Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) Status Report

July 23, 2012

1. Upcoming School Contacts

An Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact is planned for the Women in Engineering @ Rochester Institute of Technology (WE@RIT) in Rochester, New York on Monday, July 23 (13:27 UTC) as it hosts its pre-engineering summer camps. This year's camp theme is "World in Motion." The main camp activities revolve around engineering-based themes to teach the engineering design process and to have participants understand engineering projects and concepts through hands-on build and design activities. A mix of RIT engineering laboratory experiences, team building activities, project management, logical thinking, and problem solving will be incorporated. The summer camp services girls entering grades 5-9.

An Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact has been tentatively scheduled for the Virginia Air and Space Center located in Hampton, Virginia on Thursday, July 26 at 14:05 UTC. The contact is part of a comprehensive education plan which will pique students' interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM).

2. ESA Space Camp Radios Joe Acaba On Space Station

On Sunday, July 22, ESA Space Camp, held at St. Columba's College, Dublin, Ireland, took part in an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact via telebridge station W6SRJ in California. Joe Acaba, KE5DAR on the ISS participated in the Q&A session, answering the youths' 21 questions. The event drew an audience of over 160. The space camp was attended by children of ESA employees who learned about space through guest speakers, hands-on activities and field trips.

3. ARISS International Team Teleconference Held

The monthly ARISS International Team meeting was held on Tuesday, July 17. Discussion topics included the ARISS paperwork filed with the ITU and an update on ARISS radio equipment in the Columbus Module. Minutes have been posted: http://ariss.rac.ca/arisstel2012-07-17.htm

4. Amateur Radio Newsline Covers ARISS

The July 20 Amateur Radio Newsline report #1823 had a story about new ISS crew members Sunita Williams, KD5PLB, Yuri Malenchenko, RK3DUP, and Aki Hoshide, KE5DNI, who arrived at the space station on July 17. "Ham Radio in Space: New Astro-Hams Arrive at the ISS as Part of the Expedition 32 Crew" may be viewed at: http://www.arnewsline.org/storage/scripts/nsln1823.txt

5. AMSAT News Service on ARISS

The July 22 AMSAT (Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation) News Service bulletin (ANS-204) included two ARISS-related items. The first item covers Moon Day 2012 that was held in Dallas, Texas over the weekend and was supported by ARISS and AMSAT representatives. The second covers new Expedition 32 crew members on ISS. "AMSAT and ARISS Support Moon Day 2012 at Dallas Love Field Air Museum" and "Three Hams Arrive + Three Hams Aboard = Six Hams Aboard ISS" may be found here: http://amsat.org/pipermail/ans/2012/000636.html