The International Space Station crossband FM repeater should remain active until after the Field Day weekend of June 26-27.

Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has decided to keep its ARISS InterOperable Radio System (IORS) in crossband repeater mode until after ARRL Field Day ends. The IORS ham station is located in the Columbus Module of the International Space Station.

ARRL HQ Contest Program Manager Paul Bourque, N1SFE, has confirmed that successful radio contacts made through the ARISS IORS, in crossband repeater mode, will count for an ARRL Field Day QSO point, but also for Field Day bonus points! Another fun opportunity for points. Don’t forget the rule limiting stations to 1 QSO per any single channel FM satellite.

On-orbit astronauts always have very busy schedules, but if a voice contact were to be made with them, it would count for QSO credit but not for satellite bonus points. Only an ARISS crossband repeater QSO qualifies for the bonus. Crossband repeater contacts are also valid for AMSAT Field Day for satellite operations, held concurrently with the ARRL event.

Frequencies for ARISS crossband repeater operation are as follows: 145.990 MHz up, 67 Hz tone and 437.800 MHz down. If you haven’t used the ISS repeater yet, be sure to practice with it before Field Day (June 26-27, 2021). These contacts can be tricky, but hams can practice right now…can you do it?

ARISS had planned a mode switch to APRS packet during the second week of June. Now, ARISS is targeting the switch by the astronauts to packet after the first ARISS school contact following ARRL Field Day. In more news for ARISS supporters: the astronauts will power down the ARISS radio station during USA spacewalks on June 16 and June 20, 2021.

ARISS – Celebrating 20 Years of Amateur Radio Continuous Operations on the ISS
https://ariss.org/

Shannon Walker KD5DXB

An ARISS educational school contact is planned between astronaut Shannon Walker KD5DXB on the International Space Station and students at Athlone Community College, Athlone, Co. Westmeath.

The contact is scheduled on Monday, December 7, 2020, at approximately 2:50 PM (1450 GMT, 1550 CET) with the link to the ISS operated by the amateur radio ground station EI1ISS.

The ISS FM downlink signal will be audible across the British Isles and Europe on 145.800 MHz +/-3.5 kHz Doppler shift. Those who do not have an amateur radio receiver or are in a different part of the world will still be able to receive the signal from space by using either of these online WebSDR radios:
Goonhilly: https://vhf-goonhilly.batc.org.uk/
Farnham: http://farnham-sdr.com/
Click on the FM mode button, and enter 145800 into the “kHz” frequency box.

It is understood the event will also be live streamed, for URL check https://twitter.com/ACCspacecall

Shannon Walker was selected by NASA to be an astronaut in 2004. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Physics, a Master of Science and a Doctorate of Philosophy in Space Physics from Rice University. Walker began her professional career at the Johnson Space Center (JSC) in 1987 as a Robotics Flight Controller for the Space Shuttle Program. In 2010, she served as Flight Engineer for Expedition 24/25, a long-duration mission aboard the International Space Station that lasted 163 days. Walker served as mission specialist on the Crew-1 SpaceX Crew Dragon, named Resilience, which launched November 15, 2020. She is currently serving as Flight Engineer on the International Space Station for Expedition 64.

Athlone Community College information:

Athlone, situated in the centre of Ireland, is the largest town on the River Shannon.  Athlone Community College is a second-level school which has 1200 students aged between 12 and 18 from a diverse range of backgrounds, both rural and urban.

Our school motto is “by teaching we learn”. Mathematics, Science and Engineering subjects occupy a special place in the school curriculum. The school’s staff and teachers are proudly committed to students fulfilling their potential in a welcoming and friendly environment.

The school has an active sporting programme which includes Rugby Football, Gaelic Football, Athletics and Golf while the Arts are catered for by a school Orchestra and Choir.

Our students have enjoyed studying the ISS and the space programme. We really appreciate the crew fitting our school into their busy schedule. Thank you! It will be a memorable experience for us all here.

Students First Names and Questions:

1. Roisín (16):  Did you enjoy the launch into space?

2. Tristan (16):  Tell us something about current experiments on the ISS?

3. Seán (14):  What is your favourite area in the ISS?

4. Shauna (16):  What activities do you do in your spare time?

5. Cillian (12):  What is the most interesting thing you have seen on Earth from the space station?

6. Michelle (16):  What evidence of climate change can you see from space?

7. John (16):  How many years of training does it take to become an astronaut?

8. Patrick (16):  Where does the ISS get its energy from?

9. Zayna (16):  What happens if you are in a space suit and your nose becomes really itchy?

10. Kian (16):  When you return home what will you miss most about the ISS?

11. Roisín (16):  What was the most difficult challenge you had to overcome during training?

12. Tristan (16):  When you first saw the earth from space what was your reaction?

13. Seán (14):  Has something useful on earth come from space experiments?

14. Shauna (16):  Are your muscles weak when you return from micro gravity?

15. Cillian (12):  If there was a manned mission to Mars would you consider going?

16. Michelle (16):  Will it ever be feasible to travel to another solar system?

17. John (16):  How do you keep fit with the low gravity in space?

18. Patrick (16) Does your sense of taste and smell change in space?

19. Zanyna (16):  While on the ISS are you able to communicate with family?

20. Kian (16):  When did you decide you wanted to become an astronaut – from a young age or did your interest develop at a later age?

Athlone Community College
http://www.athlonecc.ie/athlone-community-college-link-international-space-station/
https://www.facebook.com/1545707655495475/photos/a.1545729618826612/3626284060771147
https://twitter.com/ccathlone

About ARISS:

Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) is a cooperative venture of international amateur radio societies and the space agencies that support the International Space Station (ISS). In the United States, sponsors are the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT), the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), the ISS National  National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

The primary goal of ARISS is to promote exploration of science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics by organizing scheduled contacts via amateur radio between crew members aboard the ISS and students. Before and during these radio contacts, students, educators, parents, and communities learn about space, space technologies, and amateur radio. For more information, see https://www.ariss.org/

International Space Station – Image Credit NASA

On November 13, 2000, the ISS Expedition-1 crew turned on the ARISS Ericsson radio for the first time and completed several contacts with ARISS ground stations around the world to validate the radio communications system.

These inaugural contacts launched an incredible two-decade operations journey on ISS, enabling ARISS to inspire, engage and educate our next generation of explorers and provide the ham radio community a platform for lifelong learning and experimentation.

In celebration of the ISS 20th anniversary, ARISS was part of an ISS Research and Development Conference Panel session entitled “20 years of STEM Experiments on the ISS.” The video below, developed for this panel session, describes our program, celebrates our 20th anniversary, conveys some key lessons learned over the past 20 years and describes the ARISS team’s vision for the future. Enjoy watching!

20 years of continuous operations is a phenomenal accomplishment. But what makes it even more extraordinary is that ARISS has achieved this through hundreds of volunteers that are passionate in “paying it forward” to our youth and ham radio community. On behalf of the ARISS International team, I would like to express our heartfelt thanks to every volunteer that has made ARISS such an amazing success over the past 20 years. Your passion, drive, creativity and spirit made it happen!!

Congratulations ARISS team!!!

Frank H. Bauer, KA3HDO
ARISS International Chair

Watch ARISS 20th Anniversary

Source ARISS https://www.ariss.org/