SAREX FACT SHEET - STS-78 Media Contact: Jennifer Hagy Media Relations Assistant American Radio Relay League (860) 594-0328 (860) 594-0200 Educational Contact: Bob Inderbitzen Educational Activities Department American Radio Relay League (860) 594-0213 (860) 594-0200 SHUTTLE 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-78. Many of them hope to make radio contact with the astronauts aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia. 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. The astronauts will use a radio aboard the shuttle, on frequencies used by ham radio operators, to communicate directly with large groups of students. They'll "talk" by voice, and by computer. They'll demonstrate to young people, teachers, parents and communities how Amateur Radio energizes students about science, technology, and learning. To operate Amateur Radio from the space shuttle, one or more of the astronauts needs to have an Amateur Radio license. Astronaut Susan T. Helms will serve as the Payload Commander, and has Amateur Radio call sign KC7NHZ. Her third shuttle flight, Helms was a crew member aboard the shuttle Endeavour during STS-54 in January 1993, and last used ham radio from aboard Discovery during STS-64 in September 1994. Charles E. Brady, Jr. is N4BQW and will serve as a Mission Specialist on his first shuttle flight. Robert Brent Thirsk is VA3CSA. A Canadian astronaut, Thirsk will serve as a Payload Specialist on his first shuttle flight. The remaining crew members include Commander Terence T. Henricks, Pilot Kevin R. Kregel, Mission Specialist Richard M. Linnehan, and Payload Specialist Jean-Jacques Favier. During the mission, the shuttle will carry the Life and Microgravity Spacelab to conduct experiments in the weightless environment. Experimenters from around the world will conduct a wide variety of experiments from microgravity bubble behavior to protein crystallization. Experiments will also focus on the effects of weightlessness on human physiology and function. Amateur Radio has been flying aboard the shuttles since 1983. WHEN: Launch is scheduled for June 20, 1996 at 1449 UTC (10:49 AM EST) from the Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral, Florida. Landing is scheduled for July 6, 1996 at 1246 UTC (8:46 AM EST) at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida. 15 day mission. WHERE: The launch will place the shuttle into Earth orbit at an altitude of 173 statute miles (278 km) and an inclination of 39 degrees. WHY: NASA's intent in making astronauts available for SAREX operations is to involve the largest possible numbers of people, particularly students, 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. Henricks, Commander Kevin R. Kregel, Pilot Susan J. Helms, Payload Commander, KC7NHZ Richard M. Linnehan, Mission Specialist Charles E. Brady, Jr., Mission Specialist, N4BQW Jean-Jacques Favier, Payload Specialist Robert Brent Thirsk, Payload Specialist, VA3CSA PAYLOAD: Primary Payload-- During the STS-78 mission, the shuttle will carry the Life and Microgravity Spacelab to conduct experiments in the weightless environment. Experimenters from around the world will conduct a wide variety of experiments from microgravity bubble behavior to protein crystallization. Experiments will also focus on the effects of weightlessness on human physiology and function. Additional STS-78 mission information can be obtained from NASA: * NASA Spacelink computer information system (look under Spacelink.Hot.Topics) 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 * NASA Shuttle World Wide Web Home Page: http://shuttle.nasa.gov 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: Bethlehem Central Sr. High School Delmar, NY Eisenhower Middle School San Antonio, TX Heritage Middle School Collyville, TX Anacortes Middle School Anacortes, WA Valley Heights Jr-Sr High School Blue Rapids, KS Monroe Elementary School Santa Barbara, CA Maple Grove Education Centre Nova Scotia, Canada Saskatoon Public AreospaCe Education (S.P.A.C.E.) Saskatchewan, Canada Toowoomba State High School Queensland, Australia Catholic Ladies College Victoria, Australia CENG - Nuclear Center of Grenoble Grenoble, France 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. The crew will not favor any of the uplink frequencies, 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. 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 KC7NHZ, N4BQW, VA3CSA FM packet call sign W5RRR-1 QSL VIA: Send reports and QSLs to ARRL EAD, STS-78 QSL, 225 Main Street, Newington, CT 06111-1494, USA. Include the following information in your QSL or report: STS-78, date, time in UTC, frequency and mode. In addition, you must also include a SASE using a large, business-sized envelope if you wish to receive a card. "The Net" in Anacortes, Washington has generously volunteered to manage the cards for this mission. SHUTTLE TRACKING: Current Keplerian elements to track the shuttle are available from the following sources: * 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 * NASA SAREX WWW Home Page: http://www.nasa.gov/sarex/sarex_mainpage.html * ARRL W1AW news bulletins (frequencies and times listed under "FOR FURTHER INFORMATION") BBS: (860) 594-0306 World Wide Web: http://www.arrl.org/ * AMSAT World Wide Web: http://www.amsat.org * Johnson Space Center Amateur Radio Club BBS: (713) 244-5625 * Goddard Amateur Radio Club BBS: (301) 286-4137 World Wide Web: http://garc.gsfc.nasa.gov/www/garc-home-page.html Packet: WA3NAN on 145.090 MHz in DC area CONFIGURATION: During STS-78, 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). SAREX ELECTRONIC MAILING LIST: The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation in North America (AMSAT-NA) operates the Internet host AMSAT.ORG to provide for efficient communications between people interested in the amateur satellite program. Periodic mailings to the SAREX list include information and press releases pertaining to SAREX missions. This mailing list is very active during SAREX missions, and can be fairly quiet in between missions. To subscribe to the SAREX mailing list, send a message with your request to listserv@amsat.org. Be sure to include your call sign (if any), your correct email address, and the proper name of the mailing list you wish to receive (SAREX). Your request will be processed manually for now, so the format of your request is not important. To unsubscribe from the mailing list, send another message with your request to listserv@amsat.org. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Contact the American Radio Relay League Educational Activities Department 225 Main Street, Newington CT 06111-1494 USA Telephone (860) 594-0301, FAX (860) 594-0259, ARRL BBS (860) 594-0306 Internet sarex@arrl.org World Wide Web http://www.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 1.855, 3.99, 7.29, 14.29, 18.16, 21.39, 28.59 megahertz (MHz) and in the Connecticut-area on VHF at 147.555 MHz. W1AW bulletins are also forwarded on packet. Members of the Goddard Amateur Radio Club (Greenbelt, MD) re-transmit live, shuttle air-to-ground audio over the amateur frequencies from their club station, WA3NAN. To listen-in, tune to Amateur Radio high frequency (HF) bands at 3.86, 7.185, 14.295, 21.395, and 28.65 megahertz (MHz) and in the Maryland/DC area on a very high frequency (VHF) band at 147.45 MHz. The "SAREX Bulletin" contains additional general information on SAREX. This document may be obtained electronically from many of the popular on-line electronic services (look for SAREXFAQ.TXT). The American Radio Relay League, Newington Conn. USA STS78FCT.TXT RJI 5/17/96 eof