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First Woman Station Commander Arrives for Historic Spaceflight
by Arthur Rowe 12 Oct '07

12 Oct '07

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468 > Oct. 12, 2007 > > John Yembrick > Headquarters, Washington > 202-358-0602 > john.yembrick-1(a)nasa.gov > > Nicole Cloutier-Lemasters > Johnson Space Center, Houston > 281-483-5111 > nicole.cloutier-1(a)nasa.gov > > > > FIRST WOMAN STATION COMMANDER ARRIVES FOR HISTORIC SPACEFLIGHT > > WASHINGTON - NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson arrived at the International > Space Station Friday to begin her tenure as the first woman to > command a station mission. > > Whitson, Soyuz Commander and Flight Engineer Yuri Malenchenko and > Malaysian Spaceflight Participant Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor docked > their Soyuz TMA-11 spacecraft to the station at 10:50 a.m. EDT. The > crew launched on Wednesday from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in > Kazakhstan. > > Whitson officially will become the station commander after a ceremony > Friday, Oct. 19, at approximately 3:15 p.m. EDT. This change of > command event will mark the formal handover of the station to Whitson > and Malenchenko, just days before the Expedition 15 crew members and > Shukor depart. > > "I think it's special that I get the opportunity to play that role," > Whitson said when asked about being the first woman station > commander. "But I think it's also special to have an opportunity to > demonstrate how many other women also work at NASA." > > Another female astronaut, space shuttle Discovery Commander Pam > Melroy, will reach another milestone in late October when she and her > crew arrive at the station. It will mark the first time two women > have led space missions at the same time. > > To familiarize themselves with station systems and procedures, > Expedition 16's Whitson and Malenchenko will conduct more than a week > of handover activities with Expedition 15 Commander Fyodor > Yurchikhin, Flight Engineer Oleg Kotov and Expedition 15 and 16 > Flight Engineer Clayton Anderson. Whitson and two other crew members > will perform three spacewalks during Expedition 16 to prepare the > station for the activation of the Harmony node. The Expedition 16 > spacewalks also will prepare for the relocations of Harmony and > Pressurized Mating Adapter-2, a docking port. > > This is Whitson's second six-month rotation aboard the orbiting > complex. She previously served as a flight engineer on Expedition 5 > in 2002, when she became NASA's first station science officer, > conducting 21 investigations in human and life sciences. During that > mission, she also used the station's robotic arm to help add two > truss segments to the station's backbone and performed a spacewalk to > install debris shielding. > > Whitson was born and raised in Iowa, where at an early age she was > inspired by the men who walked on the moon. "I thought 'what a cool > job!" > > She decided she wanted to fly in space after graduating from high > school, which was the same year they picked the first set of female > astronauts. Whitson knew she wanted to work for NASA, if not as an > astronaut, then as a scientist. > > Whitson received a Bachelor of Science degree in biology and chemistry > from Iowa Wesleyan College in 1981 and a doctorate in biochemistry > from Rice University in 1985. From 1989 to 1993, Whitson worked as a > research biochemist in the Biomedical Operations and Research Branch > at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. For the next several > years, she held a number of senior positions within NASA until her > selection as an astronaut in 1996. > > When Whitson returns home in April 2008, she will hold yet another > distinction, that of having spent more time in space than any other > woman. > > For Whitson's biographical information, visit: > > http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios > > For information about NASA and agency programs, visit: > > http://www.nasa.gov > > > >

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ARISS event - Malaysian Group of Schools #3, National Planetarium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Tuesday (Oct 16) 16:28 UTC
by Ransom, Kenneth G. (JSC-OC)[BAR] 12 Oct '07

12 Oct '07

An International Space Station ARISS school contact has been planned with one of five Malaysian Group of Schools at the National Planetarium in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 16 Oct. The event is scheduled to begin at approximately 16:28 UTC. The contact will be a direct between and Dr. Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor - 9W2MUS and station 9M2RPN. The contact should be audible in most of Malaysia. Interested parties are invited to listen in on the 145.80 MHz downlink. The participants are expected to conduct the conversation in English. This will be the third ARISS opportunity to establish a radio link between school children and the ISS, also talking to our Malaysian Astronaut. This is going to be a most stimulating experience for school children to learn first hand something about Space and human spaceflight. These contacts will hopefully energize students to look beyond their school syllabus and learn about space, technology as well as about amateur radio. We hope that this opportunity would serve as an educational tool how science in space could improve life on Earth. Participants will ask as many of the following questions as time allows: 1. What is the difference between looking at the moon from earth and from space? 2. How do you feel as a chosen one to go in space? 3. Are you nervous about your return journey to earth? 4. Being in space, what do you miss the most? 5. What are the chances of a meteoroid hitting the ISS? 6. What voltage does the ISS uses? 7. How do you wash your clothes in space? 8. Do you wish to return to space again? 9. Does the air you breathe in the ISS smells different from earth? 10. Did becoming an astronaut influence your life? If so, how did it? 11. Did somebody inspire you to become an astronaut? 12. Who were your role models from space exploration? 13. What is your unusual experience in space to date? 14. Would you like to visit another planet? 15. How much spare time do you have and what do you do to entertain yourself? 16. What is the last thing that you want to do in space? 17. Will you be bringing any personal imagery back? 18. How did you feel when you saw mother earth from space for the first time? 19. What is the hardest part of your training? 20. Can you see any meteoroids from the ISS? Information about the next scheduled ARISS contact can be found at http://www.rac.ca/ariss/upcoming.htm#NextContact . Packet is occasionally active on 145.825 simplex. Next planned event(s): 1. Malaysian Group of Schools #4 National Planetarium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, direct via 9M2RPN Thu 2007-10-18 15:39 UTC 2. Malaysian Group of Schools #5 National Planetarium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, direct via 9M2RPN Sat 2007-10-20 14:50 UTC ARISS is an international educational outreach program partnering the participating space agencies, NASA, Russian Space Agency, ESA, CNES, JAXA, and CSA, with the AMSAT and IARU organizations from participating countries. ARISS offers an opportunity for students to experience the excitement of Amateur Radio by talking directly with crewmembers on-board the International Space Station. Teachers, parents and communities see, first hand, how Amateur Radio and crewmembers on ISS can energize youngsters' interest in science, technology, and learning. Further information on the ARISS program is available on the website http://www.rac.ca/ariss (graciously hosted by the Radio Amateurs of Canada). Thank you & 73, Kenneth - N5VHO

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Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2007-10-11 21:30 UTC
by AJ9N＠aol.com 11 Oct '07

11 Oct '07

Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2007-10-11 21:30 UTC Quick list of scheduled contacts and events: Malaysian Group of Schools #1, National Planetarium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, direct via 9M2RPN Sun 2007-10-14 17:17 UTC 85 deg Malaysian Group of Schools #2, National Planetarium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, direct via 9M2RPN Mon 2007-10-15 16:06 UTC 13 deg Malaysian Group of Schools #3 National Planetarium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, direct via 9M2RPN Tue 2007-10-16 16:28 UTC 88 deg Malaysian Group of Schools #4 National Planetarium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, direct via 9M2RPN Thu 2007-10-18 15:39 UTC 88 deg Malaysian Group of Schools #5 National Planetarium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, direct via 9M2RPN Sat 2007-10-20 14:50 UTC 84 deg Giosuè Carducci, Santa Marinella, I- 00058, Italy, direct via IZØLRI Tue 2007-10-23 10:51 UTC 89 deg (***) JOTA 2007 operation by the crew is going to be circumspect. The crew is really busy during the shuttle docked time and so free time will be limited. So monitor the 145.80 MHz downlink. You just never know! (***) Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school contacts is 324. Total number of ARISS supported terrestrial contacts is 1. QSL information may be found at: http://www.arrl.org/ARISS/arissfaq.html http://www.rac.ca/ariss/oindex.htm#QSL's ISS callsigns: DP0ISS, NA1SS, RS0ISS ***************************************************************************** The complete schedule page has been updated as of 2007-10-11 21:30 UTC. Here you will find a listing of all scheduled school contacts, and questions, other ISS related websites, IRLP and Echolink websites, and instructions for any contact that may be streamed live. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.txt The successful school list has been updated as of 2007-10-10 22:30 UTC http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/Successful_ARISS_schools.rtf Frequency chart for packet, voice, and crossband repeater modes showing Doppler correction as of 2005-07-29 04:00 UTC http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/ISS_frequencies_and_Doppler_correctio… tf Listing of ARISS related magazine articles as of 2006-07-10 03:30 UTC: http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/ARISS_magazine_articles.rtf ***************************************************************************** There have been rumors in the past indicating that the ISS was having direct contacts on the 40 meter band. There is no HF radio equipment on board and available yet. The HF antenna is mounted. Sometimes WA3NAN will retransmit shuttle audio. ***************************************************************************** Expedition 15 on orbit: Fyodor Yurchikhin RN3FI Dr. Oleg Kotov Clayton Anderson KD5PLA Expedition 16 on orbit and chasing the ISS: Peggy Whitson KC5ZTD Yuri Malenchenko RK3DUP Space Flight Participant on orbit and chasing the ISS: Dr. Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor 9W2MUS Expedition 16 future: Daniel Tani KD5DXE ***************************************************************************** 73, Charlie Sufana AJ9N One of the ARISS operation team mentors ************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com

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STS-120 Astronauts Finish Launch Practice
by Arthur Rowe 11 Oct '07

11 Oct '07

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468 *Astronauts Finish Launch Practice* The STS-120 astronauts capped off three days of exercises and training at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida by boarding space shuttle Discovery for a simulated countdown Wednesday morning. After the rehearsal concluded, the crew members flew back to their home base in Houston to complete their final preparations for the targeted launch of Discovery on Oct. 23. Image Above: STS-120 Pilot George Zamka (left) and Mission Specialist Scott Parazynski prepare to enter space shuttle Discovery from the White Room at Launch Pad 39A. Image credit: NASA + View larger image <http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/170419main_DSC_0090.JPG> While the astronauts practiced for launch, shuttle program managers started two days of meetings Tuesday in preparation for next week's Flight Readiness Review, which is scheduled for Oct. 16. One of the topics discussed before the conclusion of the program review Wednesday involved the reinforced carbon carbon, or RCC, on Discovery’s wing leading edge panels. In the past, there have been post-flight indications that the edges of a couple of panels have lost small amounts of their upper-level coating. Thermography, or thermal imagery, has been used to inspect the panels in order to identify any internal defects that could lead to coating loss. The NASA Engineering and Safety Center (NESC) has been working with shuttle engineers to better understand the potential causes of coating loss. At Wednesday's meeting, NESC recommended replacing three of Discovery's 44 panels. Discovery has flown at least twice with these panels in the current condition, and with no indications of degradation based on thermography. At this point, the Space Shuttle Program has determined that Discovery's astronauts can safely carry out their mission without having to replace the panels. *Mission Information* + STS-120 Mission Overview <http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts120/index.html> + Harmony Node 2 <http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/behindscenes/harmony_payload.html> + Space Shuttle Discovery <http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/shuttleoperations/orbiters/discovery-in…>

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ISS amateur radio system scheduled for shutdown prior to Soyuz docking
by Ransom, Kenneth G. (JSC-OC)[BAR] 11 Oct '07

11 Oct '07

The amateur radio system on the ISS which is currently supporting packet operations is scheduled to be powered off at 2040 UTC on Oct 11 in preparation for the Soyuz docking on Oct 12 about 1450 UTC. The shutdown of the amateur radio system is required prior to and during any Russian Vehicle proximity (dockings and undockings) operations. The radio system will be returned to operation in the normal course of crew activities. The next schedule school contact is set for 14 Oct at approximately 17:17 UTC when students from several Malaysian schools will gather at the National Planetarium in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to speak with Dr. Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor - 9W2MUS. Kenneth - N5VHO

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ARISS event - Malaysian Group of Schools #2, National Planetarium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Monday (Oct 15) 16:06 UTC
by Ransom, Kenneth G. (JSC-OC)[BAR] 11 Oct '07

11 Oct '07

An International Space Station ARISS school contact has been planned with one of five Malaysian Group of Schools at the National Planetarium in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 15 Oct. The event is scheduled to begin at approximately 16:06 UTC. The contact will be a direct between and Dr. Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor - 9W2MUS and station 9M2RPN. The contact should be audible in most of Malaysia. Interested parties are invited to listen in on the 145.80 MHz downlink. The participants are expected to conduct the conversation in English. This will be the second ARISS opportunity to establish a radio link between school children and the ISS, also talking to our Malaysian Astronaut. This is going to be a most stimulating experience for school children to learn first hand something about Space and human spaceflight. These contacts will hopefully energize students to look beyond their school syllabus and learn about space, technology as well as about amateur radio. We hope that this opportunity would serve as an educational tool how science in space could improve life on Earth. Participants will ask as many of the following questions as time allows: 1. In your first flight path over Malaysia, what were your feelings? 2. How do you sleep in zero gravity? 3. What do you avoid doing most in space? 4. What is the height of the ISS at the moment? 5. What speed is the ISS traveling at? 6. What is one thing you've learned being up in the space station? 7. How do you exercise in space? 8. What do you miss most when you are in space? 9. How do you get rid of waste? 10. Can you see Malaysia from space? 11. What kind of food do you eat in the ISS? 12. What made you want to become an astronaut? 13. What experiment are you doing on board the ISS? 14. What do you do in your spare time? 15. What happens when you have tears in your eye? 16. Is it quiet or noisy in your working cabin? 17. What kind of personal belongings are you allowed to bring to the ISS? 18. This is Malaysia's 50th independence. What are your feelings? 19. Do you wear shoes in space? 20. What do you look forward to do most in space? Information about the next scheduled ARISS contact can be found at http://www.rac.ca/ariss/upcoming.htm#NextContact . Packet is occasionally active on 145.825 simplex. Next planned event(s): 1. Malaysian Group of Schools #3 National Planetarium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, direct via 9M2RPN Tue 2007-10-16 16:28 UTC 2. Malaysian Group of Schools #4 National Planetarium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, direct via 9M2RPN Thu 2007-10-18 15:39 UTC 3. Malaysian Group of Schools #5 National Planetarium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, direct via 9M2RPN Sat 2007-10-20 14:50 UTC ARISS is an international educational outreach program partnering the participating space agencies, NASA, Russian Space Agency, ESA, CNES, JAXA, and CSA, with the AMSAT and IARU organizations from participating countries. ARISS offers an opportunity for students to experience the excitement of Amateur Radio by talking directly with crewmembers on-board the International Space Station. Teachers, parents and communities see, first hand, how Amateur Radio and crewmembers on ISS can energize youngsters' interest in science, technology, and learning. Further information on the ARISS program is available on the website http://www.rac.ca/ariss (graciously hosted by the Radio Amateurs of Canada). Thank you & 73, Kenneth - N5VHO

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Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2007-10-10 22:30 UTC
by AJ9N＠aol.com 10 Oct '07

10 Oct '07

Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2007-10-10 22:30 UTC Quick list of scheduled contacts and events: Isummasaqvik School, Quaqtag, QC Canada, telebridge via ON4ISS Successful Wed 2007-10-10 18:32 UTC 84 deg (***) Sets Expedition successful school count record (***) Malaysian Group of Schools #1, National Planetarium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, direct via 9M2RPN Sun 2007-10-14 17:17 UTC 85 deg Malaysian Group of Schools #2, National Planetarium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, direct via 9M2RPN Mon 2007-10-15 16:06 UTC 13 deg Malaysian Group of Schools #3 National Planetarium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, direct via 9M2RPN Tue 2007-10-16 16:28 UTC 88 deg Malaysian Group of Schools #4 National Planetarium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, direct via 9M2RPN Thu 2007-10-18 15:39 UTC 88 deg Malaysian Group of Schools #5 National Planetarium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, direct via 9M2RPN (***) Sat 2007-10-20 14:50 UTC 84 deg (***) Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school contacts is 324. (***) Total number of ARISS supported terrestrial contacts is 1. QSL information may be found at: http://www.arrl.org/ARISS/arissfaq.html http://www.rac.ca/ariss/oindex.htm#QSL's ISS callsigns: DP0ISS, NA1SS, RS0ISS ***************************************************************************** The complete schedule page has been updated as of 2007-10-10 22:30 UTC. Here you will find a listing of all scheduled school contacts, and questions, other ISS related websites, IRLP and Echolink websites, and instructions for any contact that may be streamed live. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.txt The successful school list has been updated as of 2007-10-10 22:30 UTC http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/Successful_ARISS_schools.rtf Frequency chart for packet, voice, and crossband repeater modes showing Doppler correction as of 2005-07-29 04:00 UTC http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/ISS_frequencies_and_Doppler_correctio… tf Listing of ARISS related magazine articles as of 2006-07-10 03:30 UTC: http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/ARISS_magazine_articles.rtf ***************************************************************************** There have been rumors in the past indicating that the ISS was having direct contacts on the 40 meter band. There is no HF radio equipment on board and available yet. The HF antenna is mounted. Sometimes WA3NAN will retransmit shuttle audio. ***************************************************************************** Expedition 15 on orbit: Fyodor Yurchikhin RN3FI Dr. Oleg Kotov Clayton Anderson KD5PLA Expedition 15 future: Daniel Tani KD5DXE ***************************************************************************** 73, Charlie Sufana AJ9N One of the ARISS operation team mentors ************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com

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Exp 15 sets new school contact record
by Ransom, Kenneth G. (JSC-OC)[BAR] 10 Oct '07

10 Oct '07

Today, beginning about 1832 UTC, students at the Isummasaqvik School in Quaqtag, QC Canada successfully contacted Clay Anderson on the ISS. Clay answered all 20 questions prepared plus 2 more before the ISS went out of range of the ARISS volunteer ground station (ON4ISS) in Belgium. This marked the 39th school contact for a member of the Expedition 15 crew and surpasses the previous record of 38 set by Expedition 12. Contributors to the Exp. 15 record include Sunita Williams, Fyodor Yurchikhin and Clay Anderson. Kenneth - N5VHO

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Expedition 16 in Orbit, Heads to Station
by Arthur Rowe 10 Oct '07

10 Oct '07

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468 *Expedition 16 in Orbit, Heads to Station* Expedition 16 Commander Peggy Whitson, Flight Engineer Yuri Malenchenko and spaceflight participant Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor are in orbit and on their way to the International Space Station. Their Soyuz TMA-11 spacecraft launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome Wednesday at 9:22 a.m. EDT and entered orbit less than 10 minutes later. They will dock to the Earth-facing port of the station’s Zarya module on Friday about 10:52 a.m. Image above: The Soyuz TMA-11 spacecraft launches on time from Baikonur Cosmodrome. Image at bottom: Peggy Whitson (upper right) and Yuri Malenchenko inside the Soyuz during the climb to orbit. Credit: NASA TV TO VIEW IMAGES GO TO:http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/main/index.html The Expedition 15 crew has been busy readying the station as they prepare to greet their replacements and Malaysian guest. Commander Fyodor Yurchikhin and Flight Engineer Oleg Kotov set up a work space in the Zvezda service module that will allow the visiting Shukor to perform several experiments over nine days. Flight Engineer Clay Anderson also resized U.S. spacesuits for Whitson and Malenchenko for an upcoming spacewalk. The current station crew also held space-to-ground teleconferences with their Expedition 16 counterparts to assist with handover activities. Yurchikhin and Kotov are scheduled to leave the station on Oct. 21 officially ending the Expedition 15 increment. Shukor will go home with the two cosmonauts. Anderson will remain onboard with Expedition 16 and return to Earth next month aboard Discovery on its STS-120 mission. + View crew daily timelines <http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/timelines/index.html> + Read more about Expedition 15 <http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/expedition15/index.ht…> + Read more about Expedition 16 <http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/expedition16/index.ht…>

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STS-120 Astronauts Practice for Launch
by Arthur Rowe 10 Oct '07

10 Oct '07

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468 *Astronauts Practice for Launch 10 OCTOBER 2007 * Members of the STS-120 crew began their full launch dress rehearsal this morning, boarding space shuttle Discovery for a simulated countdown. The rehearsal caps three days of exercises and training at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. STS-120 Pilot George Zamka and Mission Specialist Scott ParazynskiImage Above: STS-120 Pilot George Zamka (left) and Mission Specialist Scott Parazynski prepare to enter space shuttle Discovery from the White Room at Launch Pad 39A. Image credit: NASA TV TO VIEW IMAGE GO TO:http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html "It should be a really exciting mission," Commander Pam Melroy told reporters gathered on Tuesdsay. "But I think one of the most exciting parts of it is the fact that we're going to be getting ready to open the gateway to international laboratories. So we're very proud of our part in building the International Space Station." The crew will deliver the Italian-built U.S. Harmony module, which will serve as the future connecting point between the U.S. Destiny lab, the European Space Agency's Columbus module and the Japanese Kibo module. When the launch rehearsal concludes today, the astronauts will return to their home base in Houston to complete their final preparations for the targeted launch of Discovery on Oct. 23. *Mission Information* + STS-120 Mission Overview <http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts120/index.html> + Harmony Node 2 <http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/behindscenes/harmony_payload.html> + Space Shuttle Discovery <http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/shuttleoperations/orbiters/discovery-in…>

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