Orbiting Space Suit Transmitting on 2 meters!

Did you ever want to participate in a International Space Station mission? Starting Friday, February 3rd, you may get your chance. An old, used Russian spacesuit has been transformed into a most unusual earth orbit satellite. Just add one Kenwood TH-K2AT handi-talkie transceiver, a battery pack, a sensor for temperature readings, a compact voice synthesizer and telemetry device and a small helmet-mounted antenna and you are good to go.

The modified spacesuit will be thrust out of the space station into orbit and will begin broadcasting voice messages and slow scan television on 145.990 MHz FM in the two-meter amateur band. The Kenwood HT produces 5 watts RF output. Discover the time of fly-by using NASA's fascinating J-Pass program available at: http://science.nasa.gov/RealTime/JPass/25/JPass.asp. Enter your Zip Code and you'll instantly know when the next show begins. Aim your Yagis toward the proper position in the sky! You may hear Suit Sat's 30-second message of greetings, followed by a burst of telemetry. Transmission of a slow scan TV picture ends the sequence.

Mission Specialists at NASA have especially encouraged schools to participate in listening for Suit Sat and reporting receptions to the project's website suitsat.org. Awards will be issued to groups that copy Suit Sat's message. Extra credit is given to those who can capture the slow scan TV picture!

For more information on Suit Sat, head for these web sites: http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/articles/SuitSat/ and http://www.suitsat.org/ You can see a press conference clip on the mission at: http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/information/videoNews.php By the way, I like a snug fit. Do you have anything in a 42 Regular in white?

73 de N2KZ Karl

 

I would really like to listen to the suit-sat, but it is around were i live at about 3am, so i probubly wont be up listining. The only thing that intrists me in it is that i am an owner of a Kenwood,th-k2at. And usually that thing isnt worth crap, so it would be fun to hear it.
                     -Jim,kc0usq

 

This is a sad testament to both ham radio and NASA.

As if there isn't ENOUGH junk out there already.

 

Pffttt!

 

If you took the time to read the article you would have read that it will reenter the atmosphere in about 6 weeks. Junk problem solved.

 

What's with all the negative and childish comments? If a school is going to get involved with this guess who will be helping them? A ham of course, who else would have the equipment? Don't you think it will be pretty exciting for kids to receive signals from outer space? And maybe see an image? The school kids will get an opportunity to learn about things they would otherwise not be exposed to, such as understanding orbits, radio equipment, slow scan tv methods, etc etc.
And as far as space junk goes, it's orbit will soon decay and it will burn up in the atmosphere.

 

Like BPL systems on HF and RFID tags on 70 cm.

Sorry, but someone had to say it.

 

Just try to get a perspective of where NASA has gone...and look at the expectations we've defined for our kids.

A Japanese transceiver, fabbed in Korea and China,attached to a Russian suit.


MacGuyverisms are fine, but this is just goofiness. Not even guerilla engineering....

 

Don't follow...what this has to do with ham radio and NASA is....

?

 

C'mon OM; this isn't exactly NEW.

NA1SS has been operating for some time. A REAL American in REAL space. Not a Russian throw away junker with a Japanese transceiver.

Motivating kids is great. And here's an even BETTER idea: WHY NOT get those astronaut Technicians to UPGRADE to show the kids an enhanced PATH to further skills and learning?

ARE you aware that well over 90% of ham-astronauts never went beyond Tech class; most let their licenses expire after their 'truck riding' days; and almost none are radio-active except for the rides.

There's a message for the kids...:-(

 

Should be exciting!

 

Thanks for the suggestion to read the article. I stand corrected on some key points.

I still don't get it: if you have the module, and so on, then why do you need the suit? It sure looks like the suit is some cancerous growth attached to the satellite/transciever module.

Why the suit?

Don't tell me it's the batteries...

 

Check again. Depending on what site you looked on it may only have shown you VISABLE passes... which are useful for looking at the bright light of the satellite passing over. However, make sure you are getting ALL passes... (ie.. during hte day as well). Here in PA I have about 2 passed during the day.

 

So which is it?

The Kenwood HT produces 5 watts RF output.

I read elsewhere it produces 0.5watts... Hrmm! Big difference. I mean it IS pretty much line of site... but it's also a pretty good distance.

Either way lots of fun...
I currently own an HT (VX-7R) with a rubber ducky omni. Can I pick it up with that (without using a directional) and if so what do I want to do? Just orient the antenna so it's pointing 90 degrees from where I expect the ISS/suit to be?

 

well now if jpass site would work maybe i could find out when to listen