Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) Status Report January 11, 2010

1. ARISS Featured at Marconi Commemoration Event

On Thursday, January 7, students attending the University of Rome "Tor Vergata" Marconi Commemoration Event in Rome, Italy participated in an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact with on-orbit astronaut Jeffrey Williams, KD5TVQ. The contact was facilitated by telebridge station W6SRJ in California. An audience of 200 watched as eleven questions were asked and answered. After the contact, Princess Elettra Marconi, daughter of Guglielmo Marconi and Mr. Dieter Isakeit of ESA ESRIN (European Space Research Institute) Corporate Communication Office & Communication and Knowledge Department, sent greetings to the ISS crew. Presentations were given by ARISS mentor Francesco De Paolis as well as Mr. Augusto Cramarossa, Italian Space Agency, Head of Strategy, National and International, Mr. Massimo Pucini, Deputy Mayor of Moteporzio Catone town and Mrs. Marina Ruggeri, Director Department of Electronics Engineering - University "Tor Vergata."

2. ISS Ham Debrief Held

An Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) debrief session was held with Expedition 20/21 crew members Nicole Stott, KE5GJN and Robert Thirsk, VA3CSA on Tuesday, January 5. The feedback provided by the astronauts will help ARISS update program procedures.

3. ARISS News on Amateur Radio Newsline

On January 8, Amateur Radio Newsline Report 1691 reported on two ARISS related items. The first news article under Ham Radio in Space was about the ARISS debrief that was held with astronauts Robert Thirsk and Nicole Stott. The second item covered the Marconi Commemoration Event held at the University of Rome on January 7. To view the stories "ARISS Debriefing Session Held" and "ARISS Helps Celebrate Marconi Event," see: ftp://ftp.arnewsline.org/quincy/News/news.txt