Tag Archives: ISS

Dec 18 2011

Three Radio Amateurs to launch to ISS

NASA astronaut Don Pettit KD5MDT

NASA astronaut Don Pettit KD5MDT

On Wednesday, December 21, three radio amateurs will fly to the International Space Station (ISS) for a 6 month stay.

NASA astronaut Don Pettit KD5MDT, Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko RN3DX and Dutch astronaut Andre Kuipers, PI9ISS continue preparations for their planned Soyuz launch to the ISS on on December 21 at 0816 EST (1316 GMT).

The SpaceFlightNow web site posted a photo album of the ISS Expedition 30 crew this week during inspections and fit checks in the seats: http://spaceflightnow.com/station/exp30/111209fitcheck/

The European Space Agency has released a video of Andre Kuipers’ mission which can be viewed at:
http://spaceflightnow.com/station/exp30/kuipers.html

The Soyuz TMA-03M spacecraft will be encapsulated in the aerodynamic shroud and then mated to its rocket booster next week in preparation for rollout to the launch pad on December 19. After launch the Soyuz will fly a two-day trek to rendezvous with the station for a planned automated docking December 23 at 1020 EST (1520 GMT).

These three hams are headed for a half-year mission aboard the ISS as members of Expeditions 30 and 31.

Source ANS

Watch the launch and docking live on NASA TV
http://www.southgatearc.org/news/december2011/nasa_tv_to_cover_launch_of_ham_radio_trio.htm

Dec 9 2011

SpaceX Applies for Dragon Frequencies

Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) has submitted an application for Special Temporary Authority to the FCC.

They request the use of frequencies in the 400 MHz and 2200 MHz bands under the callsign WF9XGI . The application says:

The purpose of this operation is to demonstrate a low-cost, commercial capability to transport cargo to the International Space Station (ISS) and return it safely to the Earth. The nominal mission profile calls for launch of the capsule from Cape Canaveral into Low Earth Orbit (LEO), followed by ISS proximity operations, berthing with ISS (nominally remaining berthed for several weeks), unberthing, de-orbit maneuvers, re-entry, and splash-down in the Pacific Ocean. The basic orbital parameters for this mission are as follows: Non-Geostationary circular orbit (approx. 407 km); Equatorial Inclination of 52.5 degrees; Period of Orbit is 5400 s. The scheduled launch readiness date for this mission is currently NET December 19, 2011.

Read the application at https://apps.fcc.gov/oetcf/els/reports/STA_Print.cfm?mode=current&application_seq=49678

NASA Announces Launch Date and Milestones for Spacex Flight
http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2011/dec/HQ_11-413_SpaceX_ISS_Flight.html

AMSAT-UK publishes a colour A4 newsletter, OSCAR News, which is full of Amateur Satellite information. Free sample issue at http://www.uk.amsat.org/on_193_final.pdf Join online here

Dec 1 2011

ISS Shadow-Beacon Experiment Postponed

This weekends Plasma Thrust Space experiment using Amateur Radio has been postponed until after the delivery of a new rig due next April.

On the AMSAT bulletin board Andy G0SFJ passes on the following information:

It was earlier announced that the timetable of SpEx “Shadow-beacon” sessions on November 26-27, 2011 was reduced because the crew are newcomers and need more time to gain experience. For the same reason previously announced sessions on December 2-5, 2011 are cancelled.

Sergey Samburov RV3DR, the employee of space-rocket corporation “Energia” who is responsible for amateur radio on ISS, explains that the onboard radio was accidentally switched on standard simplex 145.825 MHz not the required duplex 144.360 / 145.825 MHz digipeater mode because of the old age of the onboard gear. It has been in use for more than 10 years and Sergey has previously observed malfunction like this.

A new radio is planned to be delivered to the ISS by cargo vehicle in April and Mission Control Center (TsUP) plans to hold new SpEx “Shadow-beacon” sessions in May-June 2012.

Again  many thanks for those submitted reports and made other assistance! The results of data processing will be presented on our site. We wait for further cooperation!
http://knts.tsniimash.ru/Shadow/en/

Amateur Radio assistance requested: ISS Plasma Thrust Shadow Experiment
http://www.uk.amsat.org/2011/11/20/amateur-radio-assistance-requested-iss-plasma-thrust-shadow-experiment/

Nov 20 2011

Amateur Radio Assistance Requested: ISS Plasma Thrust Shadow Experiment

International Space Station

International Space Station

The Central Research Institute of Machine Building (TSNIIMASH) in Russia is conducting a series of space plasma experiments in order to evaluate the shape of previously observed “dead” zone, or shadowing due to the firing of an onboard arcjet plasma source.

Radio Amateurs are invited to participate in the Space plasma experiment “Shadow” onboard the International Space Station (ISS) taking place Nov 25-28 and Dec 2-5.

Integration of Electric Thrust (ET) onboard a spacecraft poses a certain set of problems including electromagnetic compatibility of ET. One matter of interest is that highly ionized exhaust plumes of ET may scatter RF-signals producing large “dead” zone for communications. Continue reading →

Nov 18 2011

We had a radio contact with the ISS – an unforgettable experience!

The International Space Station

We had a radio contact with the ISS – an unforgettable experience!

On Wednesday November 9 2011, from the early morning, tension was palpable throughout the Hospital.
Finally the great day had arrived. We had been preparing since days and weeks.
At 15.18 we would contact the Astronauts on the ISS and put to them our questions.

Sascha, David, Julia, Lona, Stefano, Jose, Yll, Tobias and Laura. 9 children and youngsters prepared for this moment with ultimate care. Together with many patients of our Rehabilitation Center, they had been working hard on the universe, the planets and space travel, building models of planets and rockets, painting drawings and studying texts. They prepared questions and translated them into English. And then they trained and trained to be sure the questions would be put without stumbling when the moment was there. Continue reading →
Nov 17 2011

UHF Station on ISS Columbus module

The amateur radio station located in the Columbus module is currently operational with the UHF Ericsson FM transceiver and AX.25 packet system using the frequency of 437.550 MHz.

To utilize the the packet system, operators need to set the UNPROTO path to ARISS (the id is RS0ISS) for digi relay or they may connect to the BBS using the callsign RS0ISS-1.  The packet beacon is set for 2 minute intervals so it may not appear to be active over many parts of the world but keep listening and mind the Doppler shift (+ or – 10 kHz).

To check when the ISS is in range see the real time tracking at  http://www.issfanclub.com/ (top left).

AMSAT-UK publishes a colour A4 newsletter, OSCAR News, which is full of Amateur Satellite information. A sample edition of the newsletter can be seen at http://www.uk.amsat.org/on_193_final.pdf
Join AMSAT-UK online here http://alturl.com/avuca