Look for International Space Station on 2 Metres

Casual amateur radio contacts with the amateurs aboard the International Space Station have been few and far between, but this could change this Thursday. ARISS, or 'Amateur Radio on the International Space Station', has declared the 12th of April 'Cosmonautics Day', a special event day for amateur radio on the International Space Station. Cosmonautics Day marks the 40th anniversary of the first human space flight by USSR cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, the 30th anniversary of Salyut 1 - the first space station - and the 20th anniversary of the initial launch of the first re-usable space vehicle, the space shuttle.



Two amateurs are now on board the ISS - Crew Commander Yury Usachev, UA9AD, and US astronaut Susan Helms, KC7NHZ. They have been asked to run general QSOs on a voluntary basis over the earth's major land masses to celebrate Cosmonautics Day. The downlink frequency is 145.800MHz and the uplink for us in IARU Region 1 is 145.200MHz. The ISS amateur radio packet system is still not operational, but it may become so by the 12th of April. If so, the packet downlink frequency remains 145.800MHz and the uplink to be used should be 145.990MHz. It is hoped that specific operating times and modes for Cosmonautics Day, as well as additional details, will be announced on the ARISS web site.



Also celebrating the 40th anniversary of manned space flight, amateur satellite enthusiasts Robert, G8ATE; John, G7HIA, and Matt, G7OBR, will operate a special event station using the callsign GB1MSF - standing for 'First Manned Space Flight'. They will be operating on all the available amateur radio analogue satellites, with emphasis on RS12, 13 and 15. Activity will commence on the evening of the 12th of April, the evening of the 13th of April, and on Saturday the 14th of April and will then continue, on and off, for four weeks. A special QSL card and award will be available and operating times will be posted on the group's web site.