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VOICE CONTACT with the ISS at 07.50 U.T.C.  Dec 31 2002  Orbit 23485

Dec 31 18.50 hrs (6.50 PM) Local time.
My First voice contact with the space station.


6.50 pm local time (eastern australian daylight savings time).
No tape recorder ready either, got me by complete surprise.
Callsign being used was NA1SS.
Who was I talking too, I was so excited I forgot to ask.
I was set up for packet and standing by for prrrrp ppprrrrp, when,
CQ CQ NA1SS, CQ CQ NA1SS,,
I finally found they correct rx/tx split
and got back to the caller, He answered UKF
I announced my name.
He said they were just passing and thought they'd put out a call.
I said I got all excited every time they came over and
I told him where I was and he said they were passing overhead at 
that moment. 
I said that the weather was warm and ok at the moment but earlier 
it had been heavy cloud and rain.
I bade them all Happy New Year and good on them for being up there
and announced I would stand aside for other stations to make contact.
after I gave my finals he kept calling out CQ but no one answered. 
I heard the CQ NA1SS again as they were over NZ.
I was completly tounge twisted and stage shocked and then realised
I didn't have his handle, ahh!. Now I have to get back to them.
The bloke on the other side was pretty excited too and
Wow, I spoke to a spaceman.
QSO was held via Rx 145.800 MHz Tx 145.490 

>>My equipment Alinco DJ-V5 6 w hand held, Mobile One 5/8 vertical.
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