ARISS International Team Teleconference

Tuesday, December 20, 2011, 12:15 UTC (7:15 am ET)

Participants:

Gaston Bertels

Mark Steiner

Rosalie White

Larry Agabekov

Masanobu Tsuji

Keigo Komuro

Lou McFadin

Carlos Eavis

Francesco De Paolis

Fabio Azzarello

Carol Jackson

Kenneth Ransom

Dave Taylor

Trinesha Dixon

Keith Pugh

Ken Nichols

Not Present:

Gould Smith

Bill Boston

David Jordan

Darin Cowan

Barry Baines

Steve Ponder

Sergey Samburov

Graham Shirville

Daniel Lamoureux

Maurice André Vigneault

Tadeu Fernandes

Carlos Neta

ARISS I Agenda:

Administrative Session

1. ARISS-International Educational Outreach and School Selection Committee, Presenter: G. Bertels

Gaston explained that because of major family health obligations, Rosalie has stepped down as chair of the ARISS-International Educational Outreach and School Selection Committee, and as its US representative. Taking Rosalie's place as chair and US representative is Frank Bauer.

Rosalie said that she has sent to Frank a group of emails and reports from the committee's e-discussions of the past 1 1/2 years. Frank is reviewing these and will initiate committee e-meetings in January. Rosalie explained that with Frank having retired from his lengthy career at NASA, he is obligated to abide by a legal clause stating that he must refrain from interfacing with NASA staff and contractors until next September. This is a very important thing for each of us to remember. If we forget to follow this rule and engage Frank in a conversation with NASA staff, he will have to step away from assisting ARISS. The entire ARISS Team must carefully respect this rule that he must abide by for now. So when this committee has reports or discussions must take place where NASA staff/contractors are in attendance, Rosalie will be the spokesperson.

2. ITU-Filing, Presenter: R. White

Rosalie took the role of spokesperson summarizing a report prepared by Frank on the background and history of ARISS in regard to its decisions and voting record on filing with the ITU. The report was edited by Rosalie so that it became her report. It will be circulated to ARISS Officers and ARISS Delegates, and when it is, do not forward the report outside of ARISS Officers and ARISS Delegates. Delegates who have held their position for a number of years will remember, as they read the report, the history and the voting that was done. Please carefully respect the rule mentioned in the previous paragraph.

3. New business (administrative only)

None.

General Session

4. Columbus module status, Presenters: G. Bertels, K. Ransom

Kenneth reported that the ARISS UHF system is operating as expected.

Gaston gave a summary of a meeting convened by ESA Columbus management leaders on 22-23 November. The meeting was held at ESA ESTEC and covered the ARISS ham TV project. Attending were ESA Columbus managers, representatives from ESA Education Services, engineers from Kayser-Italia, plus ARISS representatives Emanuele and Gaston. Kayser-Italia gave a general summary of the project. Emanuele and Gaston presented rationale for enhancing the opportunities for educational activities if a video beacon were added to the project. A beacon would offer an extension of educational activities that educators could engage students in beyond those available during the ARISS contacts. ARISS ground stations could do experimenting with the video beacon that educators could use as a resource in the classroom. The rationale for extended educational purposes was supported by ESA Education Services. The Columbus managers asked Kayser-Italia to study whether the beacon can be added to the project yet have the project's cost remain within the general budget. The amateur radio ham TV team meets via telecon most weeks, and the team will keep us informed on their progress.

5. ARISSat-1 status, Presenter: L. McFadin

ARISSat-1 continues to work well. The satellite is de-orbiting fast, now, and a mid-January re-entry is likely. There has been a great deal of activity on the bird with people remembering that soon, it will not be available. As a note for the future, an AMSAT team is evaluating super capacitors for use as a replacement for batteries.

AMSAT will soon ask Energia to return the ARISSat-1 spare flight unit, per the 2009 protocol signed by Sergey and Mr. Alexandrov.

6. New business

Gaston related best wishes for the holiday season and a prosperous and happy new year. Rosalie and Mark concurred and thanked everyone for their hard work in making 2011 a successful year for ARISS.

Respectfully submitted,

Rosalie White, K1STO

ARISS-International Secretary-Treasurer