- Sarex (INACTIVE) - mailman.amsat.org

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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