Listen for Orbiting Space Suit!

Did you ever want to participate in a International Space Station mission? Starting Friday, February 3rd, you may get your chance. An old, used Russian spacesuit has been transformed into a most unusual earth orbit satellite. Just add one Kenwood TH-K2AT handi-talkie transceiver, a battery pack, a sensor for temperature readings, a compact voice synthesizer and telemetry device and a small helmet-mounted antenna and you are good to go.

The modified spacesuit will be thrust out of the space station into orbit and will begin broadcasting voice messages and slow scan television on 145.990 MHz FM in the two-meter amateur band. The Kenwood HT produces 5 watts RF output. Discover the time of fly-by using NASA's fascinating J-Pass program available at: http://science.nasa.gov/RealTime/JPass/25/JPass.asp. Enter your Zip Code and you'll instantly know when the next show begins. Aim your Yagis toward the proper position in the sky! You may hear Suit Sat's 30-second message of greetings, followed by a burst of telemetry. Transmission of a slow scan TV picture ends the sequence.

Mission Specialists at NASA have especially encouraged schools to participate in listening for Suit Sat and reporting receptions to the project's website suitsat.org. Awards will be issued to groups that copy Suit Sat's message. Extra credit is given to those who can capture the slow scan TV picture!

For more information on Suit Sat, head for these web sites: http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/articles/SuitSat/ and http://www.suitsat.org/ You can see a press conference clip on the mission at: http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/information/videoNews.php By the way, I like a snug fit. Do you have anything in a 42 Regular in white?

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