Amateur Radio on the International Space Station

I FOUND THIS IN THE WEB,IT´S NOT UPDATED,BUT INTERESTING,ANYWAY

Frank H. Bauer, KA3HDO
AMSAT V.P. for Manned Space Programs
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
and
Matt Bordelon, KC5BTL
SAREX Principal Investigator
NASA Johnson Space Center

Abstract
The Shuttle Amateur Radio EXperiment (SAREX) is sponsored by the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). SAREX is a multifaceted program which includes education, experimentation and amateur radio communication between astronauts on the Space Shuttle and ham radio operators and students on the ground. Since 1983, the hundreds of volunteers that make up the SAREX team have worked hard to develop a robust, comprehensive SAREX program on the Space Shuttle. This team, led by the SAREX Working Group, is working in concert with NASA engineers, managers and astronauts to develop a permanent capability on the International Space Station. While not a guarantee, the SAREX team is "cautiously optimistic" that a permanent amateur radio station on the International Space Station will become a reality.

The following represents our visions as we enter into this new phase of SAREX operations.

Nomenclature

AMSAT

Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation

ARRL

American Radio Relay League

BBS

Bulletin Board System

DX

Long Distance Communications

IARU

International Amateur Radio Union

ISS

International Space Station

NASA

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

QSO

Amateur Radio Contact

SAREX

Shuttle Amateur Radio EXperiment

TNC

Packet Radio Terminal Node Controller

Introduction
1995-1996 will most likely be noted as transitional years for the Shuttle Amateur Radio EXperiment (SAREX) program. Over the past 13 years, SAREX has flown 21 times as a secondary payload on all 5 U.S. Space Shuttles. Tables 1 and 2 depict all the SAREX flights flown to date. NASA is currently shifting its manned space activity from short duration missions on U.S. Space Shuttles to long duration continuous presence experimentation on the International Space Station (ISS). As NASA transitions, SAREX is striving to stay in lock-step with NASA's manned space plans. Through these efforts and international coordination with amateur space activities in other countries, the SAREX team hopes to provide a permanent amateur radio presence on human-tended space vehicles.

As was stated in reference 1, the SAREX program has evolved through two major phases in its development cycle.The first phase, the pure experimental phase, introduced new amateur radio hardware and techniques to the Space Shuttle program and accomplished several firsts in manned space history. These include the first communications between astronauts and people on the ground outside of the "official" channels (usually reserved for presidents and heads of state). This occurred on STS-9. Other firsts included the first uplink and downlink of pictures on STS-51F, the first packet computer-to-computer radio link on STS-35 and the first video uplink on STS-37.

SAREX Phase II, which started in 1992, represents the operational frequent-flyer phase. During this phase of SAREX, the paperwork, tools and operational techniques were honed to allow SAREX to fly up to 4-5 times a year on the Space Shuttle. This could only be accomplished through careful development of several specific SAREX configurations which allowed the generation of generic SAREX paperwork to meet Shuttle payload integration requirements. The Crew Training Plan was formalized and made more efficient; generic lessons were developed that could be used for every flight. In addition, a concerted effort was initiated to license the Space Shuttle astronauts. To date, almost half of the U.S. astronauts currently have ham radio licenses. ARRL developed SAREX educational materials to be distributed to the schools. To support SAREX Phase II, AMSAT set up a network of volunteers who prepare the schools for their SAREX contacts. These volunteers, who comprise the AMSAT SAREX Operations Team, provide real-time information bulletins to hams around the world and provide critical mission control support to the SAREX team at the Johnson Space Center.

The beginning of SAREX Phase III is represented by the current transition from short duration, intense, Space Shuttle flights to long duration U.S. presence on the Russian Space Station MIR and finally permanently tended human operations on the ISS. As was required when SAREX transitioned from Phase I to SAREX Phase II, the SAREX team will need to evolve its hardware development, its documentation and its operations techniques to better serve the long duration activities in space during the Phase III era. Since both MIR and ISS represent international facilities, a much closer relationship with our international amateur radio partners is required. School group contact, personal contact and experimental contact scheduling and preparation will also require new techniques and procedures. New hardware and new operating bands will naturally occur with a new facility. While this permanent amateur station will provide some new challenges to the SAREX team, it also promises to open the doors to some very exciting, new capabilities which will significantly enhance the SAREX educational outreach program. In addition, it will also provide hams on the ground more frequent, comprehensive access to space.

International Space Station Plans
After reviewing the future shuttle flights, it becomes increasingly apparent to focus future SAREX activities toward a permanent presence in space. If one were to ponder the probability of amateur activities in space, one would quickly realize that "permanent presence" is the International Space Station.

NASA will reach a continuous human presence in space in three discrete steps. The first is through joint U.S. Russian missions where U.S. Astronauts will spend extended periods of time (on the order of 90 days) on the Russian Space Station MIR. This activity was initiated in 1995 with Norm Thaggard's visit to MIR and the STS-71 MIR docking mission. This activity will continue until 1997. As the ISS is being assembled, from 1997 to 2002, "human-tended" operations represent the second discrete step in the NASA program. During this phase of the ISS development several week duration operations in the ISS laboratory module with a docked Space Shuttle will become the norm. Finally in 2002 the habitation module will be installed and permanent crew presence on the ISS will begin.

The SAREX team picks flights based on many criteria, but the major variables in the SAREX manifest are the attitude timeline and primary mission of each shuttle flight:

a) Shuttle/MIR docking missions have a busy timeline, many flight maneuvers, minimal school activity . b)Shuttle laboratory flights use a stable shuttle attitude and consistent activity level. These are ideal SAREX conditions. These flights can have more school contacts, more random QSO's, packet operations, and even time for experimentation.

c) U.S. presence on the Space Station MIR provides some unique opportunities to SAREX. First, it will serve as a conduit to help resolve the multi-national licensing and third party issues that need to be permanently fixed prior to ISS. It provides an opportunity to test out and hone our ISS operations procedures. It also gives the SAREX team additional opportunities to allow school students to talk to U.S. astronauts from space.

d) Midway through the assembly flights (at the human tended operations milestone) there will be packet, regularly scheduled school contacts, and random QSO's because of less restrictive timelines. These flights are similar in activity levels with the MIR station.

e) After the habitation module is launched, our permanent presence will facilitate more school contacts, random QSO's, experiments, demonstrations, earth observation downlinks, etc.

Once on-board ISS, SAREX will (1) SERVE as an educational tool, (2) BE an outreach to the general public, (3) ALLOW a method for crews to maintain contact with family and friends while on orbit (to improve psychological factors), (4) PROVIDE an experimental communications testbed, (5) OFFER a back up communications link for emergencies, and (6) PROVIDE public information to the grass-roots public.

SAREX Equipment Strategy
While focusing on the new home for SAREX, we must not forget what got us where we are today. The plan is to gradually phase SAREX operations to a permanent station inside the ISS Habitation module in the year 2002.

The first step SAREX will take is to update/upgrade the equipment currently used onboard shuttle missions. SAREX currently has six different configurations which provide us with 2m frequencies at 2.5 watts, a 1200 baud TNC which counts "connects," a slow scan television module, a fast scan television (ATV) module, a 2m/70cm cavity antenna, a 70cm loop antenna, and numerous interface cables. Shuttle hardware upgrade plans include a dual band (2m, 70cm) radio; an expanded TNC (PacComm Pico Packet with more memory and BBS); a better, smaller slow scan module; and a battery charger.

At the same time, SAREX will utilize the unique opportunity of having US hams onboard the Russian space station MIR to develop and refine procedures that will also be used aboard the ISS. MIR already has a 2m station onboard, but has plans to add new capabilities to the station in the near future.

Next, SAREX will utilize the upgraded, portable equipment developed for the Shuttle during the early "ISS assembly flights," which start in late 1997. Current, tentative plans include SAREX operations and permanent stowage as early as the second assembly flight. SAREX equipment during this time period has the distinct possibility of operating on both vehicles. Changes in the cavity antenna's adapter plate will be sought to use Earth viewing windows on the partially assembled space station. The equipment will be upgraded to include a radio and TNC capable of higher baud rates.

During later assembly flights (1998), SAREX will explore opportunities to mount a steerable antenna on the ISS truss to provide the capability to work other spacecraft and satellites (i.e., Phase 3D). SAREX will attempt to upgrade the portable equipment one last time before the permanent station is delivered in its module.

Finally in 2002, the habitation module will be delivered. The SAREX team is working hard to ensure that an external Earth viewing antenna; and a rack mounted transceiver capable of many new modes and frequencies will be part of the module with the capability for future expansion.

SAREX Development Strategy
When do we start? The answer is NOW. The SAREX Working Group has prepared paperwork to become "officially manifested." The ISS design and its outfitting are maturing at a rapid rate. We must ramp up our effort on the habitation module station design. Work has begun on the ISS interface requirements for the permanent amateur radio station. We must explore the real estate for our steerable antenna. We must design for future expansion. We must make the portable equipment usable on both vehicles. We must use the lessons learned from our past flights.

SAREX will seek to combine efforts with the International Partners who are helping forge the ISS. We must keep SAREX an international venture. We must coordinate amateur activities in European, Japanese, and Russian modules on the ISS. This will enhance the overall ISS amateur "presence" and capability. To this end, a meeting is planned this fall at the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. This meeting will serve to coordinate our efforts with NASA and with our international partners.

From a U.S. perspective, we have initiated the development efforts by assigning a SAREX hardware development lead. This development lead is currently working with members of the SAREX Working Group and the NASA ISS engineers to compile a detailed hardware development plan. The hardware development team will continue to evolve this plan over the next 6 months as each ISS member nation has had an opportunity to review the plan, propose new ideas and define their role as hardware development participants.

Frequency Coordination
The SAREX Working Group is working with AMSAT, the ARRL and members of the IARU to help coordinate SAREX frequencies for the International Space Station. Worldwide frequency coordination for SAREX is extremely difficult due to the lack of frequency coordination for packet radio operations in the U.S. and the diverse frequency bandplans in countries outside the U.S. Over the past two years, 2m frequency recommendations for ISS and MIR have been discussed and debated in various international forums. It is hoped that the upcoming IARU meeting in Surrey, England will serve as a forum which will solidify the ISS/SAREX/MIR 2-meter frequency plan. In addition, it is hoped that this forum will serve to open a new dialog to select manned space frequencies for the amateur bands above and below 2-meters.

Third Party Restrictions
As the U.S. space program merges its activities with the international community, particularly Russia, the SAREX program is quickly doing the same. Amateur radio has always shared an international camaraderie with our neighbors across the waters. This camaraderie has resulted in international partnerships which have extended to new heights...outer space. The most recent international space station collaboration is resulting in a quick blurring of the separate U.S. and Russian amateur radio activities on the U.S. Space Shuttle and the Russian space station MIR into a single Manned Space activity. These changes have brought new challenges to the SAREX team; that of ensuring a strong, well balanced program on an evolving manned platform while maintaining and adapting the international regulations regarding international amateur communications. The 3rd party restrictions between Russia, the U.S. and other countries have been a problem for the SAREX and MIR teams this past year. As more countries become active partners in the international space station, this issue will get even more complicated. Unfortunately, these restrictions curtail the amateur community's ability to spark student's interest in amateur radio by not allowing some astronauts (on international space carriers) and some foreign space participants to talk to students while in space.

The SAREX team is actively working with our international partners, particularly Russia in an attempt to get a permanent waiver of third party traffic restrictions to manned space vehicles. This would go a long way in improving international participation in amateur radio.

Conclusions
Human operated ham radio in space appears to be transitioning from short, intense bursts of activity (analogous to a DXpedition) to permanent (nearly continuous) operations. Multiband, multi-mode operation and regularly scheduled school group contacts will be the norm in this scenario. While "cautiously optimistic" in an era of government budget cuts, the SAREX team will put forth its best efforts to ensure these dreams will become a reality for terrestrial based radio amateurs and ham radio operators in space.

While it continually maintains an eye towards the future, the SAREX team strives to improve the on-going Shuttle-based SAREX activities. SAREX is an outstanding, low cost outreach program for amateur radio, NASA and science and technology. It could only be accomplished through the superb support from the hundreds of volunteers from around the world and the support, interest and encouragement from NASA, particularly the Astronaut Office and Division of Education at NASA Headquarters. The authors extend their deepest thanks to all these volunteers for their tremendous support to bring space-borne astronauts literally into the schools and living rooms of the general public.

References

1. Bauer, F. and McFadin, L., "SAREX Hardware Configurations and Flight Operations Support", Proceedings of the AMSAT-NA Tenth Space Symposium, October, 1992.

2. Bauer, F., White, R. and Jones, T., "Shuttle Amateur Radio Experiment Status Report", Dayton Hamvention Presentation, April 1993.

3. Bauer, F., "Another Banner Year Planned for the Shuttle Amateur Radio Experiment", The AMSAT Journal, January/February 1993.

4. Bauer, F., "The Shuttle Amateur Radio Experiment Current Status and Future Visions", Proceedings of the AMSAT-NA Eleventh Space Symposium, October 1993.

5. Bauer, F. and Bordelon, M., "Shuttle Amateur Radio Experiment (SAREX) Status 1995", Proceedings of the AMSAT-NA Thirteenth Space Symposium, October, 1995.

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