ISS RS0ISS packet system remains problematic
ISS Ham Project Engineer Kenneth Ransom, N5VHO, at Johnson Space Center reports that the packet BBS portion (RS0ISS-11) aboard the International Space Station remains non-operational, and efforts to restore the BBS capability have been unsuccessful.
“At this point it is unknown if this is a temporary or permanent state,” Ransom said, adding that Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) hopes the feature can be restored in the future, “once a computer becomes available.” Meanwhile, the ARISS digipeater is working but exhibits difficulties in relaying data.
“The digipeater appears to be listening for long periods of time and then transmitting all of the buffered information at once,” Ransom explained. “This duration of this issue seems to vary depending on your location.”
A computer is tentatively scheduled to be delivered to the ISS later this year, but Ransom says the schedule could be pushed back to accommodate higher priority items. “Once a computer is available, troubleshooting of both packet systems can be performed and hopefully both restored to full functionality.”
The ARISS Phase 2 station handles RS0ISS packet system operation.