ARISS News Release                                                               No. 19-10
Dave Jordan, AA4KN
ARISS PR
aa4kn@amsat.org
 
May 13, 2019:
 
                       Hamvention and ARISS Work Together
 
 
The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station team (ARISS) is pleased to announce that it is working together again with Hamvention this year.  Hamvention’s 2019 theme is, “Mentoring the Next Generation.”  ARISS’s mission is all about mentoring and inspiring. Tens of thousands of people have been touched by the program: students, educators, community members, and new hams--all wanting to explore STEM and Amateur Radio through ARISS.
 
Hamvention’s support to ARISS began with approval for their first-ever ARISS Forum; it is Friday at 1:15-2:15 PM in Room 3.  A group of speakers will present current and future lifelong learning activities for hams and students via ARISS SSTV, APRS, voice repeaters, radio experiments and robots. Attendees will hear about the next gen on-orbit hardware systems, updates on school activities, ARISS’s visionary initiative to fly ham radio on the human spaceflight lunar Gateway, how to maximize hams’ opportunities to make ARISS connections and listen to the ISS crew in home stations, and meet special guests. 
 
Hamvention will boost up ARISS by once again featuring a special ticket-drawing just minutes before the convention’s famous Sunday drawing for bonus prizes. One ticket will be pulled from the drum for a lucky person to win an ARISS display case with coins.  ARISS donated two ARISS Challenge Coins positioned side by side, showcased in a handsome wooden case with a brass plate. A challenge coin is the premium received by donors who give $100 or more to ARISS; the case allows the view of each of the coin’s sides.  The winning ticket will be tossed in the drum for a chance at all other prizes.  2019 Hamvention Prize Committee Chair Liz Clinc,  KE8FMJ, wrote,
 
“I will give you [ARISS] the same spot [at Sunday’s prize event] as in previous years.  As a collector of challenge coins, myself, I think this is a fabulous thing you do.” 
 
The ARISS team welcomes Hamvention-goers at the ARISS booth in Building 1.  A version will be featured of the Multi-Voltage Power Supply (MVPS) that ARISS will launch to replace the current aging ISS amateur radio station.  ARISS hopes to boost its 2019 fund-raising campaign to help with the expensive space-rated parts required to finish building the MVPS units, and some costs of continuing ARISS operations. When Hamvention visitors donate $10, they will receive a new ARISS lapel pin and a chance in a raffle to win an ARISS Challenge Coin--the winning ticket to be drawn at the booth, 10:30 AM Sunday; the winner need not be present. 
 
For those unable to travel to Xenia, readers can donate any amount right now by going to http://www.ariss.org/donate.html   And surprise­­—if you donate after May 16 on FundRazr.com, an anonymous benefactor will match your amount dollar for dollar, for which ARISS is very grateful.  The match ends July 17, 2019.  
 
ARISS thanked everyone on the Hamvention staff whose efforts are aiding ARISS in its publicity and fund-raising goals.  ARRL ARISS-US Delegate Rosalie White, K1STO, added: “We are so pleased and proud to know that Hamvention believes in the ARISS team and its goals of inspiring and mentoring STEM and Amateur Radio.”
 
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 Lab and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The primary goal of ARISS is to promote exploration of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) topics by organizing scheduled contacts via amateur radio between crew members aboard the ISS and students in classrooms or public forms. Before and during these radio contacts, students, educators, parents, and communities learn about space, space technologies, and amateur radio. For more information, see www.ariss.org.
 
Also join us on Facebook:  Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS)
Follow us on Twitter:  ARISS_status

ARISS News Release                                                               No. 19-08
Dave Jordan, AA4KN
ARISS PR
aa4kn@amsat.org
April 16, 2019
 
All,
It is with great sadness that the ARISS team recognizes the passing of our
great friend and colleague Astronaut Owen Garriott, W5LFL (SK).  Owen
Garriott died at his home in Huntsville, Alabama on April 15, 2019.

A passionate amateur radio operator and ionospheric physics researcher, Owen
inspired the amateur radio community to reach for the stars.  His
multi-decade vision to bring amateur radio with him as part of his journey
in space was realized in 1983 on the STS-9 Space Shuttle Columbia mission,
where hams the world over for the first time heard a fellow ham call CQ from
space.  As the first to operate ham radio in space, Owen blazed a trail that
has enabled countless people from around the world to experience what it is
like to journey into space and explore our universe. As a result, he
inspired the international amateur radio community to extend his modest ham
station on STS-9 into an international human spaceflight ham radio program
that has spanned the Space Shuttle, Mir Space Station, and International
Space Station.

A member of the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame, Owen Garriott was a pioneer and
innovator in all his endeavors…including amateur radio.  Selected as a NASA
scientist-astronaut in 1965, Garriott was the science-pilot for Skylab 3,
the second crewed Skylab mission.  Skylab was the first U.S. space station,
housing 3 different crew expeditions from May 1973-February 1974.  Owen
spent approximately 60 days on Skylab, doing solar physics research, human
physiological research and conducting 3 spacewalks to repair Skylab and
extend its research capabilities.

Owen’s next flight into space, as part of an international crew on the
STS-9 Space Shuttle Columbia mission, cemented amateur radio’s future as
part of the human spaceflight experience.  STS-9 was launched from the
Kennedy Space Center, Florida on November 28, 1983.  Onboard Columbia was an
internationally developed space laboratory, Spacelab-1, which pioneered
international spaceflight research with over 70 separate experiments---a
precursor to the research currently being accomplished on the International
Space Station (ISS).  Onboard also was a Motorola 2-meter handheld radio
with a window mounted antenna to facilitate ham radio contacts between W5LFL
and hams on the ground.  On December 1, the third day of his mission, Owen
donned his headset and made history by communicating with Lance Collister,
WA1JXN, in Frenchtown, Montana. In W5LFL’s own words, here is an excerpt of
his first contact: “W5LFL in Columbia is calling CQ and standing by. Go
ahead.  Hello WA1JXN, WA1 Juliet X‐ray November, this is W5LFL. I picked up
your signals fairly weakly. I think our attitude is not really the best as
yet, but you're our first contact from orbit. WA1 Juliet X‐ray November,
how do you read? Over.”

Owen’s ham contacts on STS-9 were trailblazing for many reasons. They
represented the first ham radio contact from a human in space to someone on
Earth.  They allowed the general public to directly listen and communicate
with an on-orbit crew where, prior to this, only NASA mission control
personnel or heads of State (U.S. Presidents, etc.) could talk to astronauts
from space. And the mission also demonstrated that a group of volunteers
could successfully build a ham radio station for a human spaceflight vehicle
and get it formally approved by a space agency.

Owen spent decades attempting to carry out ham radio on one of his missions,
employing gentle assertiveness and steadfast patience to realize his dream.
In 1965, when NASA was considering Owen for a planned lunar flight on Apollo
18, 19 or 20, Project MOONRAY was proposed by the Project OSCAR team.
Project MOONRAY would support amateur radio operations from the surface of
the moon.  This initiative was scuttled when Apollo lunar expeditions ended
at Apollo-17.  Prior to his flight on Skylab, AMSAT submitted a proposal to
NASA called SKYLARC (Skylab Amateur Radio Communications).  Unfortunately,
this proposal was turned down.  But, as they say, the 3rd time was a charm
on STS-9 and ham radio is now a human spaceflight reality.  Also, it should
be noted that an ARISS/AMSAT international team is pursuing Owen’s plans to
fly ham radio to the moon via several lunar proposal initiatives, including
the Lunar Gateway.

Owen inspired legions of amateur radio operators, world-wide, to support
human spaceflight amateur radio endeavors and for countless individuals to
become ham radio operators.  This includes his son, Richard, W5KWQ, who
together with Owen became the first multi-generational American ham radio
operators to communicate from space.

On behalf of the ARISS International Team, we would like to extend our
sincere condolences to the Garriott family, including Owen’s son Richard,
W5KWQ and Owen’s wife Eve.  As Owen has inspired the amateur radio
community to reach for the stars may we wish Owen Garriott Godspeed and a
wonderful journey amongst the stars.

Ad Astra!
73,  Frank Bauer, KA3HDO

ARISS International Chair

AMSAT V.P. for Human Spaceflight Programs

ARISS News Release                                                               No. 19-07
 
Dave Jordan, AA4KN
ARISS PR
aa4kn@amsat.org
 
                       Bidding is Now Underway – Out of This World ARISS Auction!
April 8, 2019  The bidding has begun!  The Out of This World ARISS Auction is speeding along!  It will run until April 14th at 22:00 UTC. 
Bidders are moving fast hoping to garner a special astronaut signed brand new JVC Kenwood TS-890S—Bidding is done by going to www.ariss.org and pressing the Auction Website button or by visiting http://www.ebay.com/itm/323770952171.  Similar for bidding on a special astronaut signed 6-volume boxed set 2019 ARRL Handbook, but a different URL is used—see http://www.ebay.com/itm/323770952890.

Thanks to JVC Kenwood and ARRL, proceeds from the on-line auction will benefit ARISS in its quest to launch a new custom-built higher-power radio system in late 2019 with its voice repeater and improved packet APRS and SSTV capability that thousands of hams can enjoy. The new system will replace the aging, problematic units currently on the ISS.  ARISS also needs funding to keep introducing ham radio to thousands of students, teachers, parents, and whole communities—and inspiring students about STEM and radio. 

Kenwood has been a super supporter of ARISS for years, and it was the company’s idea for this special radio to be an exclusive for one ham to own. The limited edition boxed set 2019 ARRL Handbook sold out fast last fall but ARRL saved back one set for ARISS's fund-raiser.  AMSAT-NA, another ARISS sponsor, provided parts of the auction infrastructure.  ARISS is thankful for all of its great sponsors and supporters! 

If auctions aren't your thing, please contribute a donation to ARISS—look for the Donate button near the top right corner of www.ariss.org page or email k1sto@arrl.org.  Thank you!   

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 Center for the Advancement of Science in space (CASIS) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The primary goal of ARISS is to promote exploration of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) topics by organizing scheduled contacts via amateur radio between crew members aboard the ISS and students in classrooms or public forms. Before and during these radio contacts, students, educators, parents, and communities learn about space, space technologies, and amateur radio. For more information, see www.ariss.org. Also join us on Facebook:  Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) Follow us on Twitter: ARISS_status

ARISS News Release                                                               No. 19-06
 
Dave Jordan, AA4KN
ARISS PR
aa4kn@amsat.org

Russian SSTV Transmission Event Planned
 
April 6, 2019:
 
ARISS Russia is planning Slow Scan Television (SSTV) image transmissions from the International Space Station. The transmissions begin Thursday, April 11, 2019 around 18:00 UTC and run continuously until approximately 18:00 UTC on Sunday, April 14, 2019. This event uses a computer in the ISS Russian Segment, which stores images that are then transmitted to Earth using the ARISS amateur radio station located in the Service Module which employs the Kenwood TM D710E transceiver. Once these images are received by ham radio operators and other radio enthusiasts on Earth, many participants will post them for viewing at http://www.spaceflightsoftware.com/ARISS_SSTV/index.php . In addition, you can receive a special SSTV ARISS Award for posting your image. Once the event begins, see details at https://ariss.pzk.org.pl/sstv/ . The transmissions will be broadcast at 145.800 MHz using the PD-120 SSTV mode.

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.

Please check for news and the most current information on the AMSAT.org and ARISS.org websites, the AMSAT-BB@amsat.org, the ARISS facebook at Amateur Radio On The International Space Station (ARISS) and ARISS twitter @ARISS_status.
 
 
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 Center for the Advancement of Science in space (CASIS) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The primary goal of ARISS is to promote exploration of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) topics by organizing scheduled contacts via amateur radio between crew members aboard the ISS and students in classrooms or public forms. Before and during these radio contacts, students, educators, parents, and communities learn about space, space technologies, and amateur radio. For more information, see www.ariss.org.
 
Also join us on Facebook:  Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS)
Follow us on Twitter:  ARISS_status

ARISS News Release                                                   No. 19-05                               
 
Dave Jordan, AA4KN
ARISS PR
aa4kn@amsat.org
 
      International Space Station Astronauts are Calling CQ Students
      ARISS-US program’s education proposal window is open April 1 - May 15, 2019
 
March 24, 2019:  The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) program is seeking proposals beginning April 1, 2019, 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, 2020 and June 30, 2020.
 
Each year, ARISS provides tens of thousands of students with learning opportunities about space technologies, communications, and much more through the exploration of Amateur Radio and space. The ARISS program connects students to astronauts on the ISS through a partnership between NASA, the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation, the American Radio Relay League, other Amateur Radio global organizations and the worldwide space agencies. The program’s goal is to inspire students to pursue interests and careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and in Amateur Radio.
 
Educators report regularly that student participation in the ARISS program stimulates interest in STEM subjects and STEM careers. One educator wrote, “Many of the middle school students who took part in and attended the ARISS contact have selected science courses in high school as a result of that contact.”  Educators are setting up ham radio clubs in schools and learning centers because of students’ interest.

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 other STEM subjects. 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 a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for students.

The proposal window opens April 1, 2019 and the proposal deadline is May 15, 2019. For proposal guidelines and forms and more details, go to: http://ariss-proposal-webinar-spring-2019.eventbrite.com
Proposal webinars for guidance and getting questions answered will be offered April 11, 2019 at 7 pm Eastern Time and April 16, 2019 at 9 pm Eastern Time. Advance registration is necessary. To sign up, go to https://ariss-proposal-webinar-spring-2019.eventbrite.com
 

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 Center for the Advancement of Science in space (CASIS) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The primary goal of ARISS is to promote exploration of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) topics by organizing scheduled contacts via amateur radio between crew members aboard the ISS and students in classrooms or public forms. Before and during these radio contacts, students, educators, parents, and communities learn about space, space technologies, and amateur radio. For more information, see www.ariss.org.
 
Also join us on Facebook:  Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS)
Follow us on Twitter:  ARISS_status

 ARISS NEWS RELEASE                                                                                              
No.  19-04     
                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                                       
March 6, 2019                                                                                                               
David Jordan, AA4KN
ARISS PR
aa4kn@amsat.org
 
Out of This World Auction Sponsored by ARISS
 
The ARISS-US team (Amateur Radio on the International Space Station) will auction two very unusual items in its first-ever auction!  Picture yourself as the winning bidder and proud owner of a special astronaut signed brand new JVC Kenwood TS-890S!  Or, you could be top bidder on a special astronaut signed 6-volume boxed set 2019 ARRL Handbook!
 
Bidding starts April 8th at 12:00 UTC and ends April 14th at 22:00 UTC. 
 
You could own this one-of-a-kind beautiful Kenwood TS-890S; your ham station would boast the only Kenwood in the world showcasing an astronaut signature.  Your top bid on the limited edition boxed-set 2019 ARRL Handbook for Radio Communications would mean your bookshelf includes an astronaut signature among your book collection.
 
JVC Kenwood, a proud supporter of ARISS, generously gave a brand new TS-890S for ARISS to auction.  They first offered the radio for sale in the US in the last half of 2018.  Kenwood has been a super supporter of ARISS for years, and it was the company’s idea for this radio, with astronaut signatures, to be an exclusive that just one ham operator could own! The company hopes you’ll be a bidder who wants to support ARISS.
 
The limited edition 2019 ARRL Handbook for Radio Communications sold out fast once ARRL posted their ad.  It was the first time that ARRL divided the Handbook into volumes, which nestle in a hard slipcase.  ARRL, an ARISS sponsor along with AMSAT and NASA, saved back one boxed set to give ARISS for the fund-raiser auction.
 
When you bid in this auction you could be the crucial person who helps ARISS launch its new custom-built higher-power radio system in 2019 with its voice repeater and improved packet APRS and SSTV capability that thousands of hams enjoy. The new system will replace the aging, problematic units currently on the ISS.  You may be the winning bidder who helps ARISS continue introducing ham radio to thousands of students, teachers, parents, and whole communities—and inspiring students about science, technology, engineering, math, and radio! 
 
Don't forget; set yourself a reminder: bidding starts April 8th at 12:00 UTC and ends April 14th at 22:00 UTC.
 
Be the winning bidder for one or both of these two exclusive offerings and you’ll own a rare article that makes your ham station a classic!  More auction details will soon be posted at www.ariss.org including that winning bidders will be responsible for shipping costs and for handling any required customs paperwork.  ARISS thanked JVC Kenwood and ARRL for their generous support. 
 
And if you don’t do auctions, please contribute a donation to help ARISS launch its new radio system into space—look for the Donate button near the top right corner of this www.ariss.org page.  Thank you!   
 

ARISS News Release                                                                                                  No. 19-03
 
Dave Jordan, AA4KN
ARISS PR
aa4kn@amsat.org
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
                                                                                                                       
US Schools/Groups Move Into Phase 2 of ARISS Selections
 
February 5, 2019— The ARISS-US Team (Amateur Radio on the International Space Station) is pleased to announce schools or organizations submitting proposals have been selected to advance to the next stage of planning to host amateur radio contacts from July to December 2019.  The contacts will be with International Space Station (ISS) crew members using the ARISS equipment on the ISS.  A review team of teachers from the ARISS-US Education Committee selected proposals after the recent proposal window closed. The groups will go forward to Phase 2, developing an amateur radio equipment plan to host a scheduled ARISS contact. 
 
ARISS’s primary goal is to engage people in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) activities, and involve them in pursuits related to space exploration, amateur radio, communications, and associated areas of study and career options.  After a recent ARISS contact, Joanne Michael, KM6BWB, at Meadows Elementary School in Manhattan Beach, CA, stated, “ARISS is such an incredible opportunity for students to gain a once-in-a-lifetime experience and real-world skills that they can use the rest of their lives. What a wonderful program!”
 
ARISS anticipates that NASA will be able to provide scheduling opportunities for these US host organizations.  The candidates must now complete an equipment plan that demonstrates their ability to execute the ham radio contact. Once their equipment plan is approved by the ARISS technical team, the final selected schools / organizations will be scheduled as their availability and flexibility match up with the scheduling opportunities.
 
The schools and organizations are:
 
24th World Scout Jamboree                                        West Virginia
Council Rock High School South                                 Holland, PA
Galileo STEM Academy                                               Eagle, ID
Golden Oak Montessori                                              Castro Valley, CA
Lakeside Elementary School                                       West Point, UT
Loudoun County Space Dreamers                                 Ashburn, VA
Pearsall High School Air Force Jr. ROTC                     Pearsall, TX
Santa Barbara Public Library                                       Santa Barbara, CA
Sonoma County Library                                               Rohnert Park, CA
Traverse Area District Library                                     Traverse City, MI
University of Colorado Amateur Radio Club               Boulder, CO
Woodridge Middle School                                           High Ridge, MO
Young Scientists Program at USC                               Los Angeles, CA
 
 
 
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 Center for the Advancement of Science in space (CASIS) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The primary goal of ARISS is to promote exploration of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) topics by organizing scheduled contacts via amateur radio between crew members aboard the ISS and students in classrooms or public forms. Before and during these radio contacts, students, educators, parents, and communities learn about space, space technologies, and amateur radio. For more information, see www.ariss.org.
 

ARISS News Release                                                                                                  No. 19-02
Dave Jordan, AA4KN

ARISS PR
aa4kn@amsat.org
Announcing ARISS/NOTA Slow Scan TV Event
Feb 2, 2019:
ARISS is planning another of their popular Slow Scan Television (SSTV) experiment events. Transmissions are scheduled to begin Friday, Feb. 8 at 14:00 UTC and run through Sunday, Feb. 10 at 18:30 UTC. SSTV operations is a process by which images are sent from the International Space Station (ISS) via ham radio and received by ham operators, shortwave listeners and other radio enthusiasts on Earth, similar to pictures shared on cell phones using twitter or instagram. 
When this event becomes active, SSTV images will be transmitted from the ISS at the frequency of 145.80 MHz using the SSTV mode of PD120 and can be received using ham radio equipment as simple as a 2 meter handheld radio or a common shortwave or scanner receiver the covers the 2 meter ham band. After connecting the audio output of the radio receiver to the audio input of a computer running free software such as MMSSTV, the SSTV images can be displayed. 
Transmissions will consist of eight NASA On The Air (NOTA)
images (see https://nasaontheair.wordpress.com/). In additional, four ARISS commemorative images will also be included.
Once received, Images can be posted and viewed by the public at http://www.spaceflightsoftware.com/ARISS_SSTV/index.php . In addition, you can receive a special SSTV ARISS Award for posting your image. Once the event begins, see details at https://ariss.pzk.org.pl/sstv/ .
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. Please check for news and the most current information on the AMSAT.org and ARISS.org websites, the AMSAT-BB@amsat.org, the ARISS facebook at Amateur Radio On The International Space Station (ARISS) and ARISS twitter @ARISS_status.

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 Center for the Advancement of Science in space (CASIS) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The primary goal of ARISS is to promote exploration of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) topics by organizing scheduled contacts via amateur radio between crew members aboard the ISS and students in classrooms or public forms. Before and during these radio contacts, students, educators, parents, and communities learn about space, space technologies, and amateur radio. For more information, see www.ariss.org.
Also join us on Facebook:  Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS)
Follow us on Twitter:  ARISS_status
 

ARISS News Release                                                                                                  No. 19-01
 
Dave Jordan, AA4KN
ARISS PR
aa4kn@amsat.org
Jan. 30, 2019
 
The ARISS Team Thanks You for Your Tremendous Support in 2018!
 
As the ARISS team reviews 2018 successes, it is time to say thank you to our very dedicated supporters.  To begin expressing thanks appropriately, ARISS commends 2018 donors who contributed $1,000 or more.  The extreme confidence in ARISS by these generous individuals, organizations, and corporations propels ARISS’s successes in using Amateur Radio for a thrilling conversation with an orbiting ISS astronaut to introduce youth, educators, and others to science, technology, engineering, arts, and math, space, radio technology and Amateur Radio. They are:
 
Tom Clark, K3IO
Dayton Amateur Radio Association
John Dean, K0JDD
Frank Donovan, W3LPL
HamJam, sponsored by North Fulton Amateur Radio League
Irving Amateur Radio Club  
JVC KENWOOD Corporation
Joe Lynch, N6CL & Carol Lynch, W6CL
MFJ:  Martin Jue, K5FLU & Betty Jue
Levi Maaia, K6LCM & Daniela Maaia, W6DRM
Ren Roderick, K7JB
Robert Sherwood, NC0B
William Tynan, W3XO (now SK)
Yasme Foundation
Anonymous
Anonymous
Anonymous
 
Each of these donors is an ARISS honorary team member; we are gratified for their robust backing of ARISS. 
 
ARISS wouldn’t exist at all without its major sponsors.  We cannot extol enough, the continuing and vital support of: 
 
NASA Space Communication and Navigation (SCaN)
The Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS)
Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT)
The American Radio Relay League (ARRL)
 
We fervently applaud them all.  NASA, AMSAT, and ARRL have backed ARISS since 1996 during its infancy when the team first developed ideas for the program! 
 
ARISS also pays tribute to the many other donors who firmly stood with ARISS’s goals in 2018.  Even more important, many of these donors faithfully contribute their dollars year after year.
 
Every donor’s support is critical to launching the new ARISS hardware in 2019. The new radio system will improve ARISS educational activities, the packet and SSTV capabilities, and will include other exciting communications features, such as a voice repeater.  The new system will ensure that ARISS communications will continue seamlessly for the weekly school and youth group radio contacts with astronauts on the Space Station. 
 
ARISS has a ways to go to reach our dollar goal before launches of new equipment can occur, and there is not a lot of time left.  2018 ARISS donors stated that they hoped their generosity would encourage others to become ARISS backers. You can join in the funding challenge by contacting Frank Bauer, ka3hdo@gmail.com or Rosalie White, k1sto@arrl.org. We hope to hear from you! Contributions can be given directly at http://www.ariss.org/donate.html
 
ARISS saw a very positive 2018.  We hope for an even more stupendous 2019 thanks to generous donors like you.  Thank you for your support!