Hi folks:
As most of you know, SBARC is arranging a special contact with an astronaut
on the International Space Station and a local Boy Scout troop (tentatively
set for the week of August 18 to 22). We have every element necessary for
the primary station plus a back up station, except we need to borrow a
couple of two-meter amplifiers. The ARISS folks require that we have 80
watt transmit capability on two-meters, and our radios will fall just short
of this.
So, we need your help! Please let me know if have an amplifier available
that is capable of at least 80 watts. We will need to borrow it in the days
leading up to the week of 8/18. This is your chance to help out on a very
special SBARC event. Check out the "background" below and the attached
draft application for more info.
Thanks in advance!
Ken Owen, N6KTH
AMSAT Area Coordinator
n6kth(a)n6kth.com
(805) 448-5726
BACKGROUND:
The history is as follows. Glenn Schiferl, a scout leader and head of the
UCSB Physics computing services, approached co-worker Bob Pizzi (AC6PZ) and
informed him that the astronaut on the next launch to the ISS wanted to do a
contact from the ISS with a local BSA group. Bob said SBARC would back up
the effort. Since an astronaut is requesting this contact, all of the
normal approvals and application delays will be bypassed.
We have arranged to have the contact take place on the patio on the roof of
the physics building. There are plans in the works to involve the astronomy
department and to include an educational component with the scouts. This
could be a huge media event, and it's a great opportunity to set up the
SBARC rover and spend the day promoting the club and amateur radio. NASA
will promote this event as well.
An ISS contact of this type involves kids submitting questions in advance,
and a few get the opportunity to ask the questions of the astronaut.
THE RADIO EQUIPMENT:
There will need to be two, two-meter FM ham stations capable of space
communications (see the attached block diagram). The primary station will
have full tracking capability (azimuth & elevation rotors, tracking software
and interface) a circularly polarized beam, pre-amps and a power amplifier.
The backup station will only need to have an omni-directional antenna, but
it will also need pre-amps and amps. Ken, N6KTH has the critical equipment
necessary for the tracking station, and he, plus two of the other principle
organizers all have Yaesu ft-847s that will be used as the rigs for both
stations.