ARISS International Teleconference

Tuesday, March 24, 2009, 11:15 UTC (7:15 am ET)

Participants:

Frank Bauer

Sergey Samburov

Rosalie White

Mark Steiner

Larry Agabekov

Keigo Komuro

Masanobu Tsuji

Ken Nichols

Gaston Bertels

Keith Pugh

Carlos Eavis

Graham Shirville

Ken Pulfer

Carol Jackson

Fabiano Moser

Robin Haighton

Michael Chen

Graham Lawton

Martin Diggens

Tony Hutchison

Fernando Casanova

Peter Norden

Will Marchant

Daniel Lamoureux

Kenneth Ransom

Bill Boston

Ed Pritchard

Ginny Stephenson

Dave Taylor

Ron Hashiro

Gould Smith

Patrick Stoddard

Steve Michalski

Kerry Banke

Wayne Harasimovitch

John Spasojevich

Mark Abrams

Rita Wright

Adrian Sinclair

Gene Chapline

Steve McFarlane

Charlie Sufana

Steve Ponder

Eric Christensen

Barry Baines

Nancy Rocheleau

Bob McCown

Dave Larsen

Gil Carman

Interpreter, Tatiana Lind

Not Present:

Lou McFadin

Tadeu Fernandes

Tom Clark

Mark Severance

ARISS I Agenda:

1. Special Announcement from ARISS Chair, Presenter: F. Bauer

Due to various reasons, both personal and due to increased work responsibilities, Frank will be stepping down from all his Amateur Radio on the ISS responsibilities effective immediately. This includes all the ARISS International Team, ARISS Ops, AMSAT-NA, and NASA responsibilities for all aspects of the program. Despite his need to step down, Frank treasures the friendships that he has made through his many years of involvement on the program and hopes to maintain those in the future. Frank is very proud of what this extensive team has been able to accomplish, and is working hard to ensure a seamless transition to the new leadership team. Gaston Bertels will be taking over as ARISS-I Chair until elections can be held in the Netherlands this June. Will Marchant, KC6ROL, will be taking over as the AMSAT-NA Vice President for Human Spaceflight and stepping up to fill Frank’s role as AMSAT US delegate to the ARISS-I team. Rosalie White will remain as the ARRL US delegate.

Frank recognizes that things will be different as different people step up to the various leadership efforts that he is leaving. He asks that we all recognize that we have grown ARISS into quite a large and effective organization, and to keep in mind our primary goals of exciting young people in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and math through the excitement of ham radio and space exploration.

Frank thanked the ARISS-I delegates for their fine efforts over the years to work with the various space agencies and international radio organizations, resulting in an ever-increasing group of students world-wide that have had the opportunity to talk to crewmembers on the ISS.

Frank thanked all the space agencies that have spent resources to make amateur radio a great opportunity on the ISS. The NASA Education Office has provided phenomenal support from the very beginning, and the ISS Program Office has worked hard to integrate our activities into the rest of their organization.

Frank thanks each person as an individual for all they have done to improve the program and move it forward, and asks them to continue moving the program forward in the quality of educational activities that it provides.

Frank took time to mention those individuals who have died over the years whose extensive contributions are greatly appreciated and whose presence is still missed:

Roy Neal, K6DUE

Ron Parise, WA4SIR

Thomas Kieselbach, DL2MDE

Dieter Schliemann, KX4Y

Pam Mountjoy

Although no one likes change, Frank knows that this is a solid team and that it will continue to operate effectively and grow over time, so be patient with the new leadership and help them continue to move ARISS forward. He feels that it is the right time for him to step down, and that the team will do fine without him.

AMSAT-NA will be sending out a press release later today concerning Frank’s departure. Carol Jackson will be forwarding the release to everyone on the various list servers.

Frank will not be attending the next ARISS-I Face to Face meeting in the Netherlands this June, but will be coordinating the appearance of Richard Garriott at the Dayton Hamvention in May.

Gaston spoke for the team and expressed that we understand Frank’s reasons for leaving and recognize how hard it must be for him to step down.

Frank assured the team that all projects currently underway will continue. Nothing in the team’s operations or development will be curtailed as the new leadership team is committed to moving things in the same direction as before his departure. NASA and its various components as well as AMSAT-NA are still just as dedicated to keeping amateur radio on the ISS as before.

2. ARISS-I Face to Face Meeting, June 2009, Presenter: G. Bertels

The next ARISS-I Face to Face meeting will be held June 17 – 19 (Wednesday through Friday) at ESTEC in the Netherlands. Gaston went through the list of people who have committed to attend, and is asking those others who will be attending to confirm as soon as possible for the meeting as well as the Strand Hotel.

Gaston will be starting to build the agenda and is looking for inputs from all participating parties.

Prior to this ARISS-I meeting, the ISS Program Office’s Amateur Radio Working Group (ARWG) will be meeting, and there will be a joint ARWG and ARISS-I meeting on Wednesday. There will also be a guided tour of ESTEC on Wednesday afternoon.

3. New business

None

The next international partners meeting will be Tuesday, April 21, 2009 at 11:15 UTC.

Respectfully submitted,

Mark Steiner, K3MS, for the ARISS Team