Monthly Archives: June 2011

Jun 10 2011

Deep sleep in deep space for Europe’s comet chaser

Artist's impression of the Rosetta Spacecraft. Credit: ESA - C. Carreau

Artist's impression of the Rosetta Spacecraft (Credit: ESA - C. Carreau)

Rosetta’s hibernation mode starts today (8th June 2011) and will last until January 2014, during which time the spacecraft will reach its maximum distances from the Sun (about 800 million kilometres) and Earth (about 1000 million kilometres). UK scientists and engineers involved in this exciting mission are hoping Rosetta will unlock the hidden secrets of comets and teach us more about the origin of these huge, dirty snowballs.

Rosetta’s primary mission hasn’t even started yet but since the launch in 2004 it has been on a non-stop cosmic ‘road-trip’ Continue reading →

Jun 8 2011

College congratulated on ISS ham radio link-up

NASA Astronaut Ronald J Garan KF5GPO

NASA Astronaut Ronald J Garan KF5GPO

Lough Erne Amateur Radio Club congratulates South West Regional College on its very successful Amateur Radio link up with the International Space Station.

Particular credits to Mamraz Nagi whose initiative secured this ARISS event, the College technicians, and the students who spoke with the Radio Amateur in the ISS, Ronald J Garan, KF5GPO. Among his replies to the Enniskillen students’ questions, he shared very happy memories of a recent visit to Northern Ireland.

David Taylor operated the ground station K6DUE in Maryland USA linking up to the ISS, and Gaston Bertels ON4WF in Belgium, guided the College ARISS team through checks, rehearsals student questions and wrapped up with remarks that brought massive applause from over a hundred present for the radio amateurs in space and on the ground, and all involved in Northern Ireland’s first ever ARISS event. Continue reading →