Initial Space Station Operations
Amateur Radio3 Initial Space Station Operations "The initial space
station operations will be mostly voice and packet, a text messaging device. The
first initial radio station was flown onboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis on
STS-106. The crew transferred the ham radio gear into the space station for
future use by the Expedition 1 crew." "More than 40
missions over five years will be required to assemble the International Space
Station in orbit. The astronauts and cosmonauts will work hard on these
missions, but they plan to take some time off for educational outreach contacts
with schools. NASA's Division of Education is a major supporter of the amateur
radio activity." "The sponsoring
agencies have stated that they consider access to a ham radio system a
requirement for psychological support of the crews, by providing family and
general contacts for people who will be in space many weeks at a time." "As the International
Space Station takes its place in the heavens, the amateur radio community is
prepared to do its part by helping to enrich the experience of those visiting
and living on the station." NASA Call
Signs and Tentative Frequencies for the International Space Station Go to Home page The Following information is being retained
because it is our hope that this system will be used during future meteor
showers. 13 Aug 2003, 19:32 UTC: During
the Perseids Meteor Shower, amateur radio operators and others
with the correct equipment and location can listen into
NAVSPASUR radar. Equipment requirements include a receiver capable of
receiving single side band transmissions at
216.98MHz frequency. We don't have the equipment on hand in the
ham shack - but will probably modify a rig to listen in.
Hams and SWLs that don't feel up to modifying their equipment, can listen
in from the World Wide Web. Click on the
NAVSPASUR link if you can live with taking the easy way out.
"When a Perseid meteor flies overhead the radar records a
ghostly ping. You can listen to NAVSPASUR or one of our 67 MHz
forward-scatter meteor radars in using the real-time audio links
below:"
Credits: The Roswell monitoring sites are operated by
amateur astronomer Stan Nelson.
The
Huntsville radar is maintained by Science@NASA and the NASA/Marshall
Space Flight Center. Special credit goes to Dr.
Dr. Tony Phillips - a
true friend of amateur radio operators. Thanks Tony.
