The ARISS program was created and is managed by an international consortium of amateur radio organizations and space agencies including National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in the USA, Rosaviakosmos in Russia, Canadian Space Agency (CSA) in Canada, Japan Aeronautics Exploration Space Agency (JAXA) in Japan and European Space Agency (ESA) in Europe. Read More
Mourning the Loss of Bill Tynan, W3XO SK*
The ARISS international team mourns the loss of a dear friend and pioneer in human spaceflight amateur radio: Bill Tynan, W3XO who passed away on August 7.
Bill Tynan was a trailblazer in the amateur radio satellite and human spaceflight segment of our hobby. Bill was a charter member of AMSAT and was at its first organization planning meeting in 1969. For nearly 50 years, Bill has provided sustained leadership and guidance to the AMSAT organization---through the development of many satellites over the years and, most recently, supporting the AMSAT international satellite consortium as the AMSAT OSCAR Number Administrator.
Bill’s contributions to amateur radio on human spaceflight were pioneering. Working with senior AMSAT, ARRL and NASA leadership, Bill developed the initial proposal and was a key leader in garnering permission from NASA to fly a ham radio on-board the Space Shuttle. His dream was realized in 1983 when Astronaut Owen Garriott picked up a handheld radio on the STS-9 mission and called out “CQ CQ this is W5LFL from the Space Shuttle Columbia” with thousands on the ground attempting to call him back!
Soon after, Bill became AMSAT’s Vice President for Manned Space (now V.P. for Human Spaceflight). He worked with several of the early ham astronauts, including Tony England, W0ORE, Ron Parise, WA4SIR (SK) and Ken Cameron, KB5AWP, to manifest ham radio on their Space Shuttle missions. Bill played a major part on the ARRL-AMSAT team that inaugurated the SAREX (Shuttle Amateur Radio EXperiment) program and its initiatives to inspire our next generation to pursue careers in radio and Science Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). Bill was member of the SAREX Working Group, the senior leadership team that included Roy Neal, K6DUE (SK) as lead and ARRL’s Education Director Rosalie White, K1STO. The SAREX working group transformed ham radio from a “one-off” opportunity to a frequent flyer payload on the Space Shuttle.
When Ron Parise, WA4SIR, wanted to conduct school contacts throughout the US during his STS-35, low inclination orbit mission, Bill and Roy, devised the ham radio telebridge remote ground station idea to circumvent the contact visibility problem. This concept is still employed when needed for ARISS contacts.
In 1991, when Bill became the President of AMSAT-NA, he tapped Frank Bauer, KA3HDO to be the next V.P. for Human Spaceflight. And in 1996, when NASA sponsored the inaugural meeting to develop an international ham radio working group that would develop and operate the amateur radio station on board the International Space Station, which ultimately became ARISS, Bill was at the meeting, providing sage guidance on how amateur radio could develop a sustained presence in human spaceflight.
At the 1996 ARISS inaugural meeting, Bill spoke out about his concerns regarding international frequency coordination, which continued to be an issue for ham radio on the Shuttle and Mir Space Station. Shortly after the meeting, Bill called me on the phone and strongly encouraged me to lead an effort to move APRS from its operation on 145.79 MHz to clear a world-wide downlink for ARISS on 145.80 MHz. Suffice it to say, I was none too pleased with Bill after I got this most challenging direction. Despite the difficulties in making this happen, the combined TAPR/AMSAT/APRS “APRS QSY Committee” prevailed and the ARISS 145.80 MHz downlink has served the amateur radio community well---thanks to Bill.
Since the early days, Bill has continued to provide steadfast support to ARISS, through his ideas, leadership guidance and donations to keep ARISS sustained. In fact, during a call with Bill about a month before his passing, I was telling him about ARISS’s newest initiatives, including efforts to try to get an amateur radio station on the next human spaceflight initiative, the Lunar Orbiting Gateway. Quick with ideas despite his illness, Bill discussed using Joe Taylor’s FT-8 as a way of better communicating through the Gateway, similar to the current popularity of APRS on the ISS.
For those that would like to learn more about Bill and past contributions please review the following resources:
https://www.amsat.org/bill-tynan-w3xo-sk/
http://www.arrl.org/news/amateur-radio-satellite-pioneer-past-amsat-president-bill-tynan-w3xo-sk
His Autobiography: “My Radio Life”
http://www.kerrhams.org/W3XO.pdf
Living in the Washington DC area, I had the privilege of working and talking with Bill a great deal. One of my favorite, local stories about Bill was his efforts to establish the first stereo broadcast radio station in the DC area. The WHFS radio station was a co-development between Bill and Bob Carpenter, W3OTC. In Bill’s words, WHFS stood for “High Fidelity Stereo” and required substantial innovation from Bill and Bob to put a High Fidelity Stereo station on the air in the early 1960s.
On behalf of the ARISS International Team, I would like to send out our thoughts and prayers to Bill’s wife Mattie and to Bill’s family and friends. And to Bill, we salute you for all you have done for amateur radio and its operation on human spaceflight missions. May all the amateur radio space stations, which operate amongst the stars, be beacons of your steadfast support and passion to our hobby.
73,
Frank H. Bauer, KA3HDO
ARISS International Chair
AMSAT V.P. for Human Spaceflight Programs
*For those reading this that are not ham radio operators, the SK after Bill’s and others callsign means Silent Key. Hams use this to commemorate those in our community that have passed away. In other words, their telegraph key (or microphone or digital communication) is now silent due to their death.
Bill Tynan was a trailblazer in the amateur radio satellite and human spaceflight segment of our hobby. Bill was a charter member of AMSAT and was at its first organization planning meeting in 1969. For nearly 50 years, Bill has provided sustained leadership and guidance to the AMSAT organization---through the development of many satellites over the years and, most recently, supporting the AMSAT international satellite consortium as the AMSAT OSCAR Number Administrator.
Bill’s contributions to amateur radio on human spaceflight were pioneering. Working with senior AMSAT, ARRL and NASA leadership, Bill developed the initial proposal and was a key leader in garnering permission from NASA to fly a ham radio on-board the Space Shuttle. His dream was realized in 1983 when Astronaut Owen Garriott picked up a handheld radio on the STS-9 mission and called out “CQ CQ this is W5LFL from the Space Shuttle Columbia” with thousands on the ground attempting to call him back!
Soon after, Bill became AMSAT’s Vice President for Manned Space (now V.P. for Human Spaceflight). He worked with several of the early ham astronauts, including Tony England, W0ORE, Ron Parise, WA4SIR (SK) and Ken Cameron, KB5AWP, to manifest ham radio on their Space Shuttle missions. Bill played a major part on the ARRL-AMSAT team that inaugurated the SAREX (Shuttle Amateur Radio EXperiment) program and its initiatives to inspire our next generation to pursue careers in radio and Science Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). Bill was member of the SAREX Working Group, the senior leadership team that included Roy Neal, K6DUE (SK) as lead and ARRL’s Education Director Rosalie White, K1STO. The SAREX working group transformed ham radio from a “one-off” opportunity to a frequent flyer payload on the Space Shuttle.
When Ron Parise, WA4SIR, wanted to conduct school contacts throughout the US during his STS-35, low inclination orbit mission, Bill and Roy, devised the ham radio telebridge remote ground station idea to circumvent the contact visibility problem. This concept is still employed when needed for ARISS contacts.
In 1991, when Bill became the President of AMSAT-NA, he tapped Frank Bauer, KA3HDO to be the next V.P. for Human Spaceflight. And in 1996, when NASA sponsored the inaugural meeting to develop an international ham radio working group that would develop and operate the amateur radio station on board the International Space Station, which ultimately became ARISS, Bill was at the meeting, providing sage guidance on how amateur radio could develop a sustained presence in human spaceflight.
At the 1996 ARISS inaugural meeting, Bill spoke out about his concerns regarding international frequency coordination, which continued to be an issue for ham radio on the Shuttle and Mir Space Station. Shortly after the meeting, Bill called me on the phone and strongly encouraged me to lead an effort to move APRS from its operation on 145.79 MHz to clear a world-wide downlink for ARISS on 145.80 MHz. Suffice it to say, I was none too pleased with Bill after I got this most challenging direction. Despite the difficulties in making this happen, the combined TAPR/AMSAT/APRS “APRS QSY Committee” prevailed and the ARISS 145.80 MHz downlink has served the amateur radio community well---thanks to Bill.
Since the early days, Bill has continued to provide steadfast support to ARISS, through his ideas, leadership guidance and donations to keep ARISS sustained. In fact, during a call with Bill about a month before his passing, I was telling him about ARISS’s newest initiatives, including efforts to try to get an amateur radio station on the next human spaceflight initiative, the Lunar Orbiting Gateway. Quick with ideas despite his illness, Bill discussed using Joe Taylor’s FT-8 as a way of better communicating through the Gateway, similar to the current popularity of APRS on the ISS.
For those that would like to learn more about Bill and past contributions please review the following resources:
https://www.amsat.org/bill-tynan-w3xo-sk/
http://www.arrl.org/news/amateur-radio-satellite-pioneer-past-amsat-president-bill-tynan-w3xo-sk
His Autobiography: “My Radio Life”
http://www.kerrhams.org/W3XO.pdf
Living in the Washington DC area, I had the privilege of working and talking with Bill a great deal. One of my favorite, local stories about Bill was his efforts to establish the first stereo broadcast radio station in the DC area. The WHFS radio station was a co-development between Bill and Bob Carpenter, W3OTC. In Bill’s words, WHFS stood for “High Fidelity Stereo” and required substantial innovation from Bill and Bob to put a High Fidelity Stereo station on the air in the early 1960s.
On behalf of the ARISS International Team, I would like to send out our thoughts and prayers to Bill’s wife Mattie and to Bill’s family and friends. And to Bill, we salute you for all you have done for amateur radio and its operation on human spaceflight missions. May all the amateur radio space stations, which operate amongst the stars, be beacons of your steadfast support and passion to our hobby.
73,
Frank H. Bauer, KA3HDO
ARISS International Chair
AMSAT V.P. for Human Spaceflight Programs
*For those reading this that are not ham radio operators, the SK after Bill’s and others callsign means Silent Key. Hams use this to commemorate those in our community that have passed away. In other words, their telegraph key (or microphone or digital communication) is now silent due to their death.
Bill Tynan, W3XO (L) and Roy Neal, K6DUE (R) at ARISS 1996 Inaugural Meeting
Return of ARISS Packet Radio
August 1, 2018
August 1, 2018
ARISS Packet Radio Returning If you have missed APRS and packet radio from ISS (as ARISS has), you'll be happy to hear that a replacement system is on its way. When the packet module aboard ISS died in late 2017, the ARISS hardware team was heavily involved in design and safety certification of the new Interoperable Radio System (IORS). After basic troubleshooting and a few attempts to revive the failed module, we decided to dedicate our time to IORS and get it - with its packet and other capabilities - aboard ISS as soon as possible.
Early this year, thermal testing of the first flight-identical IORS power supply showed that some changes to air flow were needed. This change looked likely to delay our expected IORS deployment from late 2018 to early 2019.
With some newly available time, the hardware team was able to dig up an original duplicate of the packet module, replace its battery, and test the module to verify that it still works. Fortunately, NASA has approved flight of this identical unit with minimal paperwork, so we are asking to be on the manifest for supply mission 71P (a Progress spacecraft). Launch currently is scheduled for 31 October, with docking on 2 November. Installation will depend on the crew's busy schedule, but we expect packet will be operational again by the end of November 2018.
Announcing Russian Slow Scan TV Event
July 27, 2018
ARISS Russia is planning another of their popular MAI Slow Scan Television (SSTV) experiment events. Transmissions are scheduled to begin at 16:00 UTC on July 30, then powered down at 19:30 UTC. The next day (July 31), the system will be active from 13:25-19:15 UTC. Downlink should be on the traditional 145.80 MHz frequency and the operating mode will likely be PD120.
When this event becomes active, SSTV images are downlinked from the International Space Station (ISS) at the frequency of 145.80 MHz and can be received using ham radio equipment as simple as a 2 meter handheld radio or a common scanner receiver the covers the 2 meter ham band. After connecting the audio output of the radio receiver into the audio input of a computer running free software such as MMSSTV, the SSTV images can be displayed.
Please note that the event is dependent on other activities, schedules and crew responsibilities on the ISS and are subject to change at any time.
When this event becomes active, SSTV images are downlinked from the International Space Station (ISS) at the frequency of 145.80 MHz and can be received using ham radio equipment as simple as a 2 meter handheld radio or a common scanner receiver the covers the 2 meter ham band. After connecting the audio output of the radio receiver into the audio input of a computer running free software such as MMSSTV, the SSTV images can be displayed.
Please note that the event is dependent on other activities, schedules and crew responsibilities on the ISS and are subject to change at any time.
ARISS SSTV Event Starts Tomorrow
June 28, 2018
SSTV will once again be active from ISS starting June 29. This SSTV event will include 12 images to commemorate the various ARISS satellites that were hand-deployed from the ISS. These will include the first satellite deployment from ISS: Suitsat-1/Radioskaf-1 which was developed by ARISS and deployed in February 2006. Sergey Samburov, RV3DR, the ARISS-Russia lead communicated that the Cosmonauts plan to actuate the SSTV in the Service Module around 8:40 UTC on June 29 and shut it down around 18:40 UTC on July 1. All SSTV operations will use PD120 mode on the ARISS downlink frequency 145.80 MHz.
The latest information on the SSTV event will be posted at the ARISS SSTV Blog spot. You are invited to upload your SSTV receptions for this event on the ARISS SSTV photo gallery. The ARISS SSTV Award Committee will provide a special award for all that have received SSTV images from this event images. Details, regulations and the application form are on the website https://ariss.pzk.org.pl/sstv/ Award applications will be accepted until July 8th.
Enjoy!
73, Frank Bauer KA3HDO
The latest information on the SSTV event will be posted at the ARISS SSTV Blog spot. You are invited to upload your SSTV receptions for this event on the ARISS SSTV photo gallery. The ARISS SSTV Award Committee will provide a special award for all that have received SSTV images from this event images. Details, regulations and the application form are on the website https://ariss.pzk.org.pl/sstv/ Award applications will be accepted until July 8th.
Enjoy!
73, Frank Bauer KA3HDO
Upcoming ARISS Events
June 19, 2018
June 19, 2018
ARISS-Russia, in collaboration with the Southwest State University in Kursk, Russia, are developing a series of educational CubeSat satellites called Tanusha. Two Tanusha CubeSats were developed by students at Southwest State University and were hand-deployed by cosmonauts during an August 2017 extravehicular activity. These two CubeSats are performing cluster flight experiments through communications links. A second set of CubeSats, Tanusha 3 & 4 were launched earlier this year and are currently on-board ISS. Tanusha 3 & 4 are planned to be hand deployed by Cosmonauts in August. They will perform even more comprehensive cluster flight objectives than Tanusha 1 & 2.
On June 20, Tanusha 3 will be connected to one of the ARISS Service Module antennas and will transmit from 0730-1200 UTC on 437.05 MHz. These FM transmissions will include greetings from students in several languages, including Russian, English, Spanish and Chinese. On June 21, Tanusha 4 will be connected to one of the ARISS Service Module antennas and will transmit from 0730-1200 UTC on the same frequency: 437.05 MHz. The ARISS-Russia team plan to also retransmit these signals on the standard ARISS 2-meter downlink, 145.80 MHz using the JVC Kenwood D700 radio that is still on-board ISS. All are invited to listen to the CubeSats from ISS on 437.05 and/or 145.80 MHz.
The next SSTV image downlinks are planned for June 29-July 1. These images will commemorate the various satellites that the ARISS team has developed and hand-deployed from the ISS. These will include the first satellite deployment from ISS: SuitSat-1/Radioskaf-1 which was deployed in February 2006. More details on this will be forthcoming as the date draws near.
We thank ARISS-Russia delegate Sergey Samburov, RV3DR for this latest information.
73, Frank Bauer, KA3HDO
On June 20, Tanusha 3 will be connected to one of the ARISS Service Module antennas and will transmit from 0730-1200 UTC on 437.05 MHz. These FM transmissions will include greetings from students in several languages, including Russian, English, Spanish and Chinese. On June 21, Tanusha 4 will be connected to one of the ARISS Service Module antennas and will transmit from 0730-1200 UTC on the same frequency: 437.05 MHz. The ARISS-Russia team plan to also retransmit these signals on the standard ARISS 2-meter downlink, 145.80 MHz using the JVC Kenwood D700 radio that is still on-board ISS. All are invited to listen to the CubeSats from ISS on 437.05 and/or 145.80 MHz.
The next SSTV image downlinks are planned for June 29-July 1. These images will commemorate the various satellites that the ARISS team has developed and hand-deployed from the ISS. These will include the first satellite deployment from ISS: SuitSat-1/Radioskaf-1 which was deployed in February 2006. More details on this will be forthcoming as the date draws near.
We thank ARISS-Russia delegate Sergey Samburov, RV3DR for this latest information.
73, Frank Bauer, KA3HDO
International Space Station Astronauts are Calling
CQ ARISS Students!
ARISS-US program education proposal deadline is April 30, 2018
March 15, 2018: ARISS is seeking proposals from US schools, museums, science centers and community youth organizations (working individually or together) to host radio contacts with an orbiting crew member aboard the International Space Station (ISS) between January 1 and June 30, 2019.
Each year, ARISS provides tens of thousands of students with learning opportunities about space technologies and communications and more through the exploration of Amateur Radio. The program connects students to astronauts aboard the ISS through a partnership between NASA, the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation, the American Radio Relay League, and other Amateur Radio organizations and worldwide space agencies. The program’s goal is to inspire students to pursue interests and careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and Amateur Radio.
Educators overwhelmingly report that student participation in the ARISS program stimulates interest in STEM subjects and in STEM careers. One educator wrote, “It exceeded our expectations--it created a great interest in both amateur radio and in space exploration. Our kids are completely inspired!” Ninety-two percent of educators who have participated in the program have indicated that ARISS provided ideas for encouraging student exploration and participation. A teacher wrote: “Our school’s ARISS events have only fueled the students’ thirst for more science and communications activities. Exciting stuff!”
ARISS is looking for organizations that will draw large numbers of participants and integrate the contact into a well-developed, exciting education plan. Students can learn about satellite communications, wireless technology, science research conducted on the ISS, radio science, and any related STEM subject. Students learn to use Amateur Radio to talk directly to an astronaut and ask their STEM-related questions. ARISS will help educational organizations locate Amateur Radio groups who can assist with equipment for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for students.
The proposal deadline for 2019 contacts is April 30, 2018. Proposal webinars for guidance and getting questions answers will be offered March 29, 2018, at 7 p.m. EDT and April 16, 2018, at 4 p.m. EDT. Advance registration is necessary. To sign up, go to https://ariss-proposal-webinar-spring-2018.eventbrite.com
For more details such as expectations, proposal guidelines and the proposal form, go to:
http://www.ariss.org/hosting-an-ariss-contact-in-the-us.html
CQ ARISS Students!
ARISS-US program education proposal deadline is April 30, 2018
March 15, 2018: ARISS is seeking proposals from US schools, museums, science centers and community youth organizations (working individually or together) to host radio contacts with an orbiting crew member aboard the International Space Station (ISS) between January 1 and June 30, 2019.
Each year, ARISS provides tens of thousands of students with learning opportunities about space technologies and communications and more through the exploration of Amateur Radio. The program connects students to astronauts aboard the ISS through a partnership between NASA, the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation, the American Radio Relay League, and other Amateur Radio organizations and worldwide space agencies. The program’s goal is to inspire students to pursue interests and careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and Amateur Radio.
Educators overwhelmingly report that student participation in the ARISS program stimulates interest in STEM subjects and in STEM careers. One educator wrote, “It exceeded our expectations--it created a great interest in both amateur radio and in space exploration. Our kids are completely inspired!” Ninety-two percent of educators who have participated in the program have indicated that ARISS provided ideas for encouraging student exploration and participation. A teacher wrote: “Our school’s ARISS events have only fueled the students’ thirst for more science and communications activities. Exciting stuff!”
ARISS is looking for organizations that will draw large numbers of participants and integrate the contact into a well-developed, exciting education plan. Students can learn about satellite communications, wireless technology, science research conducted on the ISS, radio science, and any related STEM subject. Students learn to use Amateur Radio to talk directly to an astronaut and ask their STEM-related questions. ARISS will help educational organizations locate Amateur Radio groups who can assist with equipment for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for students.
The proposal deadline for 2019 contacts is April 30, 2018. Proposal webinars for guidance and getting questions answers will be offered March 29, 2018, at 7 p.m. EDT and April 16, 2018, at 4 p.m. EDT. Advance registration is necessary. To sign up, go to https://ariss-proposal-webinar-spring-2018.eventbrite.com
For more details such as expectations, proposal guidelines and the proposal form, go to:
http://www.ariss.org/hosting-an-ariss-contact-in-the-us.html
