Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) Status Report April 26, 2010

1. Upcoming School Contacts

An Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact has been scheduled for an IARU (International Amateur Radio Union) Region 1 Exhibition in European Parliament, Brussels, Belgium on Tuesday, April 27 at 12:53 UTC via telebridge station LU1CGB in Argentina. Students from European School Brussels II have been invited to visit the European Parliament for this special event.

An Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact has been scheduled for Nippon Boy Scout Amateur Radio Club in Mitaka-shi, Japan on Tuesday, May 4 at 15:09 UTC. The Japan Boy Scouts have an amateur radio club, JA1YSS and study amateur radio station operations. The boys look forward to speaking with JAXA astronaut Soichi Noguchi, a former Boy Scout.

The Smithsonian Institution National Air and Space Museum (NASM) in Washington, D.C. has been scheduled for an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact on Family Day, Saturday, May 8 at 17:01 UTC via VK4KHZ in Australia. The Education Division of NASM is recruiting the young people who will participate in the contact. Generally, Boy Scouts and other groups are involved with this activity. The Museum draws approximately 30,000 on this Saturday in May.

2. Caldwell-Dyson Speaks with Houston School via ARISS

On Monday, April 19, Expedition 23 astronaut Tracy Caldwell-Dyson, KF5DBF participated in an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact with students from Jessup Elementary School in Houston, Texas. The connection was made through telebridge station WH6PN in Hawaii. Prior to the contact, ARISS was incorporated into science, math, and language arts classes and children prepared 20 questions for the astronaut. Caldwell-Dyson answered them all as a crowd, filling the school's gymnasium, listened in. Several newspapers also attended and covered the event.

3. ARISS International Team Meeting Held

The monthly ARISS International Team teleconference was held on Tuesday, April 20. Topics of discussion included an update on the radio equipment for the Columbus Module and an ARISSat-1 status. Minutes have been posted. See: https://www.rac.ca/ariss/arisstel2010-04-20.htm

4. Astronaut Training Status

On Monday, April 19, astronauts Kevin Ford and Shane Kimbrough received an overview of the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) program, followed by a Basic Ops session with Kimbrough. Both astronauts are scheduled to fly on future ISS expeditions.