SB SPACE @ ARL $ARLS006
ARLS006 Amateur Radio on the International Space Station in 
repeater mode

ZCZC AS06  
QST de W1AW  
Space Bulletin 006  ARLS006
From ARRL Headquarters  
Newington, CT  July 25, 2005
To all radio amateurs

SB SPACE ARL ARLS006
ARLS006 Amateur Radio on the International Space Station in 
repeater mode

The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS)
program's NA1SS aboard the International Space Station is now
operational as a Mode U/V (Mode B) FM voice repeater. Just how long
it will stay in repeater mode remains to be seen, however. It could
be switched off after the next ARISS school group QSO or because of
the space shuttle's arrival. NASA plans to launch Discovery on
Tuesday, July 26.

NASA astronaut John Phillips, KE5DRY, and cosmonaut crewmate Sergei
Krikalev, U5MIR, can step in and talk to Earth stations if they
wish; otherwise, the system acts as a crossband repeater when the
ISS is within range.

The uplink frequency is 437.800 MHz; the downlink is 145.800 MHz.
Since the ISS equipment is channelized, it cannot correct for
Doppler shift, which can be significant at 70 cm. The RS0ISS packet
system is off the air while the voice repeater is in operation.
ARISS notes that the crossband repeater mode "allows further
experimentation of the ISS amateur radio system."

"Enjoy it while it lasts," remarked ARISS Ham Radio Project Engineer
Kenneth Ransom, N5VHO, "because we don't know when they're going to
shut it off."

For more information, see "Success Tips for Using the ISS Voice
Repeater," by Emily Clarke, W0EEC, on the web at,
http://www.arrl.org/news/features/2004/10/06/1/.

There's additional information on the ARISS Web site at,
http://www.rac.ca/ariss.
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