ARISS International Teleconference
Tuesday, October 25, 2005 11:30 UTC (7:30 am ET)
Participants:
Frank Bauer
Rosalie White
Larry Agabekov
Sergey Samburov
Masanobu Tsuji
Mark Steiner
Dave Larsen
Robin Haighton
Ken Pulfer
Ken Nichols
Gaston Bertels
Lou McFadin
Tadeu Fernandes
Carol Jackson
Carlos Eavis
Miles Mann
Kenneth Ransom
Interpreter, Tatyana Preiser
Absent:
Keith Pugh
Keigo Komuro
Daniel Lamoureux
Graham Shirville
Jim Heck
Erika Vick
Scott Stevens
Bill Boston
Jon Neubauer
ARISS I Agenda:
Note: Today, October 25, 2005, Bill Gerstenmaier (Associate Administrator of the Space Operations Mission Directorate) asked Frank Bauer about SuitSat in the elevator in NASA-HQ, so we are getting good visibility.
Administrative Session
1. QSLing, Presenter: R. White
Discussion:
A) SuitSat: NASA-GSFC is preparing a special certificate to commemorate this flight, similar to the Roy Neal certificate. Each certificate will be personalized with name (and callsign, if appropriate). ARISS delegates will be responsible for asking for SASE’s and distributing the certificates. People who do not want their certificates folded will be asked to send large envelopes with the correct postage.
Sergey Samburov requested special certificates for the volunteers who helped make the SuitSat effort happen.
B) ARISS QSL cards: Rosalie is working to finalize the number of cards to order:
U.S. – 1500-2000
Japan – 500
Canada – 100 - still has some left from the first order, and Rosalie asked for some to help with the current backlog
Europe – 2000
Russia - 100
Rosalie also took a poll regarding the production, and it will be finalized via email.
Sergey inquired about using a different picture of the current ISS configuration. It was decided to keep the approved picture for the card and use this newer picture for the SuitSat certificate.
2. New Business (administrative only)
Discussion:
A) Gaston reported that the development of the antennas and feedlines for the Columbus module is staying on schedule. He has not heard of any schedule slips for Columbus launch that might allow the development of the UHF antenna.
The final design will be ready to be passed on to the Project Selection and Use Committee at the end of the month for review by the wider ARISS community.
B) Sergey passed on congratulations to Gaston and the school in Finland from cosmonaut Yuri Shargin.
C) Frank noted that Bill McArthur has been very active on the radio.
General Session
3. AMRASE (Amateur Radio and Space Experiment) interested in working with ARISS, Presenter: T. Fernandes
Discussion:
AMRASE is a non-profit organization staffed primarily by volunteers that supports ARISS activities in Brazil. It helps train amateur radio operators interested in starting space operations. AMRASE is interested in developing a closer relationship with ARISS, and Frank expressed ARISS’ interested in developing closer ties as well. Frank asked for a top-level description (no great details needed) of what infrastructure AMRASE has in place (operators and ground stations), and what specifically it needs from ARISS.
4. SuitSat & SSTV Status, Presenter: S. Samburov
Discussion:
Sergey reported that the EVA is tentatively scheduled for December 8. The crew is anxious to see the CD with the pictures, but that will have to wait until a dedicated computer is available onboard. The crew is working to gather batteries to install, in case the EVA is prior to the arrival of the Progress with new batteries.
Use of Kenwood Repeater with SuitSat, Presenter: Kenneth Ransom:
Discussion:
It has been suggested that the Kenwood D700 be used in the cross-band repeater mode to extend the range of the SuitSat signal. It would transmit the data on the 70 cm band. Some issues are that:
1) We would need to ask folks on the ground to limit packet transmissions while SuitSat is overhead. (they are on the same frequency)
2) It would require reconfiguration of the Kenwood after each school contact. The latter may be made easier by using the Ericsson for school contacts
3) We would need to ask folks on the ground to refrain from using the repeater for voice contacts on the ground.
5. New business
Discussion:
A) Sergey asked to give a status on the debrief with the recently returned crew, Sergei Krikalev and John Phillips. They noted that it gets a little crowded when more than two people gather around the microphone, but since most of the time there are only two crewmembers, it is not much of a problem. They had very little time for amateur radio operations, and hope the situation improves in the future. They would appreciate not having to schedule school contacts out of their limited personal time. They are anxious to have a dedicated ham radio computer onboard.
Sergei Krikalev thanks the American team for providing support to the Russian school contact in Kirov, and is anxious to visit the school.
B) Sergey noted that the SHADOW experiment folks are asking to perform the experiment again, this time using the repeater. He would like to implement this next year, and Frank asked for a written proposal as to when and with all the details.
C) Frank is still waiting for names from the region delegations for the Exploration Initiative discussions.
D) Miles would like to have a method of saving all downlinked images. He will circulate a proposal to the ARISS-I team first.
E) Miles is looking for an official SuitSat webpage. Frank mentioned that NASA was in the process of developing this.
Action Item for Delegates
Provide the name(s) of 1-2 Points of Contact from each region to support the Exploration Initiative activities. To be supplied by November 1.
USA POC – Frank Bauer & Rosalie White
Respectfully submitted,
Mark Steiner, K3MS for the ARISS Team