[amsat-bb] Re: ISS Not A Satellite WAS: Satellites and the LoTW

Mon Jan 29 08:29:45 PST 2007

I doubt that ARRL will ever consider ISS for DXСС status for the following reasons. 
ISS is a man made structure and other DXCC entities are of natural origin.
ISS is in orbit above the Earth (thus the aeronautical mobile designation) and all the other DXCC entities are firmly attached.

If you are looking for an award for working the ISS then work a crew member or send a packet message and get a automatic acknowledgement for a QSL or apply for the ISS Achievement Award (see http://www.issfanclub.com/iaa ). You can even get the (SWL)ISS Achievement award  for just hearing the ISS as it passes overhead.

Of course, when the ISS is in one of the automatic relay modes, it counts as a satellite. I got my VUCC Satellite and OSCAR Satellite Communications Achievement Award by using only the ISS and packet.

If you want to petition for a new entity, try the Moon. If in fact a lunar base is established then some amateur radio equipment will eventually be placed there. Might as well start the paper work now because it will likely take that long to get it processed in time for the first amateur radio contact between operators on the Earth and Moon.

How about declaring a new class of award for working hams in space (using the 100 Km above sea level standard). Divide space into levels that operators can try to achieve. Near Earth (say 100 to 500 km), Near Lunar (500 - lunar orbit average) and deep space ( anyone lucky enough to work a crew going on a trip to Mars). Each vehicle or established location (in the case of lunar bases) would be a separate entity.

Kenneth - N5VHO

-----Original Message-----
From: amsat-bb-bounces at amsat.org [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces at amsat.org] On Behalf Of Eric Christensen
Sent: Saturday, January 27, 2007 1:23 PM
To: Cathryn Mataga
Cc: AMSAT BB
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: ISS Not A Satellite WAS: Satellites and the LoTW

I got curious and looked on the ARRL website and found the criteria for DXCC entities (http://www.arrl.org/awards/dxcc/rules.html#siii).  I think it is definitely doable but I don't really know who to contact (maybe dxcc at arrl.org?).

I wonder how one would get a card from the ISS?  It appears that the ARRL is the US QSL Manager (http://www.rac.ca/ariss/oindex.htm#QSL's) so it should be feasible to have all the contacts go into the LoTW without any problem as well as getting a hard card.

Do you want to try to petition the ARRL to make the ISS a DXCC entity?
I'll be happy to co-support the idea.

73s,
Eric KF4OTN

Cathryn Mataga wrote:
>  >ARRL should recognize the ISS as a country. That would
>>> stir up the pot.  If Scarborough reef is a country, then why can't 
>>> the ISS be a country?
>>>     
>> You mean s DXCC Entity not a country - DXCC Entities are artificial 
>> creations that have nothing to do with countries, that's why there 
>> are 200 more DXCC Entities than countries.
>>   
> 
> 
> Yeah, DXCC entity,   It would have to be done carefully in order to prevent
> DX-crazy hams from hounding the astronauts off the band.   But if 
> someone wanted
> to pay the Russians the X-million dollars to go up there to operate a 
> DX-pedition,
> this would be keeping with the spirit of DXCC I believe.   Seems to me the
> international nature of the space station gives it kind of  'DXCC 
> entity-like'
> nature, however the specific rules are lawyered.
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