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Author Topic: ISS Equipment UPDATE 03/02/2021  (Read 316 times)

K6LCS

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ISS Equipment UPDATE 03/02/2021
« on: March 02, 2021, 12:36:10 PM »

All,
 
The ARISS team has been working very closely with NASA and ESA to identify potential ARISS radio anomaly causes and resolve the radio issues that were observed after the EVA (spacewalk) conducted on January 27.  During this spacewalk, cabling was installed to support the commissioning of the Bartolomeo attached payload capability mounted on the Columbus module.  Part of this cabling rerouted the cabling of the ARISS antenna on Columbus to the ARISS radio system.
 
Through a great deal of coordination with NASA and ESA, ARISS will be conducting a set of APRS tests to determine the operational use of the ARISS radio system in Columbus through employment of three different cabling configurations.  Over the next couple of days, ARISS will be performing a series of tests using our APRS capability through the standard 145.825 MHz APRS frequency.  The crew will be periodically shutting down the radio and swapping cables so ARISS can troubleshoot the radio system and the cabling.  ARISS is unsure of the exact swap times as it will be dependent upon the crew’s availability.  We expect these tests to start no earlier than 1600 UTC on March 2 and run through sometime on March 3.  We cannot guarantee that these troubleshooting tests will resolve the radio issue.  But we encourage ARISS APRS operations in this time span.  Additionally, a contingency task has been approved for an EVA planned for this Friday March 5 if these tests are unsuccessful. This EVA task would return the ARISS cabling to the original configuration prior to the January 27 EVA. Being a contingency task means the crew  will only be perform the activity if time allows.  So there is no guarantee that this EVA will be conducted on Friday.
 
We ask to please not send any “No contact” e-mails or social media responses as this will overwhelm the ARISS team.  But if you definitely hear the packet system working or are able to connect through it, let us know the Date, Time and Grid Square of the occurrence.
 
We thank you for your patience as we work through this somewhat complex anomaly.
 
73,
 
Frank Bauer, KA3HDO
ARISS, International Chair
Executive Director, ARISS-USA
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Clint Bradford, K6LCS
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K6LCS

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Re: ISS Equipment UPDATE 03/02/2021
« Reply #1 on: March 08, 2021, 05:28:21 PM »

Possibility of another attempt to cure this problem this Saturday ... Stay tuned!
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WD9EWK

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Re: ISS Equipment UPDATE 03/02/2021
« Reply #2 on: March 08, 2021, 06:31:30 PM »

The @RF2Space Twitter account announced earlier today that there may be a spacewalk on Saturday (13 March) to fix the issue.

"Looks like NASA is working up plans for an extra EVA on March 13. #ARISS should get another shot at the cable swap."




(from https://twitter.com/RF2Space/status/1368912381514899457 )

And ARISS is having a press conference on Wednesday (10 March) related to all this. From AMSAT-BB earlier tonight:

March 8, 2021-The ARISS team will conduct a 45-minute press conference for
media this Wednesday March 10 at 1900 UTC (1400 Eastern Standard Time). This
press conference will focus on the ARISS Radio system mounted in the
Columbus module.

 

As a reminder, the ARISS team has been working very closely with NASA and
ESA to identify potential causes of an ARISS radio anomaly first observed
after the EVA (spacewalk) conducted on January 27.  No transmissions or
receptions have been heard from this radio since the EVA.  During the
spacewalk, cabling was installed to support the commissioning of the
Bartolomeo attached payload capability mounted on Columbus.  Part of this
effort rerouted the ARISS antenna cable through one of the Bartolomeo
cables.

 

The press conference will provide insight into some of the cable
troubleshooting that has occurred.  It will also discuss the EVA (spacewalk)
planned for Saturday March 13 where astronauts Michael Hopkins and Victor
Glover will complete the connection of payload cables on the new Bartolomeo
platform.  While at the Bartolomeo platform, the astronauts plan to reroute
the ARISS cabling back to its original configuration prior to the January 27
EVA.

 

Interested media can attend the upcoming press conference using the
following GoTo meeting credentials:

 

ARISS Press Conference: Columbus Module Hardware Status
Wed, Mar 10, 2021 1900-1945 UTC/2:00 PM - 2:45 PM (EST)

Please join from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/229563437

You can also dial in using your phone.
United States: +1 (646) 749-3129 <tel:+16467493129,,229563437> 

Access Code: 229-563-437

(from https://mailman.amsat.org/hyperkitty/list/amsat-bb@amsat.org/thread/CCOFVUKQ5INHSP6QZHH4ZIJKZZLGK5YC/ )

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WD9EWK

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Re: ISS Equipment UPDATE 03/02/2021
« Reply #3 on: March 10, 2021, 12:33:52 PM »

Hi!

And it looks like we have a spacewalk scheduled for Saturday (13 March) to work on the issue. From today's ARISS press conference:



Hoping for good luck on Saturday...

73!
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Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK
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WE4B

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Re: ISS Equipment UPDATE 03/02/2021
« Reply #4 on: March 10, 2021, 12:57:02 PM »

It was great to see ARISS be open, honest and transparent of stakeholders of amateur radio in space. This is what professionally operated organizations do. It’s a shame that other organizations cannot provide the same level of transparency to stakeholders.
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AF5CC

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Re: ISS Equipment UPDATE 03/02/2021
« Reply #5 on: March 10, 2021, 01:06:49 PM »

So will the crossband repeater be operational again soon?

73 John AF5CC
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WD9EWK

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Re: ISS Equipment UPDATE 03/02/2021
« Reply #6 on: March 10, 2021, 01:22:51 PM »

So will the crossband repeater be operational again soon?

Maybe, but not right away.

It sounds like packet will be operating, if all the work is successful. No word on how long packet would be running, before going back to the cross-band repeater, but the cross-band repeater had been on from early December until the end of January. Packet was scheduled to come back on in early February, until the problems in that previous spacewalk.

I'm hopeful the work is successful on Saturday, and that we at least hear packet again on Sunday. The new radio had been doing a great job in those roles since it was activated last September.

73!
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Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK
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K6LCS

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Re: ISS Equipment UPDATE 03/02/2021
« Reply #7 on: March 10, 2021, 07:33:21 PM »

ESPECIALLY listen/watch at 1500 UTC (and half-hour before and afterwards).

Clint K6LCS
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Clint Bradford, K6LCS
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K6LCS

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Re: ISS Equipment UPDATE 03/02/2021
« Reply #8 on: March 12, 2021, 07:26:30 PM »

Well, the cable replacement may be earlier ... possibly anywhere from 1200-1500 UTC Saturday.

SO ... Watch the ISS EVA on one monitor, and attend the QSO Today Extravaganza in anther monitor!

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Clint Bradford, K6LCS
AMSAT Ambassador, ARRL Affiliated Club Coordinator
http://www.work-sat.com
909-999-SATS
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