Shuttle Amateur Radio EXperiment (SAREX) Bulletin: July 1994 IMPORTANT News For Teachers and Amateurs... This version of the SAREX Bulletin contains the latest, most up-to-date information on the program. We've included new information on: - Upcoming SAREX Opportunities - Keplerian Elements - SAREX QSL Cards The following dates are tentative. Please understand that delays in spacecraft launches are somewhat common; particularly because there are people on-board! Upcoming SAREX Missions: STS-65 July 8, 1994 STS-64 September 9, 1994 STS-67 January 12, 1995 ---------------------------------------------------------------- With the help of Amateur Radio clubs and ham radio operators, astronauts have been speaking over the ham airwaves while in orbit. They're talking directly with large groups of the general public, showing teachers, students, parents and communities how Amateur Radio energizes youngsters about science, technology, and learning. The program is called SAREX, the Shuttle Amateur Radio EXperiment. NASA's intent in making astronauts available for SAREX operations is to involve the largest possible numbers of people, particularly youngsters, 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, with AMSAT heading up technical operations. Hundreds of Amateur Radio operators work behind the scenes, including those from NASA's Amateur Radio clubs at the Johnson Space Center, Marshall Space Flight Center and Goddard Space Flight Center. The ARRL takes the lead with information and educational support. ARRL Educational Activities Department (EAD) and NASA HQ will create lesson plans and resource materials for teachers. I AM A SCHOOL TEACHER--HOW CAN I GET STARTED? Schools wanting to make a SAREX contact with the astronauts are asked to submit proposals and an application to ARRL. You may write ARRL EAD for a SAREX application form (see the SAREX Resource List at the end of this document). The SAREX application may also be obtained electronically from the NASA Spacelink electronic information system (computer BBS). While only a handful of schools get chosen for an actual contact, all schools can participate by eavesdropping on the Shuttle astronauts. SAREX lesson materials are also available to all schools who participate. Imagine listening in on the astronauts from your classroom! If you are a school teacher, you can easily become a part of SAREX in your school(s). Contact the ARRL EAD to get a list of your local Amateur Radio clubs to help you. If you are a parent, grandparent and/or a ham radio operator, contact ARRL EAD and a local school. EAD will send you 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 SAREX and Amateur Radio to kids of all ages in a big way. VIDEOTAPE--HAM RADIO IN SPACE The ARRL Educational Activities Department has videos available for teachers and hams to borrow. Use of the Audiovisual Library is free, the only cost being return shipping. Ham Radio In Space is a 30-minute color video chronicling the participation of schools and hams in SAREX. You and your class will enjoy watching students talk to the astronauts via ham radio as they participate in this unique educational program. To borrow a copy of this video, send a postcard with your request to ARRL EAD (see Resource List, end of document). Borrowers, please indicate the date you will need the video. Requests should be made at least one month in advance. HAMS + STUDENTS = SAREX Are you a ham radio operator that was successful making a random radio contact with the Space Shuttle Astronauts during a SAREX mission? If you've answered "YES", now is your turn to contribute to this educational undertaking. Establish a SAREX station at a local school. Bring in a shortwave receiver and let students eavesdrop on all of the NASA air-to-ground audio--from launch to landing (frequencies can be found further on). Then, set up a 2-meter satellite ground station and attempt a random SAREX contact from the classroom. The teacher may even apply for a school contact, almost guaranteeing that the students will have an opportunity to communicate with the Shuttle crew during an upcoming SAREX mission. Don't closet yourself and your equipment at home. You, your radio club, and your local school can become a part of SAREX, today! UPCOMING SAREX MISSIONS The next three flights for SAREX are STS-65, STS-64 and STS-67 (see table, further on). Applications are no longer being accepted for these flights. Schools who have been selected will be contacted by a SAREX coordinator. If your school was not chosen this time, applications are recycled and you may be chosen for a future flight, in 1995. Contact ARRL EAD if your application information should change. HOW DO I TALK TO THE ASTRONAUTS? You may communicate with the Shuttle astronauts using a variety of modes: voice, packet (computer) radio or television. It all depends on which equipment configuration they take into space. For example, astronauts Jay Apt and Mamoru Mohri made hundreds of random voice contacts with Amateur Radio operators during STS-47 in September 1992. When the astronauts were sleeping, however, a robot computer ham station aboard the orbiting Shuttle automatically made contact with hundreds more amateurs around the world. The robot computer transmitted an acknowledgment to each ham whose computer successfully made contact with it. On other missions, the SAREX configuration has even included Slow Scan Television (SSTV) and Fast Scan Television (FSTV) allowing amateurs a firsthand glimpse at life in space. ARE ALL OF THE CONTACTS MADE BY THE ASTRONAUTS RANDOM? During each SAREX mission, the astronauts' primary work schedules dictate when they can and cannot operate the radio equipment. As a result, most of the contacts they make are random. If the astronauts are operating their radio, however, you can be certain that many hams will be attempting to contact them. During SAREX missions, a handful of schools are chosen from around the world to make contact with the Shuttle. These contacts are prearranged, giving the schools a greater chance at making a successful contact. Two or more students at each of the selected schools ask questions of the astronauts during the contact. The nature of these contacts embodies the primary goal of SAREX³to excite students' interest in learning. HOW CAN I USE MY SHORTWAVE RADIO TO EAVESDROP ON THE ASTRONAUTS? When a Shuttle mission carries the SAREX payload, news and astronaut retransmissions are carried by the Goddard Amateur Radio Club's station, WA3NAN, (Greenbelt, MD). This station, and several VHF and UHF repeater groups, will retransmit the audio signals from the Shuttle on most amateur bands so that you and the students can hear the communications. You will hear NASA mission commentary, frequent bulletins to advise listeners of astronaut-planned transmissions, and amateur two-way voice and amateur television transmissions with the Shuttle. WA3NAN operates on the high frequency (HF) bands at 3.86, 7.185, 14.295, 21.395, and 28.65 MHz and on VHF at 147.45 MHz. GARC also maintains a Bulletin Board System (BBS) which is accessible via the Internet, modem and packet radio. The BBS contains Keplerian orbital elements updated daily, AMSAT and SAREX bulletins and Space Shuttle mission information. via Internet: wa3nan.gsfc.nasa.gov or 128.183.105.17 via phone: (301) 286-4137 via packet: WA3NAN on 145.090 MHz in the DC area. HOW MAY I TRACK THE SHUTTLE WITH A COMPUTER? A number of software packages are available for tracking the Shuttle on a personal computer. Here are just a few options (ARRL in no way warrants these products): AMSAT Tracking Programs. These easy to use programs are perfect for the serious Amateur Radio space enthusiast or beginner. Call AMSAT (The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation) for current prices and details (301) 589-6062 or write to AMSAT, PO Box 27, Washington DC 20044. STSPLUS (For IBM). This software was designed by David Ransom Jr. The program allows the user to track an orbiting space shuttle or satellite. Excellent graphics and maps help to create a mock Mission Control Center. Look for STSPLUS posted on the NASA Spacelink bulletin board system (205) 895-0028. OrbiTrack (MacIntosh) $20. Available from BEK Developers, PO Box 47114, St. Petersburg, FL 33743-7114. Includes a user's manual. SatTrack (MacIntosh) $20. Available from Mike Pflueger, WD8KPZ, 6207 W. Beverly Lane, Glendale, AZ 85306. Include a blank floppy diskette. OrbiTrack and SatTrack are also available via FTP from sumex.stanford.edu. Look in info-mac/app for the programs sat-trak-102.hqx and orbitrack-214.hqx. KEPLERIAN ELEMENTS Computer tracking programs use Keplerian elements to calculate times when the shuttle is to appear above your horizon. Each time a Shuttle is launched, new Keplerian elements are generated based on the launch time and the orbiter's inclination and motion. Using these elements correctly will allow you to pinpoint the location of the Shuttle at any given time. If you're interested in receiving Keplerian elements on a biweekly basis, write NASA, Goddard Space Flight Center, Code 513, Greenbelt, MD 20771. Don't forget to tell them which type of satellite(s) you are interested in tracking (ie: Shuttle, Amateur Radio satellites, weather satellites, etc.). Celestial BBS--The most current orbital elements from the NORAD two-line element sets are carried on the Celestial BBS, (513) 253-9767, and are updated daily (when possible). Documentation and tracking software are also available on this system. The Celestial BBS may be accessed 24 hours per day at 300, 1200, 2400, 4800, or 9600 bps using 8 data bits, 1 stop bit, no parity. Element sets, Shuttle elements, and some documentation and software are also available via anonymous ftp from archive.afit.af.mil (129.92.1.66) in the directory pub/space. See also the SAREX Resource List at the back of this document for additional Keplerian element sources. NASA EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES How do you find information on Shuttle schedules, payloads, space science and mission lesson plans? To make the most of your SAREX experience, NASA has a number of materials and resources available to educators: Teacher Resource Center Network--Teacher Resource Centers (TRC) contain a wealth of information for educators: publications, reference books, slides, audio cassettes, videocassettes, telelecture programs, computer programs, lesson plans and activities. For more information, contact the TRC nearest you. Teacher Resource Centers NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA Phone: (415) 604-3574 NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD Phone: (301) 286-8570 NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX Phone: (713) 483-8696 NASA Kennedy Space Center Kennedy Space Center, FL Phone: (407) 867-4090 NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA Phone: (804) 727-0900 x757 NASA Lewis Research Center Cleveland, OH Phone: (216) 433-2017 Alabama Space and Rocket Center Huntsville, AL Phone: (205) 544-5812 NASA John C. Stennis Space Center Stennis Space Center, MS Phone: (601) 688-3338 Jet Propulsion Laboratory Pasadena, CA Phone: (818) 354-6916 NASA Dryden Flight Research Facility Edwards, CA Phone: (805) 258-3456 Wallops Flight Facility Wallops Island, VA Phone: (804) 824-2297/2298 NASA Spacelink BBS--NASA Spacelink is a computer information service that allows individuals to receive news about current NASA programs, activities, and other space-related information, including historical and astronaut data, lesson plans, classroom activities, and even entire publications. Although primarily intended as a resource for teachers, anyone with a personal computer and a modem can access the network. The Spacelink computer access number is (205) 895-0028 (or Internet access using the following address: spacelink.msfc.nasa.gov). Users need a computer, modem, communications software, and a long-distance telephone line to access Spacelink. (The data word format is 8 bits, no parity, and 1 stop bit.) For more information, contact the Spacelink Administrator, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, Mail Code CA21, Marshall Space Flight Center, AL 35812. NASA Television--The NASA Television service offers daily educational and informational programming, carries Shuttle launches and mission coverage, and occasionally airs live coverage of SAREX activity. NASA TV is received by satellite dish or may be available through your local cable television network: TUNING-IN NASA TV Satellite - Spacenet 2 Transponder - 5 Channel - 9 C Band 69 degrees west longitude Frequency 3880.0 MHz Horizontal polarization Audio on 6.8 MHz SAREX RADIO FREQUENCIES The following frequencies are used for SAREX missions. These frequencies were chosen after much deliberation to minimize contention between SAREX operations and other 2-meter users. If you have any comments, please direct them to AMSAT via Frank Bauer, KA3HDO (at his Callbook address) or the ARRL EAD. We appreciate the cooperation of all amateurs in making the SAREX operations successful. Most SAREX operations are split-frequency. One frequency is used for "downlink" (the astronauts transmit to Earth stations) and a separate frequency is used for the "uplink" (Earth stations transmit to the astronauts). For all operations, Earth stations should listen to the downlink frequency and transmit on the uplink frequency only when the Shuttle is in range and the astronauts are on the air. Packet Downlink Worldwide: 145.55 MHz Packet Uplink Worldwide: 144.49 Mhz Voice Downlink Worldwide: 145.55 Mhz Voice Uplink Europe: 144.70, 144.75, 144.80 Mhz Rest of the world: 144.91, 144.93, 144.95, 144.97, 144.99 Mhz POSTCARDS FROM SPACE-- SAREX QSL CARDS Participating in the Shuttle Amateur Radio EXperiment can be an exhilarating experience. But, as many hams know, waiting for that coveted QSL card requires a lot of patience. Designing a card for the ultimate DXpedition can be a lengthy process. Here's a behind-the-scenes glance at producing a SAREX QSL, and some tips to help you get your card. After a SAREX mission, ARRL and the SAREX Working Group work with the crew members to select photos from that mission, and design and layout the QSL card. This may take a few months because of the busy schedule of the astronauts, among other things. Once the card is designed and printed, ARRL forwards the QSL cards to whichever Amateur Radio club is involved with the awesome task of managing the cards. In the past, amateurs sent their contact and listener reports directly to the managing club. Now, all reports should be sent to ARRL Headquarters. In order for the managing process to run smoothly, please include the following information in your QSL or report: Shuttle flight number (STS-XX), date, time in UTC, frequency and mode (FM voice, packet, sstv or fstv). This documents the contact or listener report. In addition, you must also include an SASE using a large, business-sized envelope if you wish to receive a card. No cards are distributed without the proper postage affixed or sufficient IRCs included. The following clubs have graciously volunteered their service for handling QSL cards for the following missions: STS-59 Orange Park Amateur Radio Club, Florida STS-65 Lake County Amateur Radio Club, Indiana STS-64 Nashua Area Radio Club, New Hampshire QSL ADDRESSES STS-56 QSL C/O Vienna Wireless Society P.O. Box 418 Vienna, VA 22183 STS-55 QSL IBM Amateur Radio Club/1993 P.O. Box 1328 Boca Raton, FL 33429-1328 STS-57 QSL C/O Miami County ARC P.O. Box 214 Troy, OH 45373 STS-60, STS-58, STS-59, STS-65, STS-64 and STS-67 QSLs C/O American Radio Relay League Educational Activities Department 225 Main Street Newington, CT 06111 GENERAL SAREX QSOs The extremely busy work schedules of the Astronauts may sometimes reduce your chance for an unscheduled, random contact with the Shuttle. The SAREX Working Group recognizes the longstanding commitment of the Amateur Radio community in supporting SAREX activities and attempts to schedule as many opportunities as possible for general ham contacts during flights. STS-65 Prelaunch Keplerian Elements STS-65 1 00065U 94189.76284929 .00052344 00000-0 15762-3 0 37 2 00065 28.4664 13.0731 0003571 330.7493 29.2906 15.90324781 23 Satellite: STS-65 Catalog number: 00065 Epoch time: 94189.76284929 = (08 JUL 94 18:18:30.18 UTC) Element set: 003 Inclination: 28.4664 deg RA of node: 13.0731 deg Space Shuttle Flight STS-65 Eccentricity: .0003571 Prelaunch Element set JSC-003 Arg of perigee: 330.7493 deg Launch: 08 JUL 94 17:06 UTC Mean anomaly: 29.2906 deg Mean motion: 15.90324781 rev/day Gil Carman, WA5NOM Decay rate: 5.2344e-04 rev/day^2 NASA Johnson Space Center Epoch rev: 2 Checksum: 289 STS-64 Prelaunch Keplerian Elements STS-64 1 00064U 94253.10077961 -.00030838 00000-0 -39665-4 0 59 2 00064 57.0058 195.1865 0009670 275.6619 84.3358 16.05979206 51 Satellite: STS-64 Catalog number: 00064 Epoch time: 94253.10077961 = (10 SEP 94 02:25:07.36 UTC) Element set: 005 Inclination: 57.0058 deg RA of node: 195.1865 deg Space Shuttle Flight STS-64 Eccentricity: .0009670 Prelaunch Element set JSC-005 Arg of perigee: 275.6619 deg Launch: 09 SEP 94 20:30 UTC Mean anomaly: 84.3358 deg Mean motion: 16.05979206 rev/day G. L. Carman Decay rate: -3.0838e-04 rev/day^2 NASA Johnson Space Center Epoch rev: 5 Checksum: 309 UPCOMING 1994 SAREX MISSIONS (updated 7/28/94): The following dates are tentative. Please understand that delays in spacecraft launches are somewhat common; particularly because there are people on-board! Mission Date Inclination Crew Configuration ------- ----------------- ----------- -------------- ------------- STS-65 July 8, 1994 28.45 deg Robert D. Cabana, CDR (TBD) Columbia 1706 UTC James D. Halsell Sr., PLT (14 days) Richard J. Hieb, PL-CDR Leroy Chiao, MS C Donald A. Thomas, MS, KC5FVF Carl E. Walz, MS Chaiki Naito-Mukai, PS STS-64 September 9, 1994 57 degrees Richard N. Richards, CDR, KB5SIW Discovery 2030 UTC L. Blaine Hammond Jr., PLT (TBD) (9 days) Carl J. Meade, MS B Mark C. Lee, MS Susan J. Helms, MS Jerry M. Linenger, MS (TBD) STS-67 January 12, 1995 28.45 deg Steven Oswald, CDR, KB5YSR Endeavour (14 days) William Gregory, PLT Tamara Jernigan, PL-CDR John Grunsfeld, MS C Wendy Lawrence, MS (TBD) Ronald Parise, PS, WA4SIR Samuel Durrance, PS (TBD) Abbreviations: Commander= CDR Pilot= PLT Payload Commander= PL-CDR Mission Specialist= MS Payload Specialist= PS Configuration A: FM Voice (attended) Packet (attended/unattended) SSTV (attended/unattended) Configuration B: FM Voice Configuration C: FM Voice, Packet Configuration D: FM Voice, Packet, SSTV, FSTV Configuration E: FM Voice, Packet, SSTV, FSTV (different hardware) SAREX Resource List SAREX EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT AND INFORMATION: American Radio Relay League (ARRL) SAREX Bulletin Educational Activities Department (EAD) ATT: Tracy Bedlack, N1QDO, Educational Correspondent 225 Main Street, Newington CT 06111 Phone (203) 666-1541 FAX (203) 665-7531 MCI Mail ID: 215-5052 CompuServe ID: 70007,3373 Prodigy: PTYS2A America Online: HQARRL Internet (USENET): ead@arrl.org Internet e-mail server: info@arrl.org (valid commands include INDEX and HELP) ARRL BBS: (203) 666-0578 open to the public (14,000/9600/2400/1200/300 N-8-1) Anonymous FTP: oak.oakland.edu in the /pub/hamradio/arrl/infoserver directory SAREX NEWS, BULLETINS AND KEPLERIAN ELEMENTS: ARRL (Newington, CT) Amateur Radio station, W1AW, (9:45 PM, 12:45 AM EST) on HF bands at 3.99, 7.29, 14.29, 18.16, 21.39, 28.59 and VHF at 147.555 MHz. The AMSAT International Satellite Net on Tuesdays, 3.840 MHz, 0130Z to 0300Z, and on Sundays, 14.282 MHz, 1800Z to 2100Z, +/- QRM. NASA's Spacelink BBS: phone (205) 895-0028 Internet: spacelink.msfc.nasa.gov Goddard Amateur Radio Club BBS: phone (301) 286-4137 Internet: wa3nan.gsfc.nasa.gov GETTING STARTED IN AMATEUR RADIO: You're Invited...Getting Started in Amateur Radio--free information booklet. Provided as a service of the ARRL, this booklet includes information on your local Amateur Radio clubs, instructors and examination sites and popular study guides. Call our toll-free hotline for new hams: 1-800-32-NEW HAM (800-326-3942). Why not get started, today! Now You're Talking! book (second edition) contains everything you need to know to pass your first Amateur Radio written exams. (#3525 $19) ARRL Technician Class Exam Course video. Learn the "ropes" with the "pros". You won't find a better course or a better deal anywhere. 5 hours of excitement. Call 1-800-326-3942 for details. ARRL BOOKS: The Satellite Experimenter's Handbook has the information you need to communicate through, or receive signals from, a growing "fleet" of orbiting satellites and spacecraft--including the Shuttle! Whether your interest is in Amateur Radio, weather, TV-broadcast or other spacecraft, you'll find an immense store of valuable data--everything from setting up ground station equipment to antennas. (#3185 $20) 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. Its straightforward writing style and clear drawings will get you on the cutting edge of digital ham radio in no time. (#3959 $8) The American Radio Relay League, Educational Activities Department, Newington Conn. USA SAREX.5 6/28/94 eof