The International Space Station Expedition 11 crew of John Phillips, KE5DRY–operating as NA1SS–and Sergei Krikalev, U5MIR–operating as RS0ISS–thrilled a number of ARRL Field Day 2005 operations by handing out contacts from space over the June 25-26 weekend.
Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) Ham Radio Project Engineer Kenneth Ransom, N5VHO, reports Phillips was active over the US while Krikalev worked stations in the Americas and elsewhere around the globe–including non field day stations in South Africa and Thailand. Phillips, meanwhile, managed about two dozen Field Day contacts over North America.
“The call signs reflect contacts in Alaska, Canada and the West Central US,” Ransom said.
Bob Wertz, NF7E, says his grandson’s QSO with RS0ISS was the high point of the Get On The Air (GOTA) station at the Northern Arizona DX Association/Coconino Amateur Radio Club Field Day site in the Coconino National Forest. As time for the pass came around, Wertz’s 11-year-old grandson Mike called the ISS, while Mike Key, K0MDK–aided by a compass–aimed skyward a 2-meter beam that he and his daughter Julie, KE7DEX, had cobbled together from PVC pipe and coat hangers.
An anxious seven minutes into the pass, success: “NF7E this is RS0ISS, over!” Once the GOTA team regained its composure, the younger Wertz returned with a “2A Arizona” report.
“Once again RS0ISS repeated our call and then went on to a California station as he was starting to fade out,” Bob Wertz says. “It was quite a thrill for all of us. It made our day!”
ARRL Contest Branch Manager Dan Henderson, N1ND, said it was great news to learn that the ISS crew was able to get in some on-air activity during Field Day. “My personal thanks to Sergei and John for keeping a great tradition going!” he said.
ARISS http://www.rac.ca/ariss is an international educational outreach with US participation by ARRL, AMSAT and NASA.