[sarex] 2011-07-18 ARISS Status

[Carol Jackson]

Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) Status Report
July 18, 2011



1. Upcoming School Contacts

University of Alberta - ISSET Space Academy (Institute for Space Science, Exploration and Technology), Edmonton, Alberta, Canada has been scheduled for an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact on Wednesday, July 20 at 15:27 UTC.  ISSET's Space Academy is designed for kids in grades 7-9 interested in space exploration as a hands-on five day camp. Trainees will build and launch model rockets and experience real challenges faced by astronauts in space, such as performing complex tasks at the direction of mission control on Earth, their only connection a walkie-talkie. The youth will handle real meteorites and will have access to the AMMI Lab, the University of Alberta's virtual reality environment.  With the help of virtual reality glasses, campers will 'enter' a 3-D magnetic storm in outer space.  The camp also includes building interactive robots and an afternoon at the Telus World of Science.

An Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact has been scheduled for European Space Agency (ESA) Space Camp 2011, San Rossore, Pisa, Italy on Saturday, July 23 at 09:42 UTC. Approximately 150 children from all over Europe will attend this camp to participate in a program of sports, nature and science and space activities.

2. Ottawa Contact Successful

On Thursday, July 14, the City of Ottawa Sports Recreation Camp in Ontario, Canada took part in an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact. Telebridge station W6SRJ in California provided the connection. One hundred twenty-five students, twelve counselors and many parents were present for the event and watched as the youth asked 16 questions of ISS crew member Ron Garan, KF5GPO.  Global National (Canadian network) aired the story nationally and Your Ottawa Region posted an article on its site.  http://www.yourottawaregion.com/news/local/article/1043569--ground-control-to-major-tom

3. ARISS-U.S. Receives Proposals for Contacts

The NASA Teaching From Space Office  received over 100 inquiries about the U.S. proposal process for ARISS contacts that will be scheduled during the January - July 2012 time frame. Twenty-five schools met the July 15 deadline and submitted proposals. The selection process will begin shortly. Another window of opportunity for U.S. schools and organizations to submit proposals will open later in the year. 

4. ARRL QST Posts ARISS News

The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) included an ARISS item in its August QST about ARRL at Hamvention, and highlighted Astronaut Doug Wheelock's participation, particularly with the youth activities. 

5. AMSAT Provides ARISSat-1 Status

The AMSAT (Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation) News Service July 17 bulletin (ANS-198) included a status on ARISSat-1. The battery will be charged July 27 or 28 and a test will be conducted on the ISS over the weekend of July 30-31. Deployment is scheduled for August 3.  "ARISSat-1/KEDR Activation Planned; Deployment Update" may be viewed here: http://amsat.org/pipermail/ans/2011/000532.html

6. Amateur Radio Newsline on ARISSat-1 Deployment

On July 15, the Amateur Radio Newsline Report 1770 included a status on the deployment date of ARISSat-1.  The story may be found under the heading "Ham Radio in Space."  See: ftp://ftp.arnewsline.org/quincy/News/news.txt