STS-83 SAREX Fact Sheet SAREX FACT SHEET - STS-83 Media Contact: Jennifer Gagne Media Relations Assistant American Radio Relay League (860) 594-0328; (860) 594-0200 e-mail: jgagne@arrl.org Educational Contact: Educational Activities Department American Radio Relay League (860) 594-0301 e-mail: ead@arrl.org SHUTTLE ASTRONAUTS TO SPEAK WITH STUDENTS VIA AMATEUR RADIO (SAREX MISSION STS-83 FACT SHEET) The next space shuttle mission will again include Amateur Radio. Amateur (or "ham") radio operators and students will attempt to make radio contacts with the orbiting shuttle as part of a project called SAREX, or the Shuttle Amateur Radio EXperiment. Amateur Radio has been flying aboard the shuttles since 1983, providing the public with a unique vantage point of space. Amateur (or "ham") Radio operators from around the world will point their antennas at the Space Shuttle Columbia, hoping to find the astronauts are on-the-air. Some of these amateurs have volunteered to assist student groups that have prepared questions to ask the astronauts during specially scheduled contact times. To make their radio contacts, the astronauts will use a radio aboard the shuttle, on frequencies used by ham radio operators. The contacts will demonstrate to young people, teachers, parents and communities how Amateur Radio and space energize students about science, technology, and learning. For the students that participate in SAREX, the contact is the culmination of months of hard work. Many of the students have studied space science, communication, and have trained to use ham radio equipment and shuttle- tracking computer software. To operate Amateur Radio from the space shuttle, one or more of the astronauts needs to have an Amateur Radio license. The STS-83 crew members who are licensed Amateur Radio operators include Commander James D. Halsell, Payload Commander Janice E. Voss, and Mission Specialist Donald A. Thomas. WHEN: Launch is scheduled for March 27, 1997 from the Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral, Florida. Mission duration: Scheduled as a 16 day mission. WHERE: The launch will place the shuttle into Earth orbit at an altitude of 196 statute miles and an inclination of 28.45 degrees. WHY: NASA's intent in making astronauts available for SAREX operations is to involve the largest possible numbers of people, particularly students, in technology and the US space program with the help of Amateur Radio. During SAREX missions, the astronauts will typically make the following types of Amateur Radio contacts: Scheduled radio contacts with schools. Random radio contacts with the Amateur Radio community. Personal contacts with the astronauts' families. CREW MEMBERS (titles and Amateur Radio call signs): James D. Halsell, Commander, KC5RNI Susan L. Still, Pilot Janice E. Voss, Payload Commander, KC5BTK Donald A. Thomas, Mission Specialist, KC5FVF Michael L. Gerhardt, Mission Specialist Roger Crouch, Payload Specialist Greg Linteris, Payload Specialist PAYLOAD: On board STS-83, the payload bay will house the first Microgravity Science Laboratory (MSL-1). The Microgravity Science Laboratory is a key component of the bridge between present Spacelab and future Space Station operations. Additional MSL-1 information can be obtained from NASA at this World Wide Web page: http://liftoff.msfc.nasa.gov/spacelab/msl/welcome.html Additional STS-83 mission information can also be obtained from NASA at: * NASA Shuttle World Wide Web Home Page: http://shuttle.nasa.gov * NASA Spacelink computer information system (look under Spacelink.Hot.Topics) BBS: (205) 895-0028 [VT-100, 8-N-1] Telnet, FTP, and Gopher: spacelink.msfc.nasa.gov World Wide Web: http://spacelink.msfc.nasa.gov Internet TCP/IP address: 192.149.89.61 SAREX SPONSORS: The Shuttle Amateur Radio EXperiment (SAREX) is sponsored by the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT) and The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). SAREX is supported by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS: Schools are selected from around the world to make contact with the shuttle during most SAREX missions. These contacts are prearranged, giving the schools a greater chance at making a successful contact. A few 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 SAREX--to excite students' interest in learning. The following schools were selected by the SAREX Working Group for a scheduled radio contact during this mission: Artesia Public Schools Artesia, NM Lexington Traditional Magnet School Lexington, KY Troy Intermediate School Troy, TX Crittenden Middle School Mountain View, CA Edgewater High School Orlando, FL S.J. Davis Middle School San Antonio, TX Mountain View Elementary School Dewey, AZ PS 9 (Public School 9) New York, NY Lawrence Intermediate School Lawrenceville, NJ Sonny Carter Elementary School Macon, GA County College of Morris Randoph, NJ Ione Junior High School Jackson, CA Robert J. Burch Elementary School Tyrone, GA Alvin C. York Agricultural Institute Jamestown, TN Beau Chene High School Arnaudville, LA Center Street School El Segundo, CA Lester Middle School Okinawa, Japan Tsinghua University Beijing, People's Republic of China ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR AMATEUR RADIO OPERATORS- SAREX RADIO FREQUENCIES: During most SAREX missions, many of the crew members will make random contacts with earth-bound hams. They make these contacts during their breaks, before and after meal time, and during their pre-sleep time. In fact, over the past years the astronauts have contacted thousands of amateurs around the world. On many missions, they have even carried a 2-meter packet radio station. Innovative computer software allows the crew to operate the packet gear in an "unattended" mode, allowing amateurs to make contacts with the ROBOT station when the astronauts are working or sleeping. The SAREX Working Group has designated the following frequencies during this mission. FM Voice Downlink: (Worldwide) 145.55 MHz FM Voice Uplink: 144.91, 144.93, 144.95, 144.97, and 144.99 MHz FM Voice Uplink: (Europe only) 144.70, 144.75, and 144.80 MHz FM Packet Downlink: 145.55 MHz FM Packet Uplink: 144.49 MHz The crew will use 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. The crew will not favor either uplink frequency, so your ability to communicate with SAREX will be the "luck of the draw." Transmit only when the shuttle is within range of your station, and when the shuttle's station is on-the-air. CALL SIGNS: FM voice call signs: KC5RNI, KC5BTK and KC5FVF FM packet call sign: W5RRR-1 QSL VIA: Send reports and QSLs to ARRL EAD, STS-83 QSL, 225 Main Street, Newington, CT 06111-1494, USA. Include the following information in your QSL or report: STS-83, date, time in UTC, frequency and mode (FM, voice or packet). In addition, you must also include a SASE using a large, business- sized envelope if you wish to receive a card. SHUTTLE TRACKING: Current Keplerian elements to track the shuttle are available from the following sources: * NASA Spacelink computer information system BBS: (205) 895-0028 [VT-100, 8-N-1] Telnet, FTP, and Gopher: spacelink.msfc.nasa.gov World Wide Web: http://spacelink.msfc.nasa.gov Internet TCP/IP address: 192.149.89.61 * NASA SAREX WWW Home Page: http://www.nasa.gov/sarex/sarex_mainpage.html * ARRL W1AW news bulletins (frequencies and times listed under "FOR FURTHER INFORMATION") BBS: (860) 594-0306 ARRL World Wide Web: http://www.arrl.org/sarex/ * AMSAT World Wide Web: http://www.amsat.org * Johnson Space Center Amateur Radio Club World Wide Web: http://www.phoenix.net/~mbordel/jscarc/index.html BBS: (713) 244-5625 * Goddard Amateur Radio Club BBS: (301) 286-4137 World Wide Web: http://garc.gsfc.nasa.gov/www/garc-home-page.html Packet: WA3NAN on 145.090 MHz in DC area CONFIGURATION: During STS-83, the SAREX hardware will be flown in configuration C. SAREX configuration C consists of a hand-held transceiver, I/F module, PGSC (serves as the packet data terminal), spare battery set, window antenna, packet module, SAREX headset assembly, personal recorder, and the required cable assemblies. The packet module contains a power supply and packet TNC. The power supply provides power for the TNC and the hand-held transceiver. The TNC interconnects with a radio transceiver so that data to and from the computer is transmitted to and received from other amateur radio stations. Configuration C is capable of operating in either the voice or data mode in communications with amateur stations within LOS of the Orbiter. This configuration can be operated in the attended mode for voice communication and either the attended or automatic mode for data communications. The payload control weight is 45 lb. (20.41 kg). SAREX ELECTRONIC MAILING LIST: The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation in North America (AMSAT-NA) operates the Internet host AMSAT.ORG to provide for efficient communications between people interested in the amateur satellite program. Periodic mailings to the SAREX list include information and press releases pertaining to SAREX missions. This mailing list is very active during SAREX missions, and can be fairly quiet in between missions. To subscribe to the SAREX mailing list, send a message with your request to listserv@amsat.org. Be sure to include your call sign (if any), your correct e-mail address, and the proper name of the mailing list you wish to receive (SAREX). Your request will be processed manually for now, so the format of your request is not important. To unsubscribe from the mailing list, send another message with your request to listserv@amsat.org. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Contact the American Radio Relay League Educational Activities Department 225 Main Street, Newington CT 06111-1494 USA Telephone (860) 594-0301, FAX (860) 594-0259, ARRL BBS (860) 594-0306 Internet sarex@arrl.org World Wide Web http://www.arrl.org/ CompuServe 70007,3373 America Online HQARRL1 ARRL's (Newington, CT) 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 megahertz (MHz) and in the central Connecticut-area on VHF at 147.555 MHz. W1AW bulletins are also forwarded on packet. Members of the Goddard Amateur Radio Club (Greenbelt, MD) re-transmit live, shuttle air-to-ground audio over the amateur frequencies from their club station, WA3NAN. To listen-in, tune to Amateur Radio high frequency (HF) bands at 3.86, 7.185, 14.295, 21.395, and 28.65 megahertz (MHz) and in the Maryland/DC area, on a very high frequency (VHF) band at 147.45 MHz. The "SAREX Bulletin" contains additional general information on SAREX. This document may be obtained electronically from many of the popular on-line electronic services (look for SAREXFAQ.TXT). The American Radio Relay League, Newington Conn. USA STS83FCT.TXT GS 21JAN97 eof