[amsat-bb] ARISS Update--25th Anniversary of Ham Radio in Space 12/14/08

[Frank H. Bauer]

All,

As I mentioned on November 29, the ARISS team is currently celebrating 25
years of amateur radio operations from space.  This e-mail describes some of
the planned set of special event opportunities for the remainder of the
month of December and the beginning of January.  

To date, the ISS crew has configured the radio to support cross-band
repeater operations, they have supported some SSTV downlinks and we have had
the opporunity to participate in a special test of 9600 baud packet radio
operations on the simplex frequency of 145.825 MHz.  

This week through December 19, we expect the ISS Ham radio system to be on
the 145.825 MHz frequency supporting 1200 baud packet.  If PCSAT is
configured during the week, double hop APRS is possible.

Dec 21-26 we plan to support the Crossband repeater mode with a twist.  Our
intent is to configure the radio for 145.99 MHz uplink including PL tone of
67.0 and 437.80 MHz down.  This will be performed in low power mode.  We
should also note that an EVA is planned for that week.  Expedition 18
Commander Mike Fincke and Flight Engineer Yury Lonchakov plan to perform a
spacewalk on December 22.  As per standard procedure, the ISS Ham radio
system will be turned off for the EVA.

Dec 28-Jan 3 we plan to reconfigure the Crossband repeater for a special
experiment.  This will be a test of our L-Band uplink capability, which, to
date, has not been proven out.  Plan for an uplink of 1269.65 MHz and and
downlink on the standard frequency 145.80 MHz using low power.  Given the
subtantial cable losses of the L-band system, we hope some "big guns" are
able to penetrate through, keep up with doppler, and make the connection.

A special certificate is being developed for those who communicate with the
ISS.  This certificate will be awarded to those that have had 2 way
communications with the ISS on Voice, Packet (APRS), or through the voice
repeater.  And those that have heard the ISS from space in any of the ARISS
operations modes (Voice, SSTV, School Contact, Voice Repeater, Digital).
Valid dates to qualify for certificate:  November 30 to January 15.

To receive the certificate:  
A) Please note on your QSL the ARISS mode of operation (e.g. SSTV, voice,
school, etc) and whether the contact with you was 1 way (receive only) or 2
way.  
B) Send your SASE to the normal ARISS QSL volunteer distributor in your area
of the world.  
C) On the outside of the QSL envelope, please include the words "25th
Anniversary Certificate"  
D) Make sure your envelope is big enough to accept an 8.5 by 11 inch
certificate and includes the proper postage.  
E) Go to www.ariss.org if you do not know where to send your QSL and please
use one of the standard international QSL distributors that are noted on the
Web page.  

Important note:  We will be sending your certificate to the volunteer
distributors in bulk AFTER the event is over.  (This saves workload and
money).  So do not expect to see it until 1-2 months after the event closes
on January 15.  

We will provide more updates in the near future.  We would like to remind
everyone that ISS flight requirements related to EVA and vehicle activity
may require the radio to be off for some portion of this schedule. And
school contacts and general QSO opportunities by the crew will also preempt
this schedule for short periods of time.  (But remember that if you hear
these, you still qualify for a commemorative certificate).

Enjoy the ARISS ops on ISS!  

73,  Frank Bauer, KA3HDO
AMSAT-NA V.P. for Human Spaceflight Programs
ARISS International Chairman