Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) Status Report January 25, 2010

1. Upcoming School Contact

Morioka Children's Museum of Science in Morioka, Iwate, Japan has been scheduled for an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact with JAXA astronaut Soichi Noguchi, KD5TVP on Thursday, January 28 at 06:53 UTC. The youth are currently learning about the ISS, satellite orbits and amateur radio. The contact is expected to be conducted in Japanese.

2. JAXA Astronaut Chats with Students via ARISS Contact

On Friday, January 22, JAXA astronaut Soichi Noguchi, KD5TVP conducted an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact with children from Minato Junior High School in Hachinohe, Aomori, Japan. Students were able to ask 18 questions about space before the ISS went over the horizon. Through this activity, they learned about amateur radio as well as the purpose of and science performed on the ISS.

3. Astronauts Participate in Simulated ARISS Contacts

On Thursday, January 21, astronauts Doug Wheelock, KF5BOC and Shannon Walker, KD5DXB took part in Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) simulated contacts with students at the Manhattan Challenger Learning Center in New York, New York and the Challenger Learning Center of Alaska in Kenai, Alaska, respectively. The training sessions were terrestrial-based amateur radio contacts using ARISS equivalent equipment. Wheelock and Walker are slated to fly with Expedition 24 in May 2010.

4. ARISS International Meeting Held

The monthly Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) International teleconference was held on Tuesday, January 19. The agenda items discussed included a status on ARISSat-1 as well as plans for the Columbus module. Minutes have been posted. See: https://www.rac.ca/ariss/arisstel2010-01-19.htm