bij ons bliksemt ? En wat zie je dan ? Can you see from space if there are thunderstorms on earth? What do you see? 13. Hoe kan jij je douchen in het ruimtestation als het water er gewoon gaat rondzweven? How can you take a shower in the space station, where water will float around? 14. Wat doe je als je ruzie hebt met een andere Kosmonaut/Astronaut? What do you do if you have an argument with a cosmonaut or astronaut? 15. Voel je de trillingen tijdens de lancering van de raket? Did you feel vibrations during the rocket launch? 16. Als we naar planeten kunnen reizen, naar welke zou je het liefst gaan en waarom? If we could travel to planets, which one would you prefer to visit, why? 17. Hoe mooi is de Aarde, wat ziet u allemaal? How beautiful is the earth? What do you see actually? 18. Wat doe je met je afval? Neem je dat terug mee naar de aarde of gooi je dat in de ruimte? What do you do with waste? Do you take it back to earth or do you get rid of it in space? 19. Wat gebeurd er als een astronaut zwaar gekwetst wordt en bloed? What happens if an astronaut gets severely hurt and is bleeding? 20. Wat gebeurt er als een stuk metaal tegen het ISS botst? What happens if a piece of metal impacts the ISS? Information about the upcoming ARISS contacts can be found at http://www.ariss.org/upcoming.htm#NextContact. Next planned event(s): TBD 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.ariss.org/ (graciously hosted by the Radio Amateurs of Canada). Thank you & 73, David - AA4KN

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Upcoming ARISS contact with Tenison Woods College, Mount Gambier, South Australia
by n4csitwo＠bellsouth.net 21 Aug '09

21 Aug '09

An International Space Station school contact has been planned with participants at Tenison Woods College, Mount Gambier, South Australia, Australia on 24 August. The event is scheduled to begin at approximately 07:19 UTC. The duration of the contact is approximately 9 minutes and 30 seconds. The contact will be a telebridge between NA1SS and K6DUE. The contact should be audible over the east coast of the U.S. Interested parties are invited to listen in on the 145.80 MHz downlink. The contact is expected to be conducted in English. Tenison Woods College is a reception to year 12 Catholic, Co-educational College. Over 1200 students attend Tenison from the South East Region of South Australia, and it is the biggest Catholic College in the area. Tenison excels at providing creative, innovative customised learning programs to cater for the special gifts and talents of our students with special learning needs, and our Flexible Learning Program for senior students enables them to manage work, study and academic success in a program that caters specifically for their individual needs. Participants will ask as many of the following questions as time allows: 1. Are there any physical long term effects after going into space and how long does it take to regain full physical ability after coming back to Earth? 2. What does it feel like in the rocket when it blasts off? 3. What do you do up in space all day? 4. Does the space station need to change orbit much to avoid space debris and has it been hit by anything floating in space? 5. How long did it take to build the space station? 6. What kind of skills and training do you have to have to be an astronaut? 7. Are you finding new information or evidence from the Hubble telescope that will provide information about another planet or galaxy? 8. How do you go to the toilet without floating away and where does the waste go? 9. How long can people stay in outer space for? 10. How do you contact Earth if the connection is down? 11. Why did you want to become an astronaut? 12. What does the International Space Station actually do? 13. Do you feel closer to God in space? 14. Is it possible for life to live in space? 15. How long does it take to get to the International Space Station? Information about the upcoming ARISS contacts can be found at http://www.ariss.org/upcoming.htm#NextContact. Next planned event(s): 1. Volkssterrenwacht Urania, Hove, Antwerp, Belgium Mon 24 August 09 11:30 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.ariss.org/ (graciously hosted by the Radio Amateurs of Canada). Thank you & 73, David - AA4KN

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Certificates are out!
by Geoffrey Way 21 Aug '09

21 Aug '09

I got a certificate for a 25th anniversary contact via the ISS repeater in the mail today, hope all of you are finding one in your mailbox, too! -- Geoffrey Way websites: http://www.cape-vision.com/wayg/mrep http://www.cape-vision.com/wayg/ka1ior

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Upcoming ARISS contact with Chanute Air Museum, Rantoul, Illinois
by n4csitwo＠bellsouth.net 20 Aug '09

20 Aug '09

An International Space Station school contact has been planned with participants at the Scout Space Jamboree, Octave Chanute Air Museum, Rantoul, Illinois on Sun July 19, 09 at 15:51:03 UTC.The event is scheduled to begin at approximately 15:51:03 UTC.The duration of the contact is approximately 9 minutes and 30 seconds. The contact will be a telebridge between NA1SS and LU8YY. The contact should be audible over portions of South America. Interested parties are invited to listen in on the 145.80 MHz downlink. The contact is expected to be conducted in English. The Chanute Air Museum collects, preserves, exhibits and interprets aviation and aerospace artifacts that relate to the life and accomplishments of Octave Chanute, Chanute Field/Chanute Air Force Base and its technical training programs, the history of military aviation and Illinois aviation. The museum reaches out to youth with Aviation Camp and this year will host the first "Space Jam Enterprise 2009" for Boy and Girl Scouts. The Space Jam team believes in the greatest adventure! And that the climb has only just begun! Space Jam is all about exposing pre-college youth to technology, excitement, and the people embarked on the adventure. With luck they will chose to set sail to careers, hobbies and providing support to bring the world closer to the next step in the climb! Participants will ask as many of the following questions as time allows: 1. I know you have a lot to do but do you get time to just enjoy the ride? 2. Did you always know you would be an astronaut or were you just lucky? 3. Our troop recycles a lot of aluminum cans; do you recycle on the ISS? 4. What was your favorite planet when you were a kid and what is your favorite now? 5. Do you think people will be living on Mars some day and when can I go there? 6. What is an ion pulse engine and how fast will it go on the way to Mars? 7. If we send you some of our patches can you send us some of yours? 8. What can I do to become an astronaut? 9. Do you think we will find life on other planets? 10. Have you gone on a space walk and what was the coolest part? 11. What is the lowest orbit that a satellite can maintain around the Earth? 12. Are you having fun being an astronaut? 13. Is it difficult to sleep in Space? 14. Since everything around you floats, how do you know which way is up? 15. Do you ever get to eat real food, like on Earth? 16. When do you think we will put a man on Mars and would you like to go? 17. Will you dream about floating in space when you come back to Earth? 18. Has anyone brought any hobbies with them to the Space Station? 19. How many languages do you speak? 20. Were you a Boy Scout and which Merit Badge was the most fun for you? 21. How do you take out the garbage? 22. What made you want to become an astronaut? 23. What video games do you play? 24. Has the International Space Station ever been hit by a meteor? Information about the upcoming ARISS contacts can be found at http://www.ariss.org/upcoming.htm#NextContact. Next planned event(s): 1. EU Special Event, Eichenlaubschule Weiskirchen, Weiskirchen, Germany, Sun 19 July 09 17:54:43 UTC 2. Escola E.B.2/3 de S. Romão do Coronado, Trofa, Portugal, Tue 21 July 09 17:07 UTC 3. Ugo Guidi, Forte dei Marmi, Lucca, Italy Thu 23 July 09 19:35 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.ariss.org/ (graciously hosted by the Radio Amateurs of Canada). Thank you & 73, David - AA4KN

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Re: [ARISS-press] Upcoming ARISS contact with Chanute Air Museum, ...
by AJ9N＠aol.com 20 Aug '09

20 Aug '09

Dan, I am little confused by your question. If you are talking about a schedule ARISS contact, like the scouts did at Chanute, then my comments just below apply. If you are talking about general contacts, like JOTA, then look further down. For scheduled ARISS contacts: For any school, scout group, museum, etc., the kids ask the questions. If there is time and if all of the questions have been asked, then sometimes one of the teachers may ask a question. Keep in mind that the ARISS contacts are for the students and not for the adults or hams involved. Since the contact time is very limited (about 10 minutes max; usually around 9 minutes), we suggest somewhere between 12 and 16 students be lined up; each with 2 questions. Some schools want to have maybe 20 or more lined up; but the danger is that not all kids will be able to ask their question. We hate to have a disappointed student; especially if it is younger student. So if the number is kept to maybe 12 to 16, there is a high probability that each kid will get to ask at least one question. If they get to the second round of questions, then that is a bonus. The questions are reviewed ahead of time to see if they are appropriate. We do not really like to see questions related to politics, religion or sex. We also don't really want to see questions that will get only a Yes/No or True/False type answer. We often get asked by the schools on how to pick the students. That is the school's decision; not an ARISS one. I always suggest to the schools that I mentor that the student and the questions are a pair. Some schools want to pick the best speakers and separately pick the best questions. I really don't like that approach. How would you feel if your question gets picked but you didn't get allowed to ask it? For general contacts (i.e. JOTA): If you are talking about a possible ISS contact during JOTA, then it is like a general contact. You take your chances at making a contact. ARISS will not know if any crew member will be on during JOTA until it actually happens; it is strictly their decision. If one of the crew members gets on during JOTA, then the contacts will probably be very short to allow as many ground stations as possible to talk. That probably means maybe 1 or 2 will get to ask a question. During these type contacts, the questions are obviously not reviewed ahead of time (but you would want to keep the same recommendations as presented above). Keep in mind that the ISS ham will really be the one in control (like when working rare DX). Hope this helps. 73, Charlie Sufana AJ9N One of the ARISS mentors In a message dated 8/19/2009 11:49:05 P.M. Central Daylight Time, howardd(a)yahoo-inc.com writes: Are the kids able to ask questions? That's a good list for sure. I was under the impression that there will be a pool of questions from Scouts in advance and only a select number was to be taken resulting in only a few being chosen to contact and ask their question. This would provide for an orderly list of contacts so that we don't have a traffic jam trying to get to talk to the ISS crew. I was under the impression that if we do not have an approved scout with an approved question we will just monitor the radio traffic as the ISS passes. Could someone clarify the intent and procedures here? We don't want to try and transmit if we are not supposed to. Any guidelines from the JOTA Masters? "May the Force Be With You!" Dan Howard LAARK ---- Sent via sarex(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/sarex

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Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2009-08-20 05:00 UTC
by AJ9N＠aol.com 20 Aug '09

20 Aug '09

Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2009-08-20 05:00 UTC Quick list of scheduled contacts and events: KIPP: 3D Academy, Houston, Texas, telebridge via W6SRJ Contact is a go for Thu 2009-08-20 18:16:26 UTC 50 deg Watch for IRLP and Echolink coverage. Nova East Star Party, Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, Halifax Center, NS, Canada, direct via VE1MR Contact is a go for: Sat 2009-08-22 12:54:08 UTC 47 deg Watch the contact via streaming video at http://www.bellaliant.net/SpaceStation Watch for Echolink (***) Girl and Boy Scouts of Maur: “Pfadimuur”, Forch, Switzerland, direct via HB9TSO Contact is a go for: Sat 2009-08-22 08:20:04 UTC 26 deg Watch for Echolink (***) Tenison Woods College, Mount Gambier, South Australia, Australia, telebridge via K6DUE Contact is a go for: Mon 2009-08-24 07:19:09 UTC 33 deg Watch for Echolink and IRLP (***) Volkssterrenwacht Urania, Hove, Antwerp, Belgium, telebridge via VK4KHZ (***) Contact is a go for: Mon 2009-08-24 11:30:49 UTC 50 deg VK4KHZ (***) Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school contacts is 462. Total number of ARISS supported terrestrial contacts is 27. 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, OR4ISS, RS0ISS **************************************************************************** ** The complete schedule page has been updated as of 2009-08-20 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.rtf (note change of file type) The successful school list has been updated as of 2009-08-14 06:00 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_correction .rtf 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. 19 on orbit: Gennady Padalka RN3DT Michael Barratt KD5MIJ Timothy Kopra KE5UDN Exp. 20 on orbit: Roman Romanenko Frank De Winne ON1DWN Robert Thirsk VA3CSA **************************************************************************** 73, Charlie Sufana AJ9N One of the ARISS operation team mentors

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ARISS - Contacts
by Graham Lawton G7EVY 19 Aug '09

19 Aug '09

Hello Please join us in listening to the following ISS contacts: KIPP: 3d Academy, Houston, Texas on Thursday 20th August at 18:16 UTC. This will be a telebridge and the Ground Station will be W6SRJ. Girl & Boy Scouts of Maur: Pfadimuur, Forch, Switzerland on Saturday 22nd August at 08:20 UTC (EchoLink only). Nova East Star Party, Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, Halifax, Canada on Saturday 22nd August at 12:54 UTC. This contact can also be watched live by streaming video at http://www.bellaliant.net/SpaceStation (Audio via EchoLink only). Tenison Woods college, Mount Gambier, South Australia on Monday 24th August at 07:19 UTC. This will be a telebridge and the Ground Station will be K6DUE. Volkssterrenwacht Urania, Hove, Antwerp, Belgium on Monday 24th August at EITHER 10:22 UTC if STS-128 launches, or 11:30 UTC if STS-128 postponed. Both options are via telebridge. The Ground Station will either be VK4KHZ or W6SRJ. Audio from these contacts will be fed into the IRLP 'Discovery' Reflector (9010) and the EchoLink *AMSAT* (101377) and *JK1ZRW* (277208) servers. IRLP and Echolink audio is generally transmitted around 15 minutes prior to the contact taking place so that you can hear some of the preparation that occurs. Please note that on Echolink there are automatic breaks of 1.5 seconds in the audio transmission. These occur every 2.5 minutes during the event. For your information, when any ARISS event is supported through the IRLP "Discovery" Reflector 9010, audio is also automatically streamed to the Internet. It is then available via the 'Discovery' Reflector's companion web site www.discoveryreflector.ca . Once on its main page, select "Audio Library" (left sidebar). The prompt to join the audio stream is posted at the top of this page. You can access the URL directly at www.discoveryreflector.ca:8000/listen.pls The audio on the Internet is typically delayed by about two minutes. 73, Graham Graham Lawton G7EVY ARISS Audio Feed Team Skype: wizarduk

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[sarex] Upcoming ARISS contact with the Girl and Boy Scouts of Maur: "Pfadimuur", Forch, CH-8127, Switzerland
by n4csitwo＠bellsouth.net 19 Aug '09

19 Aug '09

An International Space Station school contact has been planned with participants at the Girl and Boy Scouts of Maur: "Pfadimuur", Forch, CH-8127, Switzerland on 22 August. The event is scheduled to begin at approximately 08:20 UTC. The duration of the contact is approximately 9 minutes and 30 seconds. The contact will be direct between OR4ISS and HB9TSO. The contact should be audible over parts of Europe. Interested parties are invited to listen in on the 145.80 MHz downlink. The contact is expected to be conducted in English. The international year of astronomy inspired a few scout guides from Maur near Zürich, Switzerland to create a special scout event, the Astrocamp 2009, where participants from 5 to 20 years shall learn about the following three topics which are scout qualifications: astronomy and space technology, communication technologies, journalism and public relation. Therefore they planned 3 Saturdays, where about 100 active Pfadi Muur scouts have the possibility to visit one of the above named workshops. The event will begin with the ARISS contact, where 20 children get the opportunity to talk to an astronaut and at the end of the course they will present the workshop results such as a planet route, a telescope made out of a drain (astronomy) or a broadcasting local UKW radio station (journalism) as well as a self-constructed aircraft radio receiver in a second event open for public on September 19. The Swiss astronomy expert Bruno Stanek will hold a speech and together with people of a local observatory the scouts will have a look into the sky. The technical team that will provide the equipment for the ARISS contact is led by Mario Malacarne who has established two ARISS contacts so far. Participants will ask as many of the following questions as time allows: 1. Have you been a Scout? 2. How many Scouts are now on the ISS? 3. Do the astronauts always eat together? 4. How do you save a lost astronaut outside the ISS? 5. What is the most important experiment you carry out? 6. Is it possible to born a baby in space? 7. Do you have privacy onboard the ISS? 8. What is impressive in space? 9. What is your task on the ISS? 10. Do you sleep well in space? 11. What is dangerous in space? 12. What is your favourite space food? 13. What are the disadvantages of living in space? 14. How do you wash yourself? 15. Is the social life difficult on the ISS? 16. Is your family in fear? 17. Do you feel homesick? 18. What is hard for you in space? 19. How do you feel when you move in zero gravity? 20. How do you eat in zero gravity? Information about the upcoming ARISS contacts can be found at http://www.ariss.org/upcoming.htm#NextContact. Next planned event(s): 1. Nova East Star Party, Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, Halifax Center, NS, Canada, Sat 22 August 09 12:54 UTC 2. Tenison Woods College, Mount Gambier, South Australia, Australia, Mon 24 August 09 07:19 UTC 3. Volkssterrenwacht Urania, Hove, Antwerp, Belgium Mon 24 August 09 11:30 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.ariss.org/ (graciously hosted by the Radio Amateurs of Canada). Thank you & 73, David - AA4KN

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Upcoming ARISS contact with Nova East Star Party, Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, Halifax, Canada
by n4csitwo＠bellsouth.net 19 Aug '09

19 Aug '09

An International Space Station school contact has been planned with participants at Nova East Star Party, Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, Halifax Center, NS, Canada on 22 August. The event is scheduled to begin at approximately 12:54 UTC. The duration of the contact is approximately 9 minutes and 30 seconds. The contact will be direct between NA1SS and VE1MR. The contact should be audible over areas of eastern Canada. Interested parties are invited to listen in on the 145.80 MHz downlink. The contact is expected to be conducted in English. Celebrating its 23rd year, the Nova East Star Party is sponsored by the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, Halifax Center. Its Atlantic Canada's oldest and largest Star Party and draws both professional as well as amateur Astronomers from the Atlantic Provinces, Quebec, Eastern Ontario and the New England States. Under the open skies of Smileys Provincial Park (outside Windsor, Nova Scotia) the focus of the event is public outreach and education. Through daytime seminars and workshops and evening observing sessions the public is introduced to the wonders of the night sky. At present the Park is sold out for the Nova East weekend. This is only one of the many events that the RASC, Halifax Center has been involved with in 2009 during this International Year of Astronomy. Participants will ask as many of the following questions as time allows: 1. You are in free fall, or as the physicist John Wheeler put it:"free float". What does it feel like, and do you get used to it? 2. What atmospheric pressure are your EVA suits regulated at? 3. What is it like to look out the window and instead of seeing a tree or a car you see Earth and stars from space? 4. Now that the International Space Station is fully crewed and with the different science modules from its partners (the USA, Canada, ESA, Russia and Japan), how do you cope with all the different time zones that the ISS represents given that it takes the ISS only approximately 90 minutes to complete an orbit? 5. Do you see Iridium flares or are you at the wrong angle to see them from the ISS? 6. When people on the ISS are "off duty" how much time do they spend looking at Earth passing by? 7. After the ISS is completed, will its altitude be raised beyond the present "construction" altitude to reduce the orbital decay rate from atmospheric drag? 8. Prince Edward Island is noted for its red soil and for the 13-kilometre- long Confederation Bridge linking the Island to New Brunswick. Is either of these particularly noticeable from the ISS, and if so, what is your impression? 9. With all the space junk that has accumulated in earth orbit, how is the International Space Station protected? 10. I understand that the ISS requires periodic firing of engines to maintain orbital altitude. Will the ISS eventually run out of fuel for these "burns" or can the engines be refueled in orbit? 11. Our species is heavily impacting Earth's biosphere. How easy is it to see human-made changes to Earth's land surface? Can you see any evidence of our impact on the oceans and atmosphere? 12. How do you regulate your internal clock (your circadian rhythm)? 13. Do you have access to a telescope or binoculars on the ISS? If so, what are the basic specs, and what do you look at planets, the Moon, Earth? 14. The Sun often emits energetic flares. Should a large one happen to be directed at Earth, how is the International Space Station protected? 15. Many astronauts have reported nausea in zero G. Does this problem disappear as the astronaut becomes used to zero G, or is medication required on an ongoing basis? 16. What thoughts first come into your mind when you awake from sleep aboard the ISS? 17. How much muscle mass is lost during a prolonged stay aboard the ISS? 18. Do you see as many stars when in orbit on the sun-lit side of Earth as on the night side; that is, is the sun's glare sharply defined, or does it tend to hide the stars? 19. Is the ISS quiet or noisy? Does the changing heat load on the ISS caused it to "creak" and "groan"? 20. Have you had the opportunity for a "lights out" (dark adapted) look at our home galaxy, the Milky Way? What does it look like from space? Information about the upcoming ARISS contacts can be found at http://www.ariss.org/upcoming.htm#NextContact. Next planned event(s): 1. Tenison Woods College, Mount Gambier, South Australia, Australia, Mon 24 August 09 07:19 UTC 2. Volkssterrenwacht Urania, Hove, Antwerp, Belgium Mon 24 August 09 11:30 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.ariss.org/ (graciously hosted by the Radio Amateurs of Canada). Thank you & 73, David - AA4KN

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[sarex] Upcoming ARISS contact with Girl and Boy Scouts of Maur: "Pfadimuur", Forch, Switzerland
by n4csitwo＠bellsouth.net 19 Aug '09

19 Aug '09

An International Space Station school contact has been planned with participants at the Girl and Boy Scouts of Maur: "Pfadimuur", Forch, CH-8127, Switzerland on 22 August. The event is scheduled to begin at approximately 08:20 UTC. The duration of the contact is approximately 9 minutes and 30 seconds. The contact will be direct between OR4ISS and HB9TSO. The contact should be audible over parts of Europe. Interested parties are invited to listen in on the 145.80 MHz downlink. The contact is expected to be conducted in English. The international year of astronomy inspired a few scout guides from Maur near Zürich, Switzerland to create a special scout event, the Astrocamp 2009, where participants from 5 to 20 years shall learn about the following three topics which are scout qualifications: astronomy and space technology, communication technologies, journalism and public relation. Therefore they planned 3 Saturdays, where about 100 active Pfadi Muur scouts have the possibility to visit one of the above named workshops. The event will begin with the ARISS contact, where 20 children get the opportunity to talk to an astronaut and at the end of the course they will present the workshop results such as a planet route, a telescope made out of a drain (astronomy) or a broadcasting local UKW radio station (journalism) as well as a self-constructed aircraft radio receiver in a second event open for public on September 19. The Swiss astronomy expert Bruno Stanek will hold a speech and together with people of a local observatory the scouts will have a look into the sky. The technical team that will provide the equipment for the ARISS contact is led by Mario Malacarne who has established two ARISS contacts so far. Participants will ask as many of the following questions as time allows: 1. Have you been a Scout? 2. How many Scouts are now on the ISS? 3. Do the astronauts always eat together? 4. How do you save a lost astronaut outside the ISS? 5. What is the most important experiment you carry out? 6. Is it possible to born a baby in space? 7. Do you have privacy onboard the ISS? 8. What is impressive in space? 9. What is your task on the ISS? 10. Do you sleep well in space? 11. What is dangerous in space? 12. What is your favourite space food? 13. What are the disadvantages of living in space? 14. How do you wash yourself? 15. Is the social life difficult on the ISS? 16. Is your family in fear? 17. Do you feel homesick? 18. What is hard for you in space? 19. How do you feel when you move in zero gravity? 20. How do you eat in zero gravity? Information about the upcoming ARISS contacts can be found at http://www.ariss.org/upcoming.htm#NextContact. Next planned event(s): 1. Nova East Star Party, Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, Halifax Center, NS, Canada, Sat 22 August 09 12:54 UTC 2. Tenison Woods College, Mount Gambier, South Australia, Australia, Mon 24 August 09 07:19 UTC 3. Volkssterrenwacht Urania, Hove, Antwerp, Belgium If STS-128 is not delayed, contact is a go for: Mon 24 August 09 10:22 UTC If STS-128 launch is delayed, contact is a go for: Mon 24 August 09 11:30 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.ariss.org/ (graciously hosted by the Radio Amateurs of Canada). Thank you & 73, David - AA4KN

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Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2009-08-19 05:00 UTC
by AJ9N＠aol.com 19 Aug '09

19 Aug '09

Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2009-08-19 05:00 UTC Quick list of scheduled contacts and events: KIPP: 3D Academy, Houston, Texas, telebridge via W6SRJ Contact is a go for Thu 2009-08-20 18:16:26 UTC 50 deg Watch for IRLP and Echolink coverage. Nova East Star Party, Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, Halifax Center, NS, Canada, direct via VE1MR Contact is a go for: Sat 2009-08-22 12:54:08 UTC 47 deg Watch the contact via streaming video at http://www.bellaliant.net/SpaceStation (***) Girl and Boy Scouts of Maur: “Pfadimuur”, Forch, Switzerland, direct via HB9TSO Contact is a go for: Sat 2009-08-22 08:20:04 UTC 26 deg Tenison Woods College, Mount Gambier, South Australia, Australia, telebridge via K6DUE Contact is a go for: Mon 2009-08-24 07:19:09 UTC 33 deg Volkssterrenwacht Urania, Hove, Antwerp, Belgium, telebridge via TBD Contact is a go if STS-128 launch is delayed: Mon 2009-08-24 11:30:49 UTC 50 deg via VK4KHZ Contact is a go if STS-128 launches 2009-08-24: Mon 2009-08-24 10:22:07 UTC 28 deg via W6SRJ Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school contacts is 462. Total number of ARISS supported terrestrial contacts is 27. 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, OR4ISS, RS0ISS **************************************************************************** ** The complete schedule page has been updated as of 2009-08-19 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.rtf (note change of file type) The successful school list has been updated as of 2009-08-14 06:00 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_correction .rtf 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. 19 on orbit: Gennady Padalka RN3DT Michael Barratt KD5MIJ Timothy Kopra KE5UDN Exp. 20 on orbit: Roman Romanenko Frank De Winne ON1DWN Robert Thirsk VA3CSA **************************************************************************** 73, Charlie Sufana AJ9N One of the ARISS operation team mentors **************A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy steps! (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1222846709x1201493018/aol?redir=htt… =JulystepsfooterNO115)

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Upcoming contact with KIPP 3D academy Houston, Texas
by n4csitwo＠bellsouth.net 18 Aug '09

18 Aug '09

An International Space Station school contact has been planned with participants at KIPP:3D Academy, Houston, Texas USA on 20 August. The event is scheduled to begin at approximately 18:16 UTC. The duration of the contact is approximately 9 minutes and 30 seconds. The contact will be a telebridge between NA1SS and W6SRJ. The contact should be audible over the west coast of the U.S. Interested parties are invited to listen in on the 145.80 MHz downlink. The contact will be conducted in English. KIPP 3D Academy functions as a public charter school, serving middle- school age students. The mission of 3D Academy is simple, yet powerful: to provide students with the knowledge, critical thinking, and character skills required to prepare them for the rigors of competitive high schools, colleges, and the world beyond. Armed with these skills and achievements, students at 3D Academy recognize an outstanding education as the instrument to achieve personal success. Participants will ask as many of the following questions as time allows: 1. What does it feel like to float around in space? 2. Is there any way to create gravity in space? 3. What is the food like? 4. Where did you go to college? 5. What did you study in college? 6. Was it hard to become an astronaut? 7. Do you miss your family? 8. What does it feel like to blast off? 9. What do you do on a space walk? 10. What happens if you lose one of your tools in space? 11. How long does it take to get into outer space after blast off? 12. What kind of training do astronauts go through? 13. What is your space suit like? Is it heavy? 14. What do you eat in outer space? 15. Would you ever want to go on a mission to the moon? Mars? 16. Do you think we will ever explore other solar systems? Galaxies? 17. When are you coming back to earth? 18. How do you sleep in outer space? Information about the upcoming ARISS contacts can be found at http://www.ariss.org/upcoming.htm#NextContact. Next planned event(s): 1. Girl and Boy Scouts of Maur: "Pfadimuur", Forch, Switzerland Sat 22 August 09 08:20 UTC 2. Nova East Star Party, Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, Halifax Center, NS, Canada, Sat 22 August 09 12:54 UTC 3. Tenison Woods College, Mount Gambier, South Australia, Australia, Mon 24 August 09 07:19 UTC 4. Volkssterrenwacht Urania, Hove, Antwerp, Belgium If STS-128 is not delayed, contact is a go for: Mon 24 August 09 10:22 UTC If STS-128 launch is delayed, contact is a go for: Mon 24 August 09 11:30 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.ariss.org/ (graciously hosted by the Radio Amateurs of Canada). Thank you & 73, David - AA4KN

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Re: ariss, PCSAT2
by Frank H. Bauer 18 Aug '09

18 Aug '09

Miles, I am having a hard time understanding your intent. Is it to assassinate the character of every ham radio operator that has flown hardware to ISS or in Space? And in the process, boost your own ego? This is really bizarre.. While you are at it, why don't you start at the beginning..with OSCAR-1. Do you think you could have done a better job? Oh, I forgot.if you built it, you would have added solar cells. And for the record, I consider Bob Bruninga, WB4APR, a genius. One of my favorite "mad scientists." And Bob, I mean that very affectionately. Thanks Bob, for all you have done for amateur radio and those interested in hamsats. Frank Bauer, KA3HDO Message: 4 Date: Mon, 17 Aug 2009 08:36:08 -0700 (PDT) From: MM <ka1rrw(a)yahoo.com> Subject: [sarex] Re: ariss, PCSAT2 To: sarex(a)amsat.org, Bob Bruninga <bruninga(a)usna.edu> Message-ID: <319281.84402.qm(a)web56404.mail.re3.yahoo.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8 Bob Bruninga and I are similar that we both love Amateur Radio satellite operations and we are both a bit if a loose cannon. Actually I prefer the tile of ?Pirate? that was given to me by Roy Neal (SK). However Bob is modest in his connections with the Military. The PCSAT2 project was military funded project with an Amateur Radio project as a Piggy-Pack project. The PCSAT2 project did not take the normal route required for ARISS Amateur radio projects. Bob was able to use his Military back door without prior ARISS approvals. The ARISS team was basically required to accept the PCSAT2 project at face value. The backdoor bypassed what few ARISS check/balances that were in place. The ARISS Hardware team was not fully aware of all of the different modes of operation that PCSAT2 supported. The PCSAT2 project went live from ISS on August 5, 2005. A few weeks later we discovered that was a problem with PCSAT2 causing interference during a Soyuz and Progress docking operations. During an ARISS teleconference in November 2005, I specifically ask Mr. Bruninga ?Did you inform the ARISS Hardware team of all of the operating modes and frequencies used by PCSAT2?? Mr. Bruninga responded ?No I did not?. Then Frank Bauer responded ?Thanks Miles?. The PCSAT2 fallout: This project may have long ramifications for installing Future amateur radio transmitters on ISS. If we are required to reduce harmonic radiation by 80 db on future transmitters we will need to modify our transmitter with additional external filters. Amateur radio projects on ISS were often touted as low power systems that could not interference with ISS systems. Now NASA knows that our project do have the potential for causing potentially serious interference. TM-D700 Project: Another project that was accepted at face value from Bob Bruninga, was the Kenwood TM-D700 transceiver project. The Kenwood TM-D700 radio is a Very good radio and supports many great features. Unfortunately the users have the ability to change the setup parameters on the TM-D700 in such a way, that the radio can become unwieldy. I do no have time to go into all of the problems with the Modified TM-D700 in the memo. So of the basic issues are: Note these issues are only with the Modified TM-D700 and not with a common factory version of the Terrestrial TM-D700. Only 6 Channels are easily accessible. The rest of the channels require knowledge of how configure separate Transmit and Receive channels on two different radios at the same time. Packet Mail Data throughput (at 1200 baud) has been reduced from approximately 300 bits per second to less than 50 bits per second. For all practical purposes the Packet Mail Box is unusable. Note: If you turn off the TM-D700 internal modem and connect the radio to an external modem (KPC-3 or KPC-9612) the Packet Mail data throughput increased to approximately 500+ bits per second. Digital Repeater modes such as Unproto and APRS are much slower than terrestrial versions of the TM-D700. The User interface is too complicated and some ISS crew members have been blamed for screwing up the settings when they tried to dial up their favorite channels. Others such as Bill MacArthur just forced the radio into VFO mode to disable the excessive features. Additional information can be found in the ARISS meeting minutes. http://www.rac.ca/ariss/arisstel21.htm 4. PCSAT2, Presenter: F. Bauer Frank asked Bob Bruninga to give a status of PCSAT2 operations. ? [There ] have been safety issues with PCSAT2 that have impacted the rest of ARISS hardware currently on orbit, and these could have implications for future amateur radio payloads. Frank asked Bob to describe PCSAT2 safety concerns. JSC required 4 inhibits on his 2W transmitter during EVA and operating the robotic arm. PCSAT2 was designed with a load across the battery to prevent overcharging, which limits how long the payload can be turned off. PCSAT2 used astronauts as a backup command-off path, but coordination of that effort is difficult as well as coordinating the ground commands. Frank noted that PCSAT2 has spurs that are interfering with the Soyuz and Progress docking and undocking TV operations. Bob noted that there is a ~450 MHz spur that is more than 60dB down (per commercial specs), but NASA wants it to be 80 dB down. Frank noted that there was a time when there were high-priority discussions with the crew regarding PCSAT2 ops, including using ARISS internal hardware by the crew to command PCSAT2 off, but the main ARISS team was not totally informed or brought in to help. ?

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ariss
by Thomas McGrane 17 Aug '09

17 Aug '09

Hello miles and mr. bruninga Both messages stated the reality of the ariss program. Miles has been very zealous in his interest in furthering Ariss activity and bruninga has had overwhelming influence with ariss. I view miles as the citizen and bruninga as the military. Its clear to me who really has control over the space program. Mr. Bruninga, that was a pretty sharp attack on miles by someone who already is in control. I was surprised to read your reference to the church and prayer. God wrote "Thou shalt not kill" and you are teaching people to kill. I'm confused! How about a life change and promote peaceful relations through communication. By the way, I figure those somalian pirates are just like us, bucanneers in search of the almighty buck. Lets remember, its called the INTERNATIONAL space station. Many people have a say in what happens on it, not just us. Take care, pat

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Re: ARRL and AMSAT as US Representatives to ARISS
by AJ9N＠aol.com 17 Aug '09

17 Aug '09

Roger, I can answer your second question about keeping news to the SAREX BB. Pretty simple, I got yelled at. When I started posting the ARISS announcements a long time ago, I did send them to the AMSAT BB as well as the SAREX BB. I got yelled out by some people who didn't want to see their inbox cluttered up with all of the ARISS schedule news. So I can take the hint where we are not welcomed Thus the announcements I post only go to the SAREX BB and others can pick it up from there (there are links on the AMSAT main page). If AMSAT BB members want it back on the AMSAT BB, I can do that. If there are other web pages that someone thinks might like to get the announcements directly, please let me know. All of this email discussion over the last few days as really gotten to me and I sure the other ARISS mentors. We get zero pay, we spend hours and hours with the schools via email and on the phone; and sometimes in person. None of my equipment has ever been permanently mounted (I wish I could) as it gets borrowed by schools (that includes all of the antennas, 1000 feet of coax, the radios, power supplies). I put in at least 1 to 2 hours a day; every day of the year on maintaining the ARISS updates that you see and the ones that go to the other mentors. Sometimes you will see me post 2 or 3 times a day the latest updates; sometimes the info we get is coming in so often and fast that I just try to keep up. Many of the other ARISS volunteers do as many hours as I do; some even more. For those of you who think that ARISS is only about the schools or only about the astronauts talking to you with some sort of fancy equipment; you are only partially right. It is actually all of those things. But everyone must remember we are guests on board the ISS and we are very honored to be such. We must work with the space agencies that actually build, fly, and maintain the ISS. They are in command; we hams are not. That means that if the crew member picks up the microphone and wants to talk; keep in mind that he or she just gave up some of their free time to talk to you. Some of the crew are very enthusiastic hams; others not so much; they are all super busy with their job. By the way, the school contacts are considered to be during the crew member's free time. So they get the 10 to 15 minutes they gave up added to their work load elsewhere during the day. I think many would be surprised as to the amount of effort is needed to get a piece of equipment on board or to get a school scheduled. The equipment gets all sorts of environmental testing to make sure it is safe for the crew. We at ARISS hope that there is never an accident on the ISS and certainly do not want to be the ones blamed if there is one. For the schools, we mentors meet every week on a conference call where we discuss scheduling, how the schools are doing in their preparation and how things went for each contact. We feel what the school feels until the contact is done. We usually get a simple thank you from the school and perhaps from some of the ham community. The hams that complain, I just try to ignore and hit the delete key. Hopefully this explains a little about ARISS. Why not do what 462 schools have done? Or what 87 schools hope to do? Get with a school, get an application in, get scheduled, and talk to an astronaut along with 500 or so of your new school friends. Welcome to the world of ARISS! 73, Charlie Sufana AJ9N One of the ARISS mentors In a message dated 8/17/2009 8:21:27 A.M. Central Daylight Time, rogerkola(a)aol.com writes: With the recent discussion surrounding representation in the ARISS program, several questions have been bouncing around my head. As to ARRL...what is their investment in, or commitment to the ARISS program. I ask because their formal representation to their members is minimal as noted from this month's ISS status report: "...ARRL QST Covers ARISS News The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) published two small ARISS (Amateur Radio on the International Space Station) related news items in its September 2009 issue of QST. One item pointed readers to the article on the Garriotts, "Two Generations of Hams in Space" that ran in The Bridge, printed by the Electrical and Computer Engineering Honor Society. The second item was a notice to readers that space shuttle Endeavour carried three astronauts to the ISS who are hams and would be doing ARISS educational activities. The ARRL monthly journal has a circulation of 150,000." And secondly, as to AMSAT's regard for the ARISS program...why has there always been an extreme effort to separate the bulletin board messages concerning the ISS by isolating it's content to the SAREX board as AMSAT is indeed a major representative of American amateurs concerning ISS/ARISS matters and as a result any pertinent information should be available to all AMSAT members? I think these are fair questions... Roger WA1KAT ---- Sent via sarex(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/sarex

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ARRL and AMSAT as US Representatives to ARISS
by Roger Kolakowski 17 Aug '09

17 Aug '09

With the recent discussion surrounding representation in the ARISS program, several questions have been bouncing around my head. As to ARRL...what is their investment in, or commitment to the ARISS program. I ask because their formal representation to their members is minimal as noted from this month's ISS status report: "...ARRL QST Covers ARISS News The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) published two small ARISS (Amateur Radio on the International Space Station) related news items in its September 2009 issue of QST. One item pointed readers to the article on the Garriotts, "Two Generations of Hams in Space" that ran in The Bridge, printed by the Electrical and Computer Engineering Honor Society. The second item was a notice to readers that space shuttle Endeavour carried three astronauts to the ISS who are hams and would be doing ARISS educational activities. The ARRL monthly journal has a circulation of 150,000." And secondly, as to AMSAT's regard for the ARISS program...why has there always been an extreme effort to separate the bulletin board messages concerning the ISS by isolating it's content to the SAREX board as AMSAT is indeed a major representative of American amateurs concerning ISS/ARISS matters and as a result any pertinent information should be available to all AMSAT members? I think these are fair questions... Roger WA1KAT

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