SAREX FACT SHEET -- STS-70 Media Contact: Jennifer Hagy Media Relations Assistant American Radio Relay League (203) 594-0328 alt. (203) 594-0200 SHUTTLE DISCOVERY ASTRONAUTS TO SPEAK WITH STUDENTS VIA AMATEUR RADIO. Amateur (or "ham") Radio operators from around the world will point their antennas at the sky during the upcoming shuttle mission, STS-70. Many of them hope to make radio contact with the astronauts aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery. And, some of these amateurs have volunteered to assist student groups that have prepared questions to ask the astronauts via the ham radio airwaves. The project is called the Shuttle Amateur Radio EXperiment, or SAREX. Using an small ham radio station aboard the shuttle, the crew will talk directly with large groups of the general public, showing teachers, students, parents and communities how Amateur Radio energizes youngsters about science, technology, and learning. Mission Specialist Donald A. Thomas is an Amateur Radio operator, call sign KC5FVF, and previously used ham radio from the Space Shuttle Columbia during STS-65 in July 1994. Amateur Radio has been flying aboard the shuttles since 1983. WHEN: Launch is scheduled for July 13, 1995 at 9:41 AM EDT (1341 UTC) from the Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral, Florida. Landing is scheduled for July 21, 1995 at 7:51 AM EDT (1151 UTC) at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida. 7 day, 22 hours mission. WHERE: The launch will place the shuttle into Earth orbit at an altitude of 184 miles and an inclination of 28.45 degrees. WHY: NASA's intent in making astronauts available for SAREX operations is to involve the largest possible numbers of people, particularly youngsters, in technology and the US space program with the help of Amateur Radio. During SAREX missions, the astronauts will typically make the following types of Amateur Radio contacts: Scheduled radio contacts with schools. Random radio contacts with the Amateur Radio community. Personal contacts with the astronauts' families. CREW MEMBERS (and Amateur Radio call signs): Terence T. "Tom" Henricks, Commander Kevin R. Kregel, Pilot Nancy Jane Sherlock, Mission Specialist Donald A. Thomas, Mission Specialist, KC5FVF Mary Ellen Weber, Mission Specialist PAYLOAD: Primary Payload--TDRS-G A series of geostationary satellites in fixed positions above the Earth provide continuous tracking and data communications for the shuttles and other satellites. The network is called TDRSS, or the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System. TDRSS acts as a high-speed space-based relay network. Without TDRSS, communications with a satellite could only be accomplished when the spacecraft was within view of a ground tracking station. During mission STS-70, the crew will deploy TDRS-G, the sixth satellite to join the TDRS constellation. TDRS-G will provide the network with additional communication and tracking capability to meet NASA's increased mission support requirements. [Thanks to the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center for the preceding information.] SAREX SPONSORS: 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 supported by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS: A handful of schools are selected from around the world to make contact with the shuttle during most SAREX missions. These contacts are prearranged, giving the schools a greater chance at making a successful contact. Two or more students at each of the selected schools ask questions of the astronauts during the contact. The nature of these contacts embodies the primary goal of SAREX--to excite students' interest in learning. The following schools have been selected by the SAREX Working Group for a scheduled radio contact during this mission: Hook Elementary Troy, OH Concord High School Concord, NH Schenectady Museum Amateur Radio Station Schenectady, NY Euclid High School Euclid, OH Milford High School Highland, MI ITT Technical Institute Grand Rapids, MI Gulf Middle School New Port Richey, FL Fallbrook Union High School Fallbrook, CA Colegio San Nicolas Venado Tuerto, Santa Fe Argentina ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR AMATEUR RADIO OPERATORS- SAREX RADIO FREQUENCIES: During most SAREX missions, many of the crew members will make random contacts with earth-bound hams. They make these contacts during their breaks, before and after meal time, and during their pre-sleep time. In fact, over the past years the astronauts have contacted thousands of amateurs around the world. On many missions, they have even carried a 2-meter packet radio station. Innovative computer software allows the crew to operate the packet gear in an "unattended" mode, allowing amateurs to make contacts with the ROBOT station when the astronauts are working or sleeping. 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. 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 CALL SIGNS: FM voice call signs KC5FVF FM packet call sign W5RRR-1 QSL VIA: Send reports and QSLs to ARRL EAD, STS-70 QSL, 225 Main Street, Newington, CT 06111-1494, USA. Include the following information in your QSL or report: STS-70, date, time in UTC, frequency and mode (FM voice). In addition, you must also include a SASE using a large, business-sized envelope if you wish to receive a card. The Sterling Park Amateur Radio Club in Sterling, VA has generously volunteered to manage the cards for this mission. SHUTTLE TRACKING: Current Keplerian elements to track the shuttle are available from the NASA Spacelink computer information system: BBS: (205) 895-0028 [VT-100, 8-N-1] Telnet, FTP, and Gopher: spacelink.msfc.nasa.gov World Wide Web: http://spacelink.msfc.nasa.gov Internet TCP/IP address: 192.149.89.61 Keplerian elements may also be downloaded from the ARRL BBS: (203) 594- 0306. Also, the Johnson Space Center ARC BBS will have the latest element sets available during the flight: (713) 244-5625. The following are prelaunch Keplerian elements for STS-70: STS-70 Estimated Pre-Launch elements STS-70 1 99970U 95194.62046583 -.00253378 00000-0 -85192-3 0 18 2 99970 28.4669 326.3673 0004615 286.6946 73.3195 15.91124517 24 STS-70 Launch Time: Launch 13 JUL 95 @ 13:41 UTC Space shuttle Keplerian elements are courtesy Gil Carman, Johnson Space Center, and posted by Dave Ransom, RPV Astronomy BBS. CONFIGURATION: During STS-70, the SAREX hardware will be flown in configuration C. SAREX configuration C consists of a handheld transceiver, I/F module, PGSC (serves as the packet data terminal), spare battery set, window antenna, packet module, SAREX headset assembly, personal recorder, and the required cable assemblies. The packet module contains a power supply and packet TNC. The power supply provides power for the TNC and the handheld transceiver. The TNC interconnects with a radio transceiver so that data to and from the computer is transmitted to and received from other amateur radio stations. Configuration C is capable of operating in either the voice or data mode in communications with amateur stations within LOS of the Orbiter. This configuration can be operated in the attended mode for voice communication and either the attended or automatic mode for data communications. The payload control weight is 45 lb (20.41 kg). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Contact the American Radio Relay League, Educational Activities Department, 225 Main Street, Newington CT 06111-1494 USA Telephone (203) 594-0200, FAX (203) 594-0259, ARRL BBS (203) 594-0306 Internet sarex@arrl.org CompuServe 70007,3373 Prodigy PTYS02A America Online HQARRL1 ARRL's (Newington, CT) Amateur Radio station (call sign W1AW) transmits news bulletins (9:45 PM, 12:45 AM EST) on HF bands at 3.99, 7.29, 14.29, 18.16, 21.39, 28.59 and VHF at 147.555 MHz. W1AW bulletins are also forwarded on packet. Goddard Amateur Radio Club's (Greenbelt, MD) Amateur Radio station (call sign WA3NAN) transmits SAREX news and shuttle-to-mission control retransmissions during SAREX missions. Tune to Amateur Radio high frequency (HF) bands at 3.86, 7.185, 14.295, 21.395, and 28.65 megahertz (MHz) and on very high frequency (VHF) bands at 147.45 MHz. GARC also maintains a Bulletin Board System (BBS) which is accessible via the Internet, modem and packet radio. The BBS contains Keplerian orbital elements updated daily, AMSAT and SAREX bulletins and Space Shuttle mission information. Via Internet: wa3nan.gsfc.nasa.gov or 128.183.105.17 Via telephone: (301) 286-4137 Via packet: WA3NAN on 145.090 MHz in DC area. The "SAREX Bulletin" contains additional general information on SAREX. This document may be obtained electronically from many of the popular on-line electronic services. The American Radio Relay League, Newington Conn. USA STS70FCT.TXT RJI 7/10/95 eof