Tag Archives: International Space Station

Jun 14 2013

AMSAT ARISS Program Status

International Space Station ISS with shuttle Endeavour 2011-05-23Frank Bauer, KA3HDO and AMSAT VP for Human Spaceflight Programs presents an update on the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) Program.

The presentation was given at the 2013 Dayton Hamvention. Frank takes a quick look at 30 years of amateur radio on the Space Shuttle and International Space Station, some changes at NASA that are affecting ARISS, and finishes with how you can become involved.

Watch AMSAT ARISS Program Status, by Frank KA3HDO – 2013 Dayton Hamvention

ARISS
http://www.ariss.org/

Jun 3 2013

UK’s SpaceKate Wins ‘Most Inspiring App’ – International Space Apps Challenge

SpaceKate T-10 AppThe App produced by broadcast journalist Kate Arkless Gray a.k.a. SpaceKate has won the Most Inspiring App category of the International Space Apps Challange.

Radio amateur and former ISS Commander and Chris Hadfield VA3OOG said about the App “Cool idea! A 10-minute alarm would be perfect”.

The app was initially produced over a busy weekend at Space Apps London and consequently won a place in the international judging. The small team, which consists of Kate Arkless Gray, João Neves, Ketan Majmudar and Dario Lofish have continued to develop the app and provisionally hope to launch it in July. Getting the app into the hands of the astronauts may take a little more time, but that is the aim.

Read more about SpaceKate’s T-10 App

http://spacekate.com/2013/t-10-wins-most-inspiring-app-international-space-apps-challenge/

SpaceKate on Twitter
https://twitter.com/SpaceKate

SpaceKate on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/pages/SpaceKate/116068865117993

SpaceKate: The time we took on Unilever – and won!

http://spacekate.com/2013/the-time-we-took-on-unliever-and-won/

International Space Apps Challange
http://spaceappschallenge.org/

May 26 2013

Italian radio ham in quarantine prior to launch to ISS

Abby Harrison with astronaut Luca Parmitano KF5KDP who is in quarantine - Credit Astronaut Abby

Abby Harrison with astronaut Luca Parmitano KF5KDP who is in quarantine – Credit Astronaut Abby

15-year-old Abby Harrison is in Baikonur, Kazakhstan to watch the launch of her mentor, Italian astronaut Luca Parmitano KF5KDP, on a Soyuz TMA-09M to the International Space Station (ISS) on Tuesday, May 28 at 2031 UT. She again met Luca but this time he was in quarantine prior to the launch.

Abby Harrison

Abby Harrison

Abby intends to be an astronaut and has set herself the goal of being the first person to reach Mars. She used her social media prowess to spearhead a successful RocketHub crowdfunding campaign, raising more than $30,000 to help pay for the trip.

Flying with Luca KF5KDP to the ISS will be Karen Nyberg and Fyodor Yurchikhin RN3FI, all three will stay on the ISS until mid-November.

NASA TV coverage of the launch will begin on May 28 at 1930 UT, and will include video of all pre-launch activities that day leading to the crew boarding its spacecraft. Watch the launch at NASA TV
http://www.nasa.gov/ntv
 or at the Center for Operation of Space Ground-Based Infrastructure
http://www.tsenki.com/en/broadcast/broadcast/live1.php

A list of astronauts who are also licensed radio amateurs can be seen at
http://www.w5rrr.org/astros.html

Luca Parmitano KF5KDP on Twitter
https://twitter.com/astro_luca

Karen Nyberg on Twitter
https://twitter.com/AstroKarenN/

BBC News: US Teenager’s Space Ambitions

http://amsat-uk.org/2013/05/21/us-teenagers-space-ambitions/

High School Student’s RocketHub Project

http://amsat-uk.org/2013/05/11/high-school-students-rockethub-project/

Further information on “Astronaut Abby” at

May 21 2013

BBC News: US Teenager’s Space Ambitions

Abby HarrisonBBC News reports that fifteen-year-old Abby Harrison is training to be an astronaut and has set herself the goal of being the first person to reach Mars.

“I remember looking up at the night sky when I was five-years-old and thinking that I wanted to go to space” she told the BBC.

Abby is currently in Moscow visiting her mentor, the astronaut Luca Parmitano KF5KDP, who is about to travel to the International Space Station.

Watch the BBC News interview at
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-22597923

The Star Tribune newspaper says: This week, she’s traveling to Kazakhstan to watch the launch of the Soyuz TMA-09M, a Russian craft headed for the International Space Station on May 28. She’s used her social media prowess to spearhead a successful Kickstarter-like crowdfunding campaign, raising more than $30,000 to help pay for the rare trip.

Star Tribune ‘Astronaut Abby’ is crowdfunding her way to outer space

http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/208184441.html

Tech Tuesday: Meet 15-Year Old “Astronaut Abby”

http://www.womenyoushouldknow.net/tech-tuesday-meet-15-year-old-astronaut-abby/

High School Student’s RocketHub Project

http://amsat-uk.org/2013/05/11/high-school-students-rockethub-project/

Further information at

May 19 2013

UK Astronaut to fly to International Space Station in 2015

UK astronaut Major Tim Peake

UK astronaut Major Tim Peake

The Guardian newspaper reports that Major Tim Peake has been selected to fly a five-month mission on the International Space Station (ISS) in 2015.

Tim Peake, from Salisbury in Wiltshire, was chosen for astronaut training in 2009 from 8,400 applicants. Since then he has been undergoing training in a number of locations around the world including Köln in Germany, Star City in Russia and Houston in Texas. He had previously served in the army for 18 years primarily flying Apache helicopters and has seen active service in Afghanistan.

The Guardian newspaper says: 41-year-old Peake has been assigned a lengthy stay in orbit in 2015. He will be blasted into space on a Russian Soyuz rocket from Kazakhstan in November that year and flown to the space station where he will stay for five months. He will be able to take part in spacewalks and other complex scientific activities.

Helen Sharman GB1MIR

Helen Sharman GB1MIR

Sarah Brightman

Sarah Brightman

On May 18, 1991 the first UK astronaut Helen Sharman GB1MIR flew to the Mir Space Station in a Russian Soyuz spacecraft and during her 8 day mission contacted a number of radio amateurs around the world. There have been no other UK astronauts since that epic voyage over 22 years ago.

It had been expected that Sarah Brightman would be the second UK astronaut but it looks as though her mission to the ISS will take place after Tim Peake’s.

Read the Guardian newspaper article at

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2013/may/19/tim-peake-mission-space-station

Helen Sharman GB1MIR
http://amsat-uk.org/about/history/first-uk-astronaut-helen-sharman-gb1mir/

Sarah Brightman plans ISS mission
http://amsat-uk.org/2012/10/10/sarah-brightman-iss/

2013 UK Space Conference Glasgow July 16-17

http://amsat-uk.org/2013/05/18/2013-uk-space-conference-glasgow-july-16-17/

Free CubeSat Workshop Guildford July 19

http://amsat-uk.org/colloquium/cubesat-workshop-2013/

AMSAT-UK International Space Colloquium Guildford July 20-21

http://amsat-uk.org/colloquium/colloquium-2013/

May 15 2013

MAREA: Ham Radio Robotics

MAREA amateur radio robot - Image credit ARRL

MAREA amateur radio robot – Image credit ARRL

An ARRL article describes the Mars Lander Amateur Radio Robotics Exploration Activity.

NASA has been doing some exciting explorations of Mars with robots, currently Opportunity and Curiosity, which are maneuvered on the Martian surface by remote control.  

These robots collect and analyze soil samples and relay the results of these distant experiments back to Earth. While students can learn about these experiments in newspapers, scientific journals, on the Internet or TV, wouldn’t a more active approach provide a more engaging learning experience? Why not let students experience the same thrills as the NASA scientists and engineers through a simulation that they conduct in their own classrooms?

The basic concept of MAREA uses robotic movement commands that are attached in the text portion of an Automatic Position Reporting System (APRS) packet transmission. The APRS packet with the attached commands is sent from a “mission control” school via the terrestrial APRS network or, when possible, even via the Amateur Radio station on the passing International Space Station (ISS), to a “ground station” school. At the ground station school the command packet is received and the command data is linked by UHF radio to the “Mars” robot for execution.

The MAREA system components consist of:
• the typical 2 meter packet capable ham radio transceiver (or receiver if reception only is desired)
• a computer running a free APRS packet display program, sound card TNC (Terminal Node Controller) and serial loopback software packages
• UHF data link transceivers
• an instructional robot

Read the full ARRL article at
http://www.arrl.org/marea-ham-radio-robotics

May 12 2013

Frequencies announced for HamTV from the International Space Station

Basic amateur radio station which should receive HamVideo from the ISS - Image AMSAT-Italia

Basic amateur radio station which should receive HamVideo from the ISS – Image AMSAT-Italia

Frequencies have been announced for the new Ham Radio Digital TV transmitter that will send video from the ISS in the amateur radio 2400 MHz band.

The main mission of HamTV is to perform school contacts between the astronauts onboard ISS and the scholarship, not only by voice, but also by unidirectional video from the ISS to the ground within the ARISS program.

In addition to the existing VHF radio amateur station, ISS will host a S-Band video transmitting station. This new equipment can broadcast images from the ISS during the school contacts or other pre-recorded video images up to 24 hours a day to allow ground stations tuning.

It is planned to transmit DVB-S signals on 2.4GHz at either 1.3Msps or 2.3Msps with 10 watts of RF from the ISS Columbus module.

The IARU Amateur Satellite Frequency Coordination Panel have announced frequencies of 2422.0 MHz and 2437.0 MHz.

HamVideo is the name of the onboard DATV S-band transmitter. HamTV is the name of the complete system, comprising DATV downlink and VHF voice uplink. Kaiser Italia SRL was the prime-contractor for the design and development of the flight and ground segment
http://www.kayser.it/index.php/exploration-2/ham-tv

Italian astronaut Luca Parmitano KF5KDP is planned to launch from Baikonur in Kazhakstan to the ISS on May 28 (see High School Student’s RocketHub Project). It is understood that the HamTV equipment will be carried to the ISS on the Japanese HTV-4 spacecraft currently planned for a launch on August 4.

HamTV on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/Hamtvproject

More information from AMSAT-Italia at
http://www.amsat.it/Amsat-Italia_HamTV_brochure.pdf

Link Budget
http://www.amsat.it/Amsat-Italia_HamTV.pdf

AMSAT-Italia in Google English
http://tinyurl.com/AMSAT-Italia

ARISS Antennas Installed on Columbus
http://www.ariss-eu.org/columbus.htm

May 11 2013

High School Student’s RocketHub Project

Abby Harrison - Astronaut AbbyFifteen-year-old Abigail Harrison has a big dream, to be the first astronaut to Mars.

She is currently using the crowd funding website RocketHub to raise money to fund a trip to Baikonur in Kazhakstan to watch her mentor, Astronaut Luca Parmitano KF5KDP, blast-off to the International Space Station at the end of May.

Almost two years ago, on the way home from the final launch of STS 134 Endeavour space shuttle, Abby met and interviewed Italian astronaut Luca Parmitanoo. Luca agreed to become her mentor, and for the last couple of years, he has stayed in touch and offered advice.

On Friday, April 26 Abby took part in a Google+ hangout with Luca KF5KDP, she writes:

The interview was facilitated by the Public Insight Network which is a part of American Public Media. I was so excited to have this opportunity with Luca before he launches on May 28, 2013  to live on the International Space Station (ISS) for six months. We had an awesome chat about both of our passions for space and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) as well as about Luca’s exciting work on the ISS this year.

We also discussed my exciting opportunity to serve as Luca’s Earth Liaison. In the chat, Luca talked about meeting me for the first time, saying, “I like passionate people. Any kind of passion. Any kind of interest in anything that keeps you inspired…I saw a lot of myself in Abby.” He emphasized his excitement and the importance of my job as Earth Liaison and that he was happy his experience could be used to inspire kids throughout the world.

Further information at

Mar 31 2013

Thornton Middle School students contact the International Space Station

Thornton Middle School ISS Contact

One of the Thornton Middle School students

On March 25, using the Thornton Middle School Wireless Technology Club callsign KF5NZD, students from Thornton Middle School in Katy, Texas contacted the International Space Station (ISS). They used ham radio to speak to ISS Commander Chris Hadfield VA3OOG who was operating one of the amateur radio stations onboard the ISS, callsign NA1SS.

“NA1SS..NA1SS this is KF5NZD, KF5NZD, How do you copy, over?” called 13-year-old Chris Bobicchio.

The Cypress Creek Mirror reports a long sticky pause filled the room followed by a clear “This is NA1SS to KF5NZD, you are loud and clear, how do you copy me, over?”

Thornton math teacher and ham radio enthusiast Tom Maxwell AE5QB had been trying to get his school involved in the ARISS program for the past three years and was finally accepted last summer.

AMSAT News Service reports Thornton Middle School students, due to their economic backgrounds, have limited opportunities for enrichment activities beyond those that can be implemented in the classroom. Many of its students and families believe that opportunities in high paying STEM careers are beyond the reach of Thornton students, and that, “other kids have all the luck.” This ARISS contact helped dispel these perceptions and will demonstrate to the students and families that Thornton students are capable of complex problem solving, and that they are capable of learning “Rocket Science” material.

Read the Cypress Creek Mirror story by Crystal Simmons at

http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/cypresscreek/news/thornton-middle-school-students-make-contact/article_508321f1-dbe6-5994-b04d-edb8ae4dab69.html

To see a video of the complete question and answer session, visit

http://www.cfisd.net/movies/zmovies/ariss.htm

A list of the questions asked is at

http://www.southgatearc.org/news/march2013/ariss_event_2503.htm

Thornton Middle School Wireless Technology Club on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/PatriotsInSpace/

Thornton Middle School

http://www.greatschools.org/texas/katy/1727-Thornton-Middle-School/?tab=demographics

Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS)
http://www.ariss.org/

Mar 22 2013

Tania in Space Comic Book

Tania in Space

Tania in Space

The French language version of the European Space Agency (ESA) website reports the latest in the series of comic books about the Adventures of Tania in Space was published on March 22, 2013.

ESA report that as well as the adventures of Tania the 176 page publication features articles on space and is prefaced by several astronauts such as Frank De Winne, Dirk Frimout, Jean-François Clervoy and Jean-Pierre Haigneré of ESA and even Pamela Melroy and Piers Sellers of NASA.

ESA report on the new comic book
http://tinyurl.com/TaniaInSpaceESA

The comic book is published by Editions Joker
http://www.editions-joker.com/

Space adventures of Tania
http://tinyurl.com/SpaceAdventuresOfTania