Category: News Blog

November 28, 2021

In May 2020, Amateur Radio on the International Space Station, Inc. (ARISS-USA) created a new 501 (c) (3) non-profit charitable organization to enhance and expand ARISS initiatives in the USA.  To support the variety of new functions and roles of this organization, ARISS-USA has augmented its Senior Leadership team by selecting five new members.

Martin Schulman, Associate Director: In this role, Mr. Schulman will work with the Executive Director, delegating routine tasks, enhancing perspective, and serving as a backup to the executive director when necessary.  He will also serve as a member of the ARISS-USA board.  Mr. Schulman has over 30 years of experience in telecommunications, programming, and computer security, and is also an active volunteer with the Sterling Park Amateur Radio Club in Sterling, Virginia.

Tom Henderson, Secretary:  In this role, Mr. Henderson will have the primary duty of ensuring that the internal matters of the organization run smoothly and efficiently. He will record and keep the minutes of all meetings of the Board. Mr. Henderson also serves as the custodian of the ARISS-USA Minute Book and additional books and records as the Board may direct.  Mr. Henderson’s profession is IT infrastructure and systems security research.  He is also current president of the Bloomington, Indiana Amateur Radio Club.

Jena Dunham, Director of Volunteer Resources:  Ms. Dunham will be responsible for the recruitment, basic training, and retention of volunteers needed to complete ARISS-USA’s mission. She will also maintain the volunteer database, manage subscriptions to the mailing lists, and generate policies regarding volunteer conduct.  Ms. Dunham is an experienced nurse practitioner in the state of Kansas and has served as a volunteer for 4-H and the Stormont Vail hospital system.

Rita DeHart, Director of Public Engagement:  Ms. DeHart will be responsible for raising public awareness of the ARISS program. This includes the management of all communication methods with the public (including, but not limited to, website, press releases, articles, and all forms of social media).  She will also be responsible for the management of conference participation.  Ms. DeHart has 46 years in the electric power industry and is an active member of the Tampa Amateur Radio Club.

Randy Berger, Director of Engineering:  Mr. Berger is responsible for planning and executing the development of hardware and software systems that will enhance the primary goals of ARISS-USA, specifically STEM education and backup communications for crew members on human spaceflight vehicles. Mr. Berger’s scope of engineering involvement will support the efforts of ARISS and includes everything within the engineering purview of ARISS, such as ISS, Lunar Gateway, satellite developments, and future government and commercial space ventures.  International collaboration and coordination on systems and engineering strategies will be paramount in this role along with the understanding of national and international collaboration laws and constraints (such as ITAR) that is critically important in this role.  Mr. Berger is an experienced technology officer and has been involved with amateur radio since the 1970s.

The new team members will join veteran leaders Frank Bauer (Executive Director), Carol Jackson (Treasurer), and Kathy Lamont (Director of Education).   The Senior Leadership Team will work closely with long-time ARISS US Delegates Rosalie White (ARRL) and Dave Taylor (AMSAT).

The Director of Business Development and Director of Operations positions currently remain vacant.

November 27, 2021

You’re browsing the ARISS web pages.  You may already know ARISS inspires, engages and educates young people in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, the arts, mathematics) topics with a big focus on space and amateur radio. Or maybe you’ve enjoyed our SSTV downlinks, packet radio connections, or cross-band repeater contacts. You love technology, ham radio, and space, too.

A professional in the space industry once wrote, “ARISS combines the power of ham radio and space exploration into a magical elixir to engage students.”

ARISS is passionate about engaging students in this ham radio magical elixir, which in turn, engages hams, their clubs and communities. 

It is Giving Tuesday time and we are asking you to become an ARISS donor so you can help ARISS deliver this elixir worldwide.  When you donate to ARISS, you get back something really nice, too – a really great feeling!  It makes you proud to know you’ve aided ARISS in helping a young person learn about STEAM, space, and amateur radio, along with related careers. Or helping other hams enjoy ARISS SSTV, packet, and the cross-band repeater. Giving feels good!

Take a look at these ARISS donor tributes:

“I LOVE what ARISS is doing for the kids.  Introducing them to technology, radio and space.  KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK!”
    – David York, N8SGZ[All caps were typed by Mr. York.]  

“My granddaughter, a 7th grade STEM student, wanted to listen to the ISS ARISS radio. She’s not yet a ham, but working on it.  So, we hooked up a portable 2-meter antenna and receiver and tried.  We didn’t hear anything, but we will try again.  In the meantime, I wanted to support ARISS and keep up with anything new that I should know; so, I sent some money.  I believe the ARISS work is great and valuable, so I will donate again in a few months.”
    – Byron Hayes, Jr., WA6ATN

If you contribute $100 USD or more, you receive an ARISS Challenge Coin! Every donor receives a thank you letter that could be a benefit at tax time, as ARISS-USA is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.*

Recently, ARISS has found ways to offer more than a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for youth to engage in a personal conversation with an astronaut using amateur radio. ARISS is developing new programs for youth to delve into the excitement of electronics, robotics, mission control projects—all tied to amateur radio! With ARISS, the sky is not the limit.

We all work together – the ARISS team and our wonderful ARISS donors.  Please join up with us by clicking on the ARISS Donate button!  (above) 

Special thanks to each of you that not only believe in ARISS but also donate to our ARISS projects.  

Ad Astra!  (To the Stars!)

Frank H. Bauer, KA3HDO
ARISS-USA Executive Director
ARISS-International Chair


* ARISS-USA is recognized by the IRS as a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, EIN 85-1185748.
Checks are made payable to ARISS-USA & mailed to:  ARISS-USA, 909 Metfield Road, Towson MD 21286.

November 2, 2021

ARISS‐USA is known for promoting Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) by arranging live question/answer sessions via amateur radio between K‐12 students and astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS). In the last two decades, over 1400 contacts have connected more than one million youth using amateur radio, with millions more watching and learning. ARISS is constantly pursuing opportunities to enhance and sustain our educational capabilities and outcomes.

ARISS-USA is pleased to announce that Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC) awarded a 5-year grant for a project called, “Student and Teacher Education via Radio Experimentation and Operations” (STEREO). Total grant funding over five years is nearly $1.3 million. This ARDC grant will fund three distinct initiatives that enable ARISS to sustain and improve STEAM educational outcomes:

Part 1: ARISS is developing a wireless electronics technology kit called “SPARKI”, short for “Space-Pioneers Amateur Radio Kit Initiative” for use with middle and high school students. This ARDC grant will take SPARKI from prototype to operational and then deploy these kits into a selected set of ARISS formal and informal education organizations that are planning their ARISS radio contacts.

Part 2: To be successful, ARISS must “Educate the Educator” by creating awareness of ARISS, amateur radio and SPARKI to prospective formal and informal educators in the USA. ARISS‐USA will conduct educator workshops for a selected set of educators to aid them in seamlessly employing SPARKI in their education environment and for ARISS to receive their feedback and ideas.

Part 3: The grant will support some of the costs of ARISS contact operations between students and astronauts aboard the ISS over the five-year grant period.

ARISS-USA Executive Director Frank Bauer welcomed this news by saying, “ARISS-USA is so excited about this new 5-year initiative. It will be a STEAM education game changer and represents a key element of our ARISS 2.0 vision. Most importantly, it brings wireless technologies and amateur radio into our ARISS formal and informal classrooms. We thank ARDC for their interest and support and look forward to working with them on this incredible initiative!”

ARDC’s mission is to support, promote, and enhance digital communication and broader communication science and technology, to promote Amateur Radio, scientific research, experimentation, education, development, open access, and innovation in information and communication technology.  ARDC makes grants to projects and organizations that follow amateur radio’s practice and tradition of technical experimentation in both amateur radio and digital communication science. Such experimentation has led to broad advances for the benefit of the general public – such as the mobile phone and wireless internet technology. ARDC envisions a world where all such technology is available through open-source hardware and software, and where anyone has the ability to innovate upon it.

About ARISS:
Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) is a cooperative venture of international amateur radio societies and the space agencies that support the International Space Station (ISS). In the United States, sponsors are the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT), the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), the ISS National Lab‐Space Station Explorers, and NASA’s Space Communications and Navigation program (NASA SCaN). The primary goal of ARISS is to promote exploration of science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics topics. ARISS does this by organizing scheduled contacts via amateur radio between crew members aboard the ISS and students. Before and during these radio contacts, students, educators, parents, and communities take part in hands‐on learning activities tied to space, space technologies, and amateur radio. For more information, see www.ariss.org, www.ariss-usa.org.

Call for Proposals
New Proposal Window is October 1^st, 2021 to November 24^th, 2021

Sept. 11, 2021 — The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) Program is seeking formal and informal education institutions and organizations, individually or working together, to host an Amateur Radio contact with a crew member on board the ISS.  ARISS anticipates that the contact would be held between July 1, 2022 and December 31, 2022. Crew scheduling and ISS orbits will determine the exact contact dates. To maximize these radio contact opportunities, ARISS is looking for organizations that will draw large numbers of participants and integrate the contact into a well-developed education plan.

The deadline to submit a proposal is November 24^th, 2021.  Proposal information and more details such as expectations, proposal guidelines and the proposal form can be found at https://ariss-usa.org/hosting-an-ariss-contact-in-the-usa/. An ARISS Introductory Webinar session will be held on October 7^th, 2021 at 8 PM ET.  The Eventbrite link to sign up is: https://ariss-proposal-webinar-fall-2021.eventbrite.com

The Opportunity

Crew members aboard the International Space Station will participate in scheduled Amateur Radio contacts. These radio contacts are approximately 10 minutes in length and allow students to interact with the astronauts through a question-and-answer session.

An ARISS contact is a voice-only communication opportunity via Amateur Radio between astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the space station and classrooms and communities. ARISS contacts afford education audiences the opportunity to learn firsthand from astronauts what it is like to live and work in space and to learn about space research conducted on the ISS. Students also will have an opportunity to learn about satellite communication, wireless technology, and radio science. Because of the nature of human spaceflight and the complexity of scheduling activities aboard the ISS, organizations must demonstrate flexibility to accommodate changes in dates and times of the radio contact.

Amateur Radio organizations around the world with the support of NASA and space agencies in Russia, Canada, Japan and Europe present educational organizations with this opportunity. The ham radio organizations’ volunteer efforts provide the equipment and operational support to enable communication between crew on the ISS and students around the world using Amateur Radio. 

Please direct any questions to ariss.us.education@gmail.com .

September 3, 2021— Kathryn Lueders, Associate Administrator for Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate at NASA has posted a statement recognizing Amateur Radio On The International Space Station (ARISS) for its accomplishments in promoting STEM initiatives through amateur radio.

NASA’s Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) networks enable #NASA to inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers, and explorers – even from 350 kilometers above Earth.

In addition to connecting the science community on Earth with the groundbreaking research studies and experiments aboard the International Space Station, SCaN enables the space station to act as a unique platform for global STEM outreach and education efforts.

For over 20 years, the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) program, a non-profit supported by SCaN, has connected classrooms on Earth with astronauts aboard the space station, allowing students to engage directly with astronauts in real-time. Using ham radio equipment installed on the space station and a ham radio station on the ground, students are able to establish a direct radio connection with the space station and ask the crew questions about living in space and what it takes to become an astronaut.

In preparation for their ARISS contact, the students explore a variety of #STEM studies, including space exploration, radio communication, and wireless technologies. With tens of thousands of student participants each year, the ARISS program plays an important role in inspiring the Artemis Generation and encouraging students to pursue STEM careers.

Learn more about the ARISS program and how you can bring space into your classroom here: www.ariss.org

June 7, 2021—Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has decided to keep its ARISS InterOperable Radio System (IORS) in crossband repeater mode until after ARRL Field Day ends. The IORS ham station is located in the Columbus Module of the International Space Station. 
 
ARRL Hq Contest Program Manager Paul Bourque, N1SFE, has confirmed that successful radio contacts made through the ARISS IORS, in crossband repeater mode, will count for an ARRL Field Day QSO point, but also for Field Day bonus points! Another fun opportunity for points. Don’t forget the rule limiting stations to 1 QSO per any single channel FM satellite. On-orbit astronauts always have very busy schedules, but if a voice contact were to be made with them, it would count for QSO credit but not for satellite bonus points. Only an ARISS crossband repeater QSO qualifies for the bonus. Crossband repeater contacts are also valid for AMSAT Field Day for satellite operations, held concurrently with the ARRL event.  
 
Frequencies for ARISS crossband repeater operation are as follows: 145.990 MHz up, 67 Hz tone and 437.800 MHz down. If you haven’t used the ISS repeater yet, be sure to practice with it before Field Day (June 26-27, 2021). These contacts can be tricky, but hams can practice right now…can you do it?
 
ARISS had planned a mode switch to APRS packet during the second week of June. Now, ARISS is targeting the switch by the astronauts to packet after the first ARISS school contact following ARRL Field Day. In more news for ARISS supporters: the astronauts will power down the ARISS radio station during USA spacewalks on June 16 and June 20, 2021.

April 29, 2021 – Amateur Radio on the International Space Station, Inc. (ARISS-USA) is seeking volunteers to support our mission: 

To provide and operate Amateur Radio systems on the International Space Station (ISS) and elsewhere to inspire, educate, and engage youth and communities in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) and to support ISS backup communications.  ARISS-USA, is a 501(c)(3) charitable, educational and scientific non-profit that was recently incorporated in the state of Maryland in the USA. 

We are seeking volunteers with a can-do, collaborative attitude who can work effectively as part of a team to support a variety of functions and roles.  We have volunteer openings in several senior leadership roles, including:

• • • • Associate Director
      • Treasurer
      • Secretary
      • Director of Business Development
      • Director of Volunteer Resources
      • Director of Public Engagement
      • Director of Engineering

We also have openings for volunteers who would support functions within the above teams as well as openings within the ARISS-USA Operations, Engineering and Education teams. 

Descriptions of each of these roles are given in Article 8.6 of the ARISS-USA bylaws that can be referenced at:
https://ariss-usa.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/ARISS-USA-Bylaws-Web-Site.pdf

Candidates accepted into senior leadership positions will be required to first serve in a six-month probationary period.  All candidates for senior leadership positions must be U.S. citizens. 

If you are interested in making a difference as an ARISS-USA team member, please send your resume or CV to candidates@ariss-usa.org.  Include a cover letter that explains what position you are interested in supporting.

We thank everyone for your interest and support to ARISS!

Ad Astra!  (To the Stars!)

Frank H. Bauer, KA3HDO
ARISS-USA Executive Director

ARISS-USA is an Equal Opportunity Organization and will not discriminate on the basis of gender identity, age, race, color, national origin, religion, physical handicap, disability or any other legally protected status

ARISS-USA, the US-based organization connecting students with astronauts in space

Towson, Maryland
April 7, 2021

ARISS-USA, a Maryland not-for-profit corporation, is now recognized by the United States Internal Revenue Service as a Section 501(c)(3) charitable, scientific, and educational organization. ARISS-USA is the US segment of the ARISS (Amateur Radio on the International Space Station) international working group. With this IRS determination, donations to ARISS-USA become tax-deductible in the US, retroactive to the ARISS-USA incorporation on May 21, 2020.  This change in status allows ARISS-USA to solicit donations and grants.

As a new entity, ARISS-USA will continue to promote student involvement with the astronauts on the International Space Station via amateur radio.  Working with educational organizations, ARISS provides exciting opportunities to inspire, engage and educate our next generation of space explorers through STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) activities and content. ARISS-USA Executive Director, Frank Bauer, commented, “The educational scope and reach of what ARISS accomplishes has grown significantly since our beginnings in 1996. We are actively working to extend student’s reach even further.  This, through the pursuit of potential student opportunities on human spaceflight missions beyond low Earth orbit, as part of our Amateur Radio Exploration (AREx) Program.  First AREx destination: the Moon!”

ARISS-USA continues its collaborative work with ARISS International and US sponsors, partners, and interest groups. The ARISS-USA TEAM remains deeply indebted to its partners ARRL and AMSAT, who enabled the birth of ARISS, and to its steadfast sponsors, NASA Space Communication and Navigation (SCaN) and the ISS National Lab (INL).

Gifts from those wishing to support ARISS-USA goals are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law and can be made by going to the ARISS website: www.ariss.org  The ARISS-USA team thanks its sustaining donors for their continuing support!

March 14, 2021—The ARISS Columbus Radio is back on-the-air!  This, after it was rendered non-operational following a January 27 EVA (spacewalk) which was conducted to install a cable for the Bartolomeo commercial platform.  During the January 27 spacewalk, the Bartolomeo HMU-601 cable, described in the March 10 ARISS Press conference (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hm4h4rBE9k&t=2214s), was installed in series with the ARISS antenna cable (HMU-895). 

As part of a spacewalk conducted yesterday, March 13, Astronaut Michael Hopkins successfully completed the installation of three PAPOS connectors for the new Bartolomeo platform on the Columbus Module. After this task, Hopkins started the ARISS task.  He moved to the opposite side of Columbus, where he removed the HMU-601 cable from the APCU J02 connector and reinstalled the ARISS antenna cable (HMU-895) connector back into the APCU J02 connector.  This returned the ARISS system back to its pre-January 27 configuration. 

At around 1200 UTC today, the astronauts turned on the ARISS radio system in Columbus.  It was placed in PM3, or Packet Mode.  PM3 employs a downlink frequency of 145.825 MHz.  Shortly after radio startup, APRS signals were heard in California, Utah, and Idaho as the ISS passed along the USA West Coast.  ARISS Team member, Christy Hunter, KB6LTY, confirmed she digipeated through the ARISS radio system, NA1SS, during this pass.  With confirmation from additional stations in South America and the Middle East, the ARISS team has declared the radio system again operational.

On behalf of the ARISS International Team, our heartfelt thanks to all that helped ARISS work through the cable anomaly investigation, troubleshooting and ultimate repair.  Special shout-outs go to the ISS crew, the operations and engineering teams at NASA, ESA and Airbus, and ARISS-Russia leader Sergey Samburov, RV3DR, whose quick actions allowed ARISS to maintain our school contact operations via the ARISS Service Module radio system. Our deepest appreciation also goes out to the ARISS International hardware and operations teams that worked so diligently to analyze, troubleshoot, develop operations procedures, move school contact operations, and inform the team and the public.
   
The ARISS team would also like to congratulate the ESA/Airbus Bartolomeo team!  With the successful installation of 3 of the PAPOS connectors, as part of yesterday’s spacewalk, Bartolomeo is now operational! 

Yesterday was a great day for all!
 
Ad Astra!

Frank Bauer, KA3HDO
ARISS International Chair
Executive Director, ARISS-USA

March 9, 2021—The ARISS team will conduct a 45-minute press conference for media this Wednesday March 10 at 1900 UTC (1400 Eastern Standard Time). This press conference will focus on the ARISS Radio system mounted in the Columbus module.

As a reminder, the ARISS team has been working very closely with NASA and ESA to identify potential causes of an ARISS radio anomaly first observed after the EVA (spacewalk) conducted on January 27.  No transmissions or receptions have been heard from this radio since the EVA.  During the spacewalk, cabling was installed to support the commissioning of the Bartolomeo attached payload capability mounted on Columbus.  Part of this effort rerouted the ARISS antenna cable through one of the Bartolomeo cables.

The press conference will provide insight into some of the cable troubleshooting that has occurred.  It will also discuss the EVA (spacewalk) planned for Saturday March 13 where astronauts Michael Hopkins and Victor Glover will complete the connection of payload cables on the new Bartolomeo platform. While at the Bartolomeo platform, the astronauts plan to reroute the ARISS cabling back to its original configuration prior to the January 27 EVA.

Interested media can attend the upcoming press conference using the following GoTo meeting credentials:

ARISS Press Conference: Columbus Module Hardware Status
Wed, Mar 10, 2021 1900-1945 UTC/2:00 PM – 2:45 PM (EST)

Please join from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/229563437

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