International Space Station astronaut Mike Fincke, KE5AIT, enjoyed his time operating during the 2004 ARRL Field Day so much that during the July 4 holiday he got on the air from the Space Station ham radio station NA1SS for ragchews.
ISS Ham Radio Project Engineer Kenneth Ransom, N5VHO, at Johnson Space Center, said Fincke made several QSOs after calling CQ on 2 meters. “He logged 8 contacts with stations in Canada, the US and Costa Rica,” Ransom reported. “He said he had such a good time during Field Day that he hopes to get on the air more often in his spare time. He also hopes word will get out to hams that he will be more active.”
South Carolina AMSAT Area Coordinator Al Lark, KD4SFF, monitored Fincke speaking with US and Canadian stations and called him. After they’d exchanged signal reports, Lark wished Fincke and ISS Commander Gennady Padalka, RN3DT, a happy Fourth of July. “I asked Mike to pass along my good morning (in Russian) to Gennady and to tell him about 17-year-old Russian-born, Maria Sharapova’s win at imbledon,” Lark said.