As previously announced, on November 1, 2015 we are shutting down the
SAREX Reflector for future message postings. This posting represents
the SAREX reflector’s last message.
It is not clear when the SAREX reflector was first started, but from a
query to Paul Williamson, who started all the AMSAT reflectors, it has
been in operation since at least 1992.
Over the years, many of you have used this forum to gather and share
information on our “frequent flyer” SAREX missions on the Shuttle, our
operations on the Space Station Mir and, since 2000, our operations on
ISS. But times have changed since the early 1990s. For starters, we
have moved from the SAREX activities on the Shuttle to ARISS on the
International Space Station. AMSAT, ARRL and the ARISS international
team of volunteers have also transitioned our ARISS communications to
you and are providing you many ways to get information on ARISS. This
includes the ARISS Web Site www.ariss.org <http://www.ariss.org>, the
ISS Fan Club web site www.issfanclub.com <http://www.issfanclub.com> and
the AMSAT web site, www.amsat.org <http://www.amsat.org>. The ARISS
team noticed that many on the AMSAT BB reflector were not seeing
late-breaking opportunities for ARISS connections (School, SSTV, QSOs)
unless these messages were cross-posted between SAREX and BB. So the
decision was made by me to move all the SAREX real-time traffic over to
BB and to end the SAREX reflector postings on this date.
As we hit “send” and closeout this reflector, I encourage you to sign up
and continue to get these messages on AMSAT-BB. If you feel there is
too much traffic on BB, you can always sign up for the digest mode,
which combines many messages and sends them out periodically (usually
daily). And don’t forget that the SAREX archives will still be
available on the AMSAT web site, so you can research past messages.
On behalf of AMSAT-NA and the ARISS International Team, I want to thank
you for your sustained participation in this phenomenal amateur radio
human spaceflight journey. Moreover, we look forward to your further
participation and volunteer support in the future.
While there are many ARISS volunteers to thank for their outstanding
support, I want to send a particular shout out to Charlie Sufana, AJ9N,
who has provided all SAREX reflector participants frequent updates on
ARISS status. Thanks Charlie!
As I close this final e-mail, I want to announce that over the next
couple months, ARISS will be celebrating its 15th anniversary of
continuous operations on the ISS, starting with November 13, 2000 when
we conducted our first ham radio contacts on ISS and on December 21,
2000 when we conducted our first school contact with the Burbank School
in Burbank, Illinois. Stay tuned on BB and our web site for ham radio
activities that we will be conducting over the year to commemorate these
historic events.
73,
Frank H. Bauer, KA3HDO
AMSAT V.P. for Human Spaceflight Programs
ARISS International Chair
