ARISS International Teleconference
Tuesday September 27, 2005 11:30 UTC (7:30 am ET)
Participants:
Frank Bauer
Rosalie White
Larry Agabekov
Sergey Samburov
Keigo Komuro
Masanobu Tsuji
Mark Steiner
Dave Larsen
Daniel Lamoureux
Lou McFadin
Ken Nichols
Gaston Bertels
Carol Jackson
Carlos Eavis
Miles Mann
Robin Haighton
Kenneth Ransom
Dan Schultz
John Nickel
Cássio da Fonte, ZZ1UMS (Tadeu’s representative for Brazil)
Interpreter, Tatyana Preiser
Not present:
Ken Pulfer
Keith Pugh
Tadeu Fernandes
Graham Shirville
Jim Heck
Erika Vick
Scott Stevens
Bill Boston
Jon Neubauer
ARISS I Agenda:
Administrative Session
1. Columbus Module, Presenter: G. Bertels
Discussion:
Status: First flat model of S-band antenna has been built with good testing results. The next step is to fabricate one to match the curvature of the module. EADS Bremen will provide a short piece of coax to test attachment process. ICD between the ARISS antennas and the Columbus module has been updated and distributed for review.
A team has formed to work out what onboard equipment will be flown in the module. Plans are not specified yet as to whether the equipment will be launched aboard the Columbus module or sent later.
Lou McFadin requested copies of the ARISS design specific technical documents. Gaston will work out a way to get the large files to the ARISS-I website. Gaston also has the many large generic documents available on his server.
2. Exploration Initiative, Presenter: F. Bauer
Discussion:
Frank has not received any inputs regarding who would represent the various regions in the discussions on how ARISS will proceed with the Exploration Initiative effort. Various studies will be done, and the team will tap into experienced individuals as necessary to help with technical portions of the work.
3. New Business (administrative only)
Discussion:
Gaston: The IARU Region 1 Conference was held in Switzerland last week. Gaston thanked Sergey for obtaining the video of Sergei Krikalev greeting the conference, and he faxed a thank-you to Mr. Alexandrov. The General Conference has decided to set up a Space Working Group. Gaston has suggested ASPEX for the working group title– Amateur Radio Space Exploration working group. The initiative was received with great enthusiasm. Gaston will be sending out the Terms of Reference after they are approved by the Executive Committee.
General Session
4. ARISS Hardware Discussion, Presenter: M. Mann
- Project coordination meetings and frequency band plan management
- Testing SSTV with a Flight version of the Kenwood D700
- Progress 19P launch
- Radio Retirement plans
Discussion:
Miles congratulated everyone for successfully getting the equipment launched onboard the Progress 19.
Miles has suggested to Frank that it would be a good idea to have monthly hardware meetings with those folks who have hardware onboard as well as those nearing launch. Relevant information would be passed on to the entire ARISS-I team. This would reduce time of technical discussions during the ARISS-I partners telecon. Frank agrees that this is a good idea. The international partners should think about whom they would like to have represent them. It will be a mix of operations and equipment planning.
SpaceCam: Miles needs to test software against a flight Kenwood D700, and Frank will be making one available for test in the very near future. Miles is working on registration numbers for the SpaceCam software for those who have requested it.
Miles would like the group to begin discussing radio retirement plans, as radios don’t last forever. Given the long lead times we should plan in advance so as to not have to scramble once a radio fails. Frank noted that we try to fly spares, and that we also have diversity in non-identical units that can be used in case there is a common failure mode on a radio and its spare.
5. VoIP (Echolink & IRLP), Presenter: F. Bauer
Discussion:
A team of folks from Canada and the US have been working on the design of a common audio system that would more easily link school contact audio directly from the contact school to the Internet and amateur radio repeaters. A prototype system will be built, with plans for an additional 10 – 15 units as funding and usage needs dictate. Providing audio on IRLP and Echolink will more easily allow many more schools to link to these events. This is already accomplished with the current telebridge schools since the bridge audio from the phone lines is directly linked to IRLP and Echolink.
Sergey would like to elevate the status of this to an official experiment to be able to justify more crew time onboard.
Gaston asked if these units would be available to other regions, and Frank envisions that one or two might be kept by each “region” to avoid cross-oceanic shipping.
Details need to be worked out regarding how the units will be provided to schools. Frank will be sending out more information to the ARISS-I team.
Echolink has been successfully used quite a bit in Brazil, and they are willing to share their experiences.
6. SuitSat & SSTV Status, Presenter: S. Samburov
Discussion:
Safety certificates have been presented to NASA, and Sergey is working on the actions needed to finish safety certification. Frank is helping coordinate on the US side, although Hurricane Rita’s impacts on JSC have slowed progress.
7. Space Tourist Greg Olsen, Presenter: F. Bauer
Discussion:
Greg will be launched next week, and Frank is trying to make sure all school contacts are coordinated. All contacts are bridges, and will be set up for the crew by Russian radiograms as Greg is a Russian crewmember. Sergey will coordinate with the Russian control team, and Frank will be sending to Sergey the school information and times, although we have to make sure they don’t interfere with Greg’s scheduled activities. Sergey will send a confirmation email to Frank when all is worked out.
Frank will also be providing to Greg the times good for general contacts, although this will be a separate message from the school info.
Greg will be using NA1SS as he has his US license. Sergey noted that he passed his Russian certification tests.
8. PCSAT2, Presenter: F. Bauer
Discussion:
Frank will provide more information about recent PCSAT2 events, which have raised questions about ARISS equipment. He will distribute a description of these events and will discuss in more detail at the next ARISS-I meeting. In the future, anything flown with amateur radio hardware needs to be thoroughly understood and checked. A telecon needs to be held to discuss policy in this regard.
9. New business
Discussion:
During the Progress docking, vibration of the short wave antenna was observed. Although this is normal, others are concerned that the antenna will break off. Sergey will forward these concerns to Frank.
Respectfully submitted,
Mark Steiner, K3MS for the ARISS Team