[sarex] Re: Ariss casual phone contacts

Thomas Frey th.frey at vtxmail.ch
Wed Jun 30 11:36:42 PDT 2010 

Eric van de Weyer schrieb:
> Hi Thomas,
>    

Hi Eric

If you never ask you will never get an answer. I also agree with your
mail. But without satisfying answers, such discussions will continue ever
and ever again. And they do.
> There have been many Ham astronauts up there over the years on MIR, the
> shuttles and now the ISS. Some of them had been hams for a long time, it is
> their hobby so they were keen to operate in their spare time from orbit.
> Others obtain their ham ticket mainly for the purpose of conducting the
> educational school contacts.
>
> When there is a ham up there who has been a ham for years, he probably will
> get on the air and talk to as many people as possible in his free time. When
> there isn't, then they probably have other things that interest them to do
> in their spare time other than playing radio. That is their prerogative and
> decision. Sure, they can be encouraged to do it but in the end it is up to
> them. If they decide to do it then we reap the benefit but if they don't, we
> do not have any right to complain about it. Would you like it if someone
> came and told you what to do in your leisure time and I'll bet you probably
> get a lot more of it than they do?
>
> I was lucky enough to be at a school contact a few weeks ago which was held
> in conjunction with the WIA's Centenary dinner in Canberra, Australia and
> the best part was to see the faces of the young people who talked to the
> ISS. That is what it is all about. There were over 200 people in the room
> and everybody was moved by it.
>
> Just remember that the astronauts who want to make random contacts will
> because they want to, not because someone asked them to.
>
> I really do get sick of hearing people get on here and complain that the
> astronauts aren't getting on enough for them. That's not what they're there
> for.
>
> Climbs down off soapbox!
>
> 73....Eric VK2VE.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: sarex-bounces at AMSAT.Org [mailto:sarex-bounces at AMSAT.Org] On Behalf Of
> Thomas Frey
> Sent: Wednesday, 30 June 2010 19:33
> To: AJ9N at aol.com
> Cc: patrick at aceweb.com; sarex at AMSAT.Org
> Subject: [sarex] Re: Ariss casual phone contacts
>
> Dear Charlie
>
> We all have read your message and I agree with it. But you can communicate
> our desire to the astronauts or you know the way to communicate it. Then
> you can tell us the result here.
>
> Thank you very much in advance and also for your work done.
>
>
> AJ9N at aol.com schrieb:
>    
>> 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
>>
>>
>> ----
>> Sent via sarex at amsat.org. Opinions  expressed are those of the author.
>> Not an AMSAT member? Join now to support  the amateur satellite program!
>> Subscription settings:  http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/sarex
>>
>>
>> ----
>> Sent via  sarex at amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
>> Not an AMSAT  member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program!
>> Subscription  settings:  http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/sarex
>>
>> ----
>> Sent via sarex at amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
>> Not an AMSAT member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program!
>> Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/sarex
>>
>>
>>      
>
>    


-- 

Mit freundlichen Grüssen, Regards, 73
     Thomas Frey, HB9SKA
______________________________________________________________________

   Thomas Frey, Holzgasse 2, CH-5242 Birr, Tel. + Fax: 056 444 93 41
                    http://home.datacomm.ch/th.frey/

More information about the SAREX mailing list