25th ANNIVERSARY PROGRAM
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. See http://www.ariss-eu.org/2008_12_10.htm
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
Forwarded by
Gaston Bertels - ON4WF
ARISS-Europe chairman