NEWINGTON, CT, Jun 27, 2001--Amateur Radio on the International Space Station Board Chairman Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, says the ARISS-US team has delivered a new packet module to NASA. "This new packet module is expected to correct several of the problems that have been observed on the current ARISS packet system," he said.
The module is expected to undergo a "bench review"--or inspection--in the near future by one of the US astronauts. It is scheduled to fly to the ISS on shuttle mission STS-105, currently planned for launch in early August.
 ISS Expedition 3 Crew Commander Frank Culbertson, KD5OPQ. He'll be joined by Russian cosmonauts Mikhail Turin and Vladimir Dezhurov. It's hoped that both Russians will have Amateur Radio licenses prior to launch in early August. [NASA Photo] |
Bauer says Expedition 3 Crew Commander Frank Culbertson, KD5OPQ, plans to make the packet module changeout early in his ISS tour of duty. The current packet module will remain aboard the ISS, where it will serve as a power supply for the 70-cm station that will be installed aboard the ISS Service Module later this year.
Bauer says all pertinent TNC parameters are embedded in the PROM, so the packet module should be fully functional even with a dead battery. It's believed the current TNC lost its backup battery. As a result it displays no call sign. The new TNC will display the Russian call sign RS0ISS. The Personal Mailbox System (PMS) uses the call sign RS0ISS-1.
The TNC also has a 1-MB memory for PMS data storage, eight-bit capability to support Russian Cyrillic typesets, and a one-minute timeout disconnect from the PMS if no pertinent packets are heard.
Bauer thanked several members of the ARISS-US team "who worked hard to make get this module ready for flight on the STS-105 mission." They include Dan Schultz, N8FGV; Lou McFadin, W5DID; Gil Carman, WA5NOM; Mark Steiner, K3MS; Robert DiRosario, KA3ZYX; Ken Nichols, KD3VK; and Carolynn Conley, KD5JSO.--ARISS
 Previous: Disaster Communications Conference Expresses Appreciation for Ham Radio |  Next: Helms Greets Parents During New Mexico ARISS QSO |