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S
A
R
E
X - Shuttle Amateur
Radio Experiment
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WHAT IS SAREX?
With the help of Amateur Radio clubs and ham radio operators, US astronauts can speak over the ham
airwaves while in orbit. They talk directly with students, showing teachers, students, parents and
communities how Amateur Radio energizes youngsters about science, technology, and learning. The
program is called SAREX, the Shuttle Amateur Radio EXperiment.
NASA's intent in having astronauts take part in SAREX is to involve the largest possible numbers of
people, particularly youths, in technology and the US space program with the help of Amateur Radio.
During a SAREX mission, the astronauts make scheduled and unscheduled Amateur Radio contacts with
schools, random contacts with Amateur Radio operators and contact with the astronauts' families.
A few schools are selected from around the world for scheduled contacts with the shuttle during SAREX
missions. These contacts give the schools a 95-percent chance at a successful contact. Six or more students
at each school ask the astronauts questions, and the nature of these contacts embodies the primary goal of
SAREX--to excite student interest in learning.
The SAREX Working Group has designated the following frequencies
during mission STS-83.
- FM Voice Downlink: (Worldwide) 145.55 MHz
- FM Voice Uplink: 144.91, 144.93, 144.95, 144.97, and 144.99 MHz
- FM Voice Uplink: (Europe only) 144.70, 144.75, and 144.80 MHz
- FM Packet Downlink: 145.55 MHz
- FM Packet Uplink: 144.49 MHz
The crew will use separate receive and transmit frequencies. PLEASE do not
transmit on the shuttle's DOWNLINK frequency. The DOWNLINK is your receiving
frequency. The UPLINK is your transmitting frequency.
The crew will not favor either uplink frequency, so your ability to
communicate with SAREX will be the "luck of the draw." Transmit only
when the shuttle is within range of your station, and when the shuttle's
station is on-the-air.
CALL SIGNS:
FM voice call signs: KC5RNI, KC5BTK and KC5FVF
FM packet call sign: W5RRR-1
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