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This program is an opportunity for students to experience the
excitement of Amateur Radio by talking directly with crewmembers of the ISS
(International Space Station). Teachers, parents and communities will see how
Amateur Radio can energize youngsters about science, technology, and learning.
Speaking to the ISS crewmembers is a unique educational experience. NASA would
like to take this opportunity to involve large numbers of individuals,
particularly youth, in technology and the US space program with the help of
Amateur Radio.
The American Radio Relay League (ARRL), the Radio Amateur Satellite
Corporation (AMSAT) and NASA sponsor these exciting experiments. AMSAT
volunteers support technical operations, and mentor school groups. ARRL
provides ARISS information. ARRL and NASA HQ create and distribute ARISS lesson
plans and resources for teachers. The Federal Communications Commission
supports ARISS.
Hundreds of Amateur Radio operators, including those from NASA Amateur Radio
clubs at Johnson Space Center, Goddard Space Flight Center, and Marshall Space
Flight Center, work behind the scenes to make these educational experiences
possible.
All schools, including the eight ISS partner countries are required to submit
an ARISS application and an "Educational Proposal." Applications are available
from ARRL or on the web at http://www.arrl.org/ARISS/ariss-ap.html
Schools from the USA and the eight ISS partner countries are selected for
contacts from these applications. (Currently we have about 40 schools waiting
for a contact.)
Scheduled contacts give the schools a 95% chance at a successful
contact. Ten or more students at each school ask the ISS crew questions, and
the nature of these contacts embodies the primary goal of ARISS--to excite student
interest in learning.
The normal wait for a contact is 2 years. Until your school contact has been
scheduled, your classes can participate by eavesdropping, or by trying to make
a random contact with the astronauts. Imagine listening in on the ISS crew from
your classroom.
ARISS lesson plans are available from ARRL or you can download them
now from http://spacelink.nasa.gov/Instructional.Materials/NASA.Educational.Products/Amateur.Radio.in.Space/
If you are a schoolteacher, but are unfamiliar with ham radio, you can still
take part in ARISS. Visit http://www.arrl.org/field/club/clubsearch.phtml to find a list
of local Amateur Radio clubs to ask for assistance.
If you are a parent, grandparent and/or a ham radio operator, contact ARRL
F&ES and a local school. F&ES will send materials, including ways to
convince teachers and school administrators that Amateur Radio is an important
discipline the school should take advantage of on a full-time basis. This is a
tremendous opportunity for you to showcase ARISS and Amateur Radio to students
of all ages.
If your school is interested
in ARISS, you must complete an application and write an Educational Proposal.
ARRL collects these for the ARISS Selection Committee who makes the final
selection with input from the ISS crew. All grade levels and type of schools
(rural, suburban and particularly urban) are encouraged to apply.
ARISS school applications are available at http://www.arrl.org/ARISS/ariss-ap.html,
or email your request for an electronic version to: ariss@arrl.org
. An Educational Proposal must accompany all completed applications. Your
proposal should include answer questions like:
1)
How will you:
a) integrate this activity into the
school curriculum and
b) involve as many grade levels as
you can, participating through essay contests, poster drawing, letter writing,
etc.?
2)
Do you have an experienced group of hams to assist in setting up all necessary
Amateur Radio equipment and antennas
3)
How will you get as much media coverage as possible?
Schools that have been selected for ARISS scheduled contacts are contacted by a "ARISS coordinator." NASA requires selections to be made several months in advance. If a school is not chosen, its application is recycled for future use. Schools typically wait one year or longer.
Bring a shortwave receiver to school and let students eavesdrop on Amateur Radio retransmissions. Then set up a 2-meter satellite ground station in class, and try a satellite contact. The teacher can apply for a future school contact, almost guaranteeing that students will have an opportunity to communicate with a crew.
Yes. The ISS crew has not lost sight of why ARISS has been so successful. It is the Amateur Radio community that has brought astronauts voices into schools. Crew members make random contacts with earth-bound hams. They make contacts during their breaks, pre-sleep time and before and after meal-time. Astronauts have contacted thousands of hams around the world. Computer software allows the crew to operate the 2-meter packet gear radio in unattended mode, and hams can make contacts when the crewmembers are working.
A typical ARISS ground station includes a 2-meter FM transceiver and 25-100 watts of output power. A circularly polarized crossed-Yagi antenna capable of being pointed in both azimuth (N-S-E-W) and elevation (degrees above the horizon) is desirable. But successful contacts have even been made with verticals and ground plane antennas. Commercial and public domain software is available to help track when a shuttle or ISS will be in range of your station, and where to point your antenna. For more details on assembling your satellite/ARISS station, get the Satellite Handbook from ARRL (see last section).
You may communicate with the crew using voice, packet (computer) radio or television. It all depends on what equipment the crew has in space. Astronauts aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia in 1996 made hundreds of random voice contacts with ham radio operators. When the astronauts were busy with other activities, a computerized ham station aboard the orbiting shuttle automatically made contact with thousands more hams.
At ISS, the work schedules of the crew dictate when they can operate the
radios. So most of the general contacts they make are random.
The ARISS Working Group recognizes the long-standing commitment of the ham
radio community in supporting ARISS, and asks the crew to do as many general
ham contacts as possible.
The following VHF frequencies are used for some ARISS contacts. These frequencies were chosen after much deliberation, to minimize problems between ARISS and other 2-meter users. If you have comments, please direct them to AMSAT via Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, at his address in the Radio Amateur Callbook or email ka3hdo@amsat.org or ARRL F&ES. We appreciate the cooperation of all amateurs in making ARISS successful.
| Frequencies used for ARISS Voice Downlink: 145.80 MHz (Worldwide) Voice Uplink: 144.49 MHz(region 2&3), 145.20 MHz(region 1) Packet Uplink: 145.99 Mhz (Worldwide) |
Most ARISS operations are split-frequency (everyone uses separate receive and transmit frequencies). Please do not transmit on the shuttle's downlink frequency. The downlink is your receiving frequency. The uplink is your transmitting frequency. Earth stations should listen to the downlink frequency and transmit on the uplink frequency only when ISS or the spacecraft is in range and the astronauts are on the air.
Goddard Amateur Radio Club (MD) will often re-transmit live, NASA air-to-ground audio over Amateur Radio frequencies from their club station, call sign WA3NAN. This station, and some VHF and UHF repeater groups, provide this service so amateurs and students can hear the educational communications. You will hear the astronauts, Mission Control, and bulletins about ARISS activities. WA3NAN operates on the high frequency (HF) bands at 3.86, 7.185, 14.295, 21.395, and 28.65 MHz and in the Greenbelt, MD area on VHF at 147.45 MHz (FM).
FCC rules, Part 97.113 (e) , state that hams are permitted to
retransmit shuttle air-to-ground communications, provided that approval has
been obtained from NASA. In 1990, ARRL sought NASA's permission, on behalf of
radio amateurs, to retransmit communications. NASA Public Affairs Office encouraged
such retransmissions, indicating that the communications are public domain.
Please follow these guidelines if you plan to rebroadcast NASA shuttle
communications,
1)
In keeping with good amateur practice and FCC rules, retransmissions should be
limited to educational missions.
2)
Retransmissions should be done manually (with a control operator present).
3)
NASA audio contains crew "wake-up
music." Amateurs should avoid, if at all possible, retransmitting music
or other prohibited transmissions listed by the FCC rules (Part 97.113).
Software is available for tracking spacecraft with a personal computer. Here are some options (ARRL in no way warrants these products or services):
AMSAT TRACKING PROGRAMS:
The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT-NA) has computer programs for
IBM, Macintosh, Apple, Commodore, and other computers. Contact AMSAT-NA at 850
Sligo Avenue, Suite 600, Silver Spring MD
20910, Phone (301) 589-6062, FAX (301) 608-3410, email martha@amsat.org
AMSAT also has a collection of free software for download:
World Wide Web http://www.amsat.org
Anonymous FTP ftp.amsat.org
STSPLUS (Shareware for IBM).
This software, designed by David Ransom Jr., has excellent graphics and maps to
help create a mock Mission Control Center. STSPLUS and other tracking
software is posted on Spacelink, NASA's
electronic information system:
Modem line (205) 895-0028 Terminal
emulation VT-100, Data format 8-N-1 World Wide Web: http://spacelink.nasa.gov
Satellite tracking software
may be found in the following Spacelink directory:
http://spacelink.nasa.gov/Instructional.Materials/Multimedia
World Wide Web sites offer
ways to predict spacecraft passes via the Internet. Check the following WWW
site:
Terry Jones, W8JE, http://www.datasync.com/~nz8c
Spacecraft-tracking software uses "Keps" or Keplerian elements (also known as "orbital" or "tracking" elements) to pinpoint the location of a spacecraft. Keps provide the software with a spacecraft's orbital track, which the computer uses to calculate its location. Using a tracking program tells an observer when a spacecraft will appear above his or her horizon.
Keplerian elements are available from:
AMSAT News Service publishes weekly information bulletins including Keps. These
bulletins are distributed electronically through amateur packet radio networks,
landline networks and the World Wide Web http://www.amsat.org
AMSAT also has email mailing lists to deliver Keps. To subscribe, send a
message with your request to listserv@amsat.org Include your call sign (if
any), your email address, and the names (shown below) of the mailing lists you
wish to receive:
SAREX - mailing list
ANS - AMSAT News Service
AMSAT-BB - AMSAT Bulletin Board
KEPS -- "Keps" mailing list
Goddard Amateur Radio Club, WA3NAN, maintains a BBS which carries Keps updated
daily, and ARISS bulletins.
Modem line (301) 286-4137
Internet wa3nan@gsfc.nasa.gov
TCP/IP address 128.183.105.17
Packet radio WA3NAN on 145.090 MHz in
the Maryland/DC area.
Johnson Space Center Amateur
Radio Club maintains a service with the latest element sets available during
missions.
Modem line (713) 244-5625
World Wide Web: http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata/elements/
How do you find information on, payloads, space science and mission
lesson plans? NASA has materials and resources for educators:
Specific mission and payload information can be obtained directly from NASA,
via the shuttle mission Home Page: World Wide Web http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/index-m.html
NASA Spacelink - One of
NASA's electronic resources specifically developed for use by the educational
community. Spacelink is a comprehensive electronic library that hosts NASA's
educational publications, the NASA Television education schedule, and provides
hundreds of subject-related links.
http://spacelink.nasa.gov
Teacher Resource Centers (TRC) have free-loan publications, slides, audiocassettes, videocassettes, computer programs and lesson plans. For information, contact the NASA TRC that serves your region:
AK, AL, CA, HI, ID, MT, NV, OR, UT,
WA, WY:
NASA Ames Research Center
Teacher Resource Center
Mail Stop 253-2
Moffett Field, CA 94035-1000
(415) 604-3574
CA cities near Dryden Research
Center:
NASA Teacher Resource Center for Dryden Flight Research Center
45108 N. 3rd. Street East
Lancaster, CA 93535
(805) 948-7347
Inquiries
on the solar system and planetary exploration:
NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Teacher Resource Center
Mail Stop 601-107
4800 Oak Grove Drive
Pasadena, CA 91109
(818) 354-6916
CT, DE, DC, ME, MD, MA, NH, NJ, NY,
PA, RI:
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Teacher Resource Laboratory
Mail Code 130.3
Greenbelt, MD 20771-0001
(301) 286-8570
VA's
& MD 's Eastern Shores:
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Wallops Flight Facility
Education Complex-Teacher Resource Lab
Bldg. J-17
Wallops Island, VA 23337-5099
(804) 824-2297/2298
http://pao.gsfc.nasa.gov
FL, GA, PR, VI:
NASA John F. Kennedy Space Center
Educators Resources Laboratory
Mail Code ERC
Kennedy Space Center, FL 32899-0001
(407) 867-4090
CO, KS, NE, NM, ND, OK, SD, TX:
Space Center Houston
JSC Educator Resource Center
1601 NASA Road One
Houston TX 77058-3696
(713) 483-8696
KY, NC, SC, VA, WV:
Educator's Resource Center
WVU/NASA Fairmont IV & V Facility
100 University Drive
Fairmont, WV 26554
IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI:
NASA Lewis Research Center
Teacher Resource Center
Mail Stop 8-1
21000 Brookpark Road
Cleveland, OH 44135-3191
(216) 433-2017
MS:
NASA Stennis Space Center
Teacher Resource Center
Building 1200
Stennis Space Center, MS 39529-6000
Phone: (601) 688-3338
AL, AR, IA, LA, MO, TN:
U.S. Space & Rocket Center
NASA Educator Resource Center
One Tranquillity Base
Huntsville, AL 35758
| Tuning-In
NASA TV Satellite - GE-2 Transponder 9C 85 degrees west longitude Vertical polarization Frequency 3880.0 MHz Audio on 6.8 MHz |
QSL
cards are similar to postcards. Hams exchange QSLs to confirm their radio
contacts with other stations. Participating in ARISS is an exhilarating
experience. But waiting for that coveted QSL card requires patience. Designing
a card for the ultimate DXpedition is a lengthy process. Once the cards are
printed, RAC forwards them to the Amateur Radio club managing the QSLs.
Send your
QSL cards or reports to one of the following addresses.
For the USA :
ARRL Headquarters
ARISS QSL Expedition-#_
225 Main Street
Newington, CT 06111-1494 USA
For Canada :
Radio Amateurs of Canada
ARISS QSL Expedition-#_
720 Belfast Road, Suite 217
Ottawa Ontario
K1G 0Z5
Please include your QSL or
report: date, time in UTC, frequency and mode (voice, packet or sstv).
If you wish to receive a card, you must include a large, self-addressed,
stamped envelope with proper postage or sufficient IRCs included.
These clubs have graciously
volunteered to handle QSLs for the following missions:
STS-74 Greater Norwalk Amateur Radio Club,
Connecticut
STS-76 Nashoba Valley Amateur Radio Club,
Massachusetts
STS-78 "The Net", Washington
STS-83
and 94 Bergen
Amateur Radio Asso., New Jersey
STS- 93 Dayton Amateur Radio Association,
Ohio
EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT & INFORMATION is available from the American Radio Relay League's (ARRL)
Field & Educational
Services, 225 Main St, Newington CT 06111 USA
Phone 860-594-0200 Fax 860-594-0259
World Wide Web: http://www.arrl.org/
ARRL INFORMATION SERVER:
ARRL maintains an information email server. To receive an index of files on the
server, send a message to info@arrl.org. Leave the subject line blank. On the
first line of your message, type SEND INDEX. On the second line, type QUIT. A
list of all files on the server will be emailed to you.
ARISS ON THE WORLD WIDE WEB:
ARRL Web site--http://www.arrl.org/ARISS/
AMSAT Web site-- http://www.amsat.org/
NASA's ARISS Web site--
http://ariss.gsfc.nasa.gov/
Goddard Amateur Radio Club http://garc.gsfc.nasa.gov/
Johnson Space Center Amateur Radio
Club--
http://www.w5rrr.org/
W1AW BULLETINS:
ARRL's Amateur Radio station (call sign W1AW) transmits news bulletins (9:45
PM, 12:45 AM EST) on HF bands at 1.855, 3.99, 7.29, 14.29, 18.16, 21.39, 28.59
MHz and, in the Hartford, CT area, on VHF at 147.555 MHz. Bulletins are also on
packet.
AMSAT NET:
The AMSAT International Satellite Net on Sundays, 14.282 MHz, +/- QRM.
Amateur Radio operators, or "hams," are people from all walks of
life--no matter your age, gender or physical ability. Getting started in
Amateur Radio has never been easier! Contact ARRL to request a free New Ham
Package. It contains details on your local Amateur Radio clubs, instructors,
exam sites and popular study guides. Call ARRL's toll-free hotline for new
hams: 1-800-32-NEW HAM (800-326-3942) or email at newham@arrl.org
.
Why not get started, today!
Call ARRL (888-227-5289) for book orders or place your order online at http://www.arrl.org/catalog/
The ARRL Ham Radio License Manual (1st edition, 3rd printing) contains everything you need to pass your Technician ham radio written exam.
ARRL's Tech Q&A: A "Question and Answer" format for the code-free Technician exam. Brief explanations of the correct answers reinforce learning.
The Satellite Handbook has the information you need to communicate through, or receive signals from orbiting satellites and the spacecraft! Whether your interest is in ham satellites, weather satellites, or other spacecraft, you'll find everything from setting up ground station equipment to antennas.
Your Packet Companion is perfect for the packet (computer) radio newcomer, covers everything--from assembling a station to sending mail, from packet satellites and spacecraft to the latest networking systems. Straightforward writing style and clear drawings get you on the cutting edge of digital ham radio.