Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) Status Report May 23, 2011

1. Successful ARISS Contact with Debica, Poland

On Thursday, May 19, an ARISS contact was held between Primary and Junior High Schools Complex in Podgrodziein, Debica, Poland and on-orbit astronaut Ron Garan, KF5GPO. The contact complemented the science curriculum covering physics and astronomy. Local amateur radio operators, experienced in satellite contacts, worked with the school's radio club to prepare for this event. Approximately eighty students were in attendance and listened as Garan fielded 14 space-related questions. News coverage was provided by radio, television and newspapers.

2. ARISS International Team Meeting Held

The monthly ARISS partners meeting was held on Tuesday, May 17. Topics of discussion included the ISS National Lab, the new proposal process for U.S. schools and the Ericsson radio which was recently installed in the Columbus Module. Minutes will be posted to the ARISS Web site in the near future. http://www.rac.ca/ariss/arissmin.htm

3. ARRL QST Posts ARISS News

The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) included several ARISS-related items in its June QST.

"In Brief" column told about Astronaut Chris Cassidy earning his Amateur Radio license KF5KDR, and Astronaut Luca Parmitano earning his Amateur Radio license KF5KDP. The "Happenings" column ran their photos and a lengthier story about them.

Then the two-page pictorial ran, titled "Houston, We Have Amateur Radio!" written by ARRL Chief Operating Office Harold Kramer, WJ1B. There was a short summary about the ARISS education program, and then pictures of Kenneth Ransom with the radio in the simulator, the antenna on the ISS mockup, the Kenwood radio, W5RRR's satellite antenna on the tower, W5RRR's president (John Maca, AB5SS) with Harold, Mission Control, and Don Pettit, KD5MDT with Kenneth Ransom and Mark Severance.

4. ARRL Article on New Process for U.S. Schools

The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) ran a Web story on the new ARISS proposal process for U.S. schools. There will be two windows of opportunity each year for U.S. schools and organizations to submit proposals for an ARISS contact. A window is currently open and proposals should be submitted by July 15, 2011 for a contact that will be scheduled during the January - July 2012 time frame. NASA sent out an EXPRESS message to 18,000 educators letting them know of this opportunity. The message may be found at the end of the article. http://www.arrl.org/news/nasa-and-ariss-reach-out-to-educators