Hugh, While you can't listen on 145.800 in Europe, the hams around Houston, Texas near W5RRR will be able to listen this morning around 14:37 UTC. As the announcement also notes - you can listen on IRLP and Echolink - so there is plenty of amateur radio involved.
The W5RRR station will speak to the ISS via amateur radio. W5RRR will be on a telephone conference call with the school in Flanders, and the school will be able to converse with the astronaut by that means through W5RRR.
Obviously, most folks prefer a "direct" contact without the telebridge, but there are times when ISS crew work schedules, orbital mechanics, and school schedules do not allow for a direct contact. So the telebridge is used. The teleconference itself is donated by Verizon. There are currently telebridge stations in Hawaii, Australia, North America, South Africa and Belgium.
73 Tim w6mu
At 09:08 AM 11/10/2006 +0000, Hugh_m0wye wrote:
Also, there is no explanation in the FAQs about what a "Telebridge" is. I assume it is some internet link, in which case one wonders if it really has anything to do with amateur radio. We certainly won't be able to "listen in" on 145.800 as I have done in the past - shame.
73 to all Hugh M0WYE