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.htm...