Why do astronauts get ham license?

[N6HBJ]

So does anyone know why many astronauts are hams on the space shuttle?

Are they truly interested in being hams or just do it for the program and never use the radio other than in their duties? Does NASA require a ham on every flight? Do they really learn the theory and deeply understand radio or just study the study guides like a lot of us?

Mike

[KC2PFV]

Public Relations...

It makes NASA feel good when they say they talked with kids all around the world using radio, and the only legal way to do it is by using Amateur Radio. Though there are some who really enjoy AR.

Who knows what they study. I mean, they have to be smart to be astronauts, so they probably understand basic electronics and things like that... But they probably just memorized the question pool or read a book or something. It's not that hard to pass the test,even by not studying the question pool. The tech test is VERY easy, even for someone like myself who never worked with electronic components. I managed to pass that test with 2 hours of study because I knew all of it already. The General was a different story. That took a few weeks of study time to comprehend the material fully, not memorization. I also had to learn CW, so I don't consider the NCT exam to be a "major accomplishment" besides allowing me to be exposed to the many other modes that I wasn't aware of at the time of licensing.

73 de TOM KC2PFV

[XV2PS]

Space is so boring, they need some code no code debate :rock:

[n0iu]

I Googled the words amateur radio astronauts and it came back with about 739,000 results. Check these links for starters:

http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/station/reference/radio/

http://www.spacetoday.org/Satellites/Hamsats/ARISS.html

You're on your own for the other 738,998 results!

Scott NØIU