Hubert Schäfer, DJ8VH, makes the initial call to NA1SS as training teacher Manual Stenger, DH1VO, and Martin Grasmueck, a radio reporter, observe.
NEWINGTON, CT, March 4, 2003--Despite a last-minute glitch with an antenna rotator, an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact involving students at the Hochwald Gymnasium (high school) in Wadern, Germany, went off right on schedule. During the February 27 QSO, 16 students--all brand-new new amateur licensees--spoke via DL0WR in Saarland with ISS Science Officer Don Pettit, KD5MDT, at the controls of NA1SS. The high school was only the second school in Germany to experience an ARISS contact.
Hubert Schäfer, DJ8VH, makes the initial call to NA1SS as training teacher Manual Stenger, DH1VO, and Martin Grasmueck, a radio reporter, observe. |
"Most significant is that the ARISS contact gave birth to 16 new members of the Amateur Radio community," said ARISS Mentor Peter Kofler, IN3GHZ, who called the accomplishment a "superb illustration of the educational power of the ARISS school contacts." That their first ham radio activity was a contact with the ISS was "a dream come true," he added.
The fact that each student had his or her own
ticket also covered the sometimes-overlooked legal issue of third-party traffic
between the US space station and the German students. Germany and US do not
enjoy a third-party traffic agreement. Michael Kraus, DF3VM, conducted the
students' training over a period of several weeks. Students ranged in age from
15 to 19. On the classroom side, the students had been working with physics
teacher Marco Holzer since last November to prepare for the big day.
 Students at Hochwald Gymnasium in Wadern, Germany, line up February 27 for their turn at the DL0WR microphone. All 16 students became Amateur Radio licensees--equivalent to the US Technician class--before the contact took place. |
Kofler said the students' questions to Petit reflected an interest "in technical matters, problems of physics in space, but also in the social habits on board the space station."
Pettit told the high schoolers that the thing he misses most in space is his family. The thing he'll miss the most when he gets back to Earth, however, is the possibility to fly while in microgravity. "When I get back to Earth, I'll miss that the most," he said.
He explained that while the ISS occupants are able to float freely, there is a "ceiling" and a "floor" to the spacecraft. The "floor," he said, has a darker color than the other surfaces.
 Anne, DO1ANE, asks her question of Don Pettit as Manuel Stenger, DH1VO, looks on. |
Pettit also described how the crew enjoys the spectacular view of Earth below through the airliner-sized ports on the ISS, talked about what the astronauts do in their spare time and explained the scientific research the Expedition 6 crew is involved with. No, he said, there are no alcoholic beverages onboard Space Station Alpha.
The Hochwald contact had to be rescheduled
more than once, the last time because of the Columbia disaster.
 The antenna system used at DL0WR for the ARISS contact. |
In the parking lot of the auditorium where the contact took place, coordinating teacher Hubert Schäfer, DJ8VH, and some fellow members of the Wadern Deutscher Amateur Radio Club (DARC)-affiliate, which loaned its DL0WR call sign to the occasion, had set up a 12-meter-tall mast to support the antenna system. Barely an hour before the contact was to take place, the primary antenna rotator failed. A backup unit put into play worked flawlessly.
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Reporters from two television, two radio stations and two newspapers covered the event. The Hochwald contact marked the 88th ARISS school contact.
ARISS is an international program with
participation by ARRL, NASA and AMSAT. For more information, visit the ARISS Web site.
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