[sarex] Re: Ariss casual phone contacts

[AJ9N at aol.com]

Hi all,
 
Let me repeat a message that is sent out with every announcement I make  
with regards to ARISS activities and upcoming school contacts:
 
 
Lately there have been some comments on the various  bulletin boards about 
having general contacts or leaving the packet or crossband  repeater on.  
Remember that ARISS is  a guest onboard the ISS and if the crew elects to not 
turn something on or to  operate, then that is their decision.  ARISS can 
only suggest; never demand.  
Like I indicate in my announcements.  If the crew  member is so inclined, 
then they get on the radio. 
As  with anything in society, the ISS crew have many different interests 
and a very  heavy work load.  Some have been a ham for many years before going 
on orbit  and thus may make a random contact; many have had next to no 
experience playing  radio and get on only sporadically.  There have been quite a 
few who have  gotten their license right before going up so they often 
times only get on for  the scheduled school contacts.  If they had not gotten 
their license; then  even the school contact list would have suffered as for 
some expeditions there  were no scheduled hams going up.  We can thank 
Kenneth N5VHO and the rest  of the hams down at JSC for organizing the classes and 
pushing for everyone to  have a license.  You would not believe the small 
amount of time the  astronauts have for studying and getting their license as 
they are in ISS  training right up until they launch.  So ARISS does like 
to thank the  astronauts for their very valuable time. 
For  every school contact, the crew is told how to leave the radio 
configured after  the contact.  If the crew does not re-configure the radios for 
general  usage, then there is not much we can do about it other than to remind  
them. 
It  is possible to have an astronaut visit.  Travel expenses must be 
covered by  the group wanting to have an astronaut appear.  Check out all of the  
details at:  _http://www.nasa.gov/about/speakers/astronautappearances.html_ 
(http://www.nasa.gov/about/speakers/astronautappearances.html)  
73, 
Charlie Sufana AJ9N 
One  of the ARISS mentors 


 
In a message dated 6/29/2010 7:16:11 P.M. Central Daylight Time,  
morsesat at optonline.net writes:

Believe it or  not... After flying the flag for AMSAT at several recent
hamfests,
This  question came up a lot.  Of course I answered that they are  extremely
busy, however,
I also said that it was up to the astonauts  time off and their personal
interest of ham radio.
I think the time to  get astonauts and cosmonauts interested is before they
go into space.   They have to get the
"bug!"   They need to be brought to local  clubs and introduced to local
repeaters and groups that get together at  
Hamfests for the sake of Ham Radio.  They can get an earful and  become
interested enough to orbit around the world
Giving the thrill of  speaking to the ISS to the thousands that await a
"Casual QSO.!"  
73,
Dee, NB2F

-----Original Message-----
From:  sarex-bounces at AMSAT.Org [mailto:sarex-bounces at AMSAT.Org] On Behalf  
Of
patrick mcgrane
Sent: Saturday, June 26, 2010 11:27 PM
To:  sarex at AMSAT.Org
Subject: [sarex] Ariss casual phone contacts

How  about letting us know why there are no casual contacts anymore and  
only
rehearsed and choreographed public shows.
I read many times about  how busy the astronauts are but it is glaringly
apparent they have no  interest or are refraining from unrehearsed contacts.
They could at least  turn on the cross band repeater. The navy had enough
control over the  amateur radio with the packet.
Frankly, I am personally no longer  interested in talking to the astronauts
but the repeater was a lot of  fun.
Someone please make it happen.

A mere  citizen

pat


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