Amateur Radio in Space: New Antennas Installed on ISS:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjWqN3fVQ0w On Saturday, November 21, astronauts Mike Foreman and Randy Bresnik completed the second EVA (extra-vehicular activity) -- NASA's term for a spacewalk -- of their mission. While on the 6 hour, 8 minute EVA, Foreman installed the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS http://www.rac.ca/ariss/oindex.htm) antennas for 2 meters and 70 cm on the Columbus module. NASA ISS Ham Radio Project Engineer Kenneth Ransom, N5VHO, told the ARRL that this new antenna -- along with another VHF antenna -- was developed by ARISS in cooperation with the European Space Agency (ESA http://www.esa.int/esaCP/index.html) to support an experiment involving the maritime Automatic Identification System (AIS http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automatic_Identification_System). "Both antennas were installed on the Earth-facing starboard edge of the Columbus module," he explained. "The AIS antenna is forward and the ARISS antenna is aft. The ARISS team is planning to migrate some stowed Amateur Radio gear to take advantage of the new antenna." Frequencies available for transmission to and from Columbus will be 2 meters, 70 centimeters and 13 cm. To start, two radios for 2 meters and 70 cm that don't see much use on the ISS will be moved and installed in Columbus . The space shuttle Discovery is expected to return to Earth on Friday, November 27 and will bring Nicole Stott, KE5GJN, back from her stay on the ISS.

Source:

The ARRL Letter

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