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

September 24, 2012

1. Upcoming School Contacts

An Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact has been scheduled for Waxter Young Women’s Academy in Laurel, Maryland on Monday, September 24 at 17:44 UTC via telebridge station LU8YY in Argentina. The ARISS contact is part of a comprehensive education plan which will pique students’ interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM).

An Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact is planned for Sacred Heart School of Halifax in Nova Scotia, Canada on Wednesday, September 26 at 16:07 UTC via telebridge station LU8YY in Argentina. The contact will be incorporated into science lessons through which students will learn about the ISS, its mission, its background and the significance of its contributions to science as well as our daily lives on Earth.

2. Successful Contacts Held

Students from Zespól Szkól Technicznych w Kole in Kolo, Poland participated in an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact with Akihiko Hoshide, KE5DNI, aboard the ISS on Wednesday, September 19. Hoshide answered all 18 questions posed by the students during the overhead pass, which included topics on astronaut training, education, and skills and abilities needed on the ISS.

Video of the event may be viewed here:

http://www.livestream.com/arisspolska/video?clipId=pla_4a1f475f-d1a4-4e4c-ba f5-a91a80d0c243&utm_source=lslibrary&utm_medium=ui-thumb

An Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact was held between Sunset Hills Elementary School in San Diego, California and Akihiko Hoshide, KE5DNI on the ISS on Thursday, September 20. Students were able to have 13 questions answered about living on the ISS. Three television stations and other media covered the event. Video may be viewed at: http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/25558153

CBS has an article on its website:

http://www.cbs8.com/story/19605202/local-students-aim-high-and-connect-with- space-station

and the North County Times ran a story:

http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/poway/rancho-penasquitos-international-spa ce-station-chat-gives-students-higher-education/article_d02abc57-5246-50d0-9 f17-4cbc11532c9a.html

On Friday, September 21, Lafayette Middle School, La Fayette, Georgia took part in an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact with Sunita Williams, KD5PLB. The gymnasium was filled with students, guests and VIPs who listened as the school’s Rambler Radio Club members spoke with the astronaut. The school hopes the ARISS contact will help get the students interested in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. WRCB TV covered the event. See: http://www.wrcbtv.com/story/19610751/iss-and-lafayette-middle-students-make- contact

3. ARISS International Team Meeting Held

The ARISS International Team monthly teleconference was held on Tuesday, September 18. Topics of discussion included a status on HamTV, as well as an update on the new VHF Ericsson which is expected to launch to the ISS later this year.

Minutes have been posted. See: http://ariss.rac.ca/arisstel2012-09-18.htm

4. ARISS Status on Social Media

ARISS currently has 1480 followers on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ARISS_status

And as a reminder, ARISS news may also be found on Facebook. See:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Amateur-Radio-on-the-International-Space-Stati on-ARISS/153679794647788

5. ARRL Articles on ARISS

On September 20, the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) carried a story written by ARISS member Dave Jordan about “Teach-In Day,” an annual event in Seminole County, Florida which provides opportunities for interested parties to visit schools and teach the children about their area of expertise. The Lake Monroe Amateur Radio Society visited English Estates School and talked about amateur radio, amateur satellites, the ISS and ARISS and the role of amateur radios during emergencies. English Estates participated in its own ARISS contact in May 2011. To view, “The 2011 English Estates Teach-In,” see:

http://www.arrl.org/the-2011-english-estates-teach-in

On September 20, ARRL Letter had an article on the ARRL National Convention to be held Friday – Sunday, October 12-14 in Santa Clara, California. NASA Astronaut Lee Morin, KF5DDB will attend and is the Pacificon forum presenter and the banquet speaker on Saturday night. ARRL Education Services will provide information on the ARISS program. For more information, go to:

http://www.arrl.org/news/find-out-what-s-in-store-at-the-2012-arrl-national- convention

The ARRL October QST’s "In Brief" column carried a note about NASA's Mars Rover, "Curiosity" landing in August, and how engineers will use the Morse code letters, JPL, imprinted on the wheels to determine how far the rover roams.

6. Amateur Radio Newsline Covers ARISS

On September 21, the Amateur Radio Newsline report #1832 included an item on the Expedition 31/32 crew members that landed in Kazakhstan on September 16, after 125 days in space. “Amateur Radio in Space: Three Hams Return to Earth” may be found at: http://www.arnewsline.org/storage/scripts/nsln1832.txt

7. Stonepark Intermediate Announces Upcoming Contact

Stonepark Intermediate School in Charlottetown, PEI, Canada is preparing for an ARISS contact with Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield, KC5RNJ/VA3OOG, who is scheduled to join the ISS Expedition 34 crew in December of this year. Sue Geddes, a teacher-librarian at Stonepark, was interviewed about the upcoming event:

http://www.cbc.ca/islandmorning/episodes/2012/09/20/stonepark-space---canadi an-astronaut-chris-hadfield/

The school has also posted information about the contact on its Web site. See:

http://stonepark.wordpress.com/ariss-international-space-station-communicati on/

8. South Florida Science Museum Holds Essay Contest for ARISS Contact

The South Florida Science Museum is holding an essay contest for students in the Palm Beach County School District to select fifteen K-12 students to participate in an ARISS contact in October. Deadline for submissions is September 24. For more information, see: http://www.sfsm.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=news.details&ArticleId=64&r... main