ISS Crew Pleases Field Day Crowd with Ham Radio "First"

NEWINGTON, CT, Jun 29, 2004--For the first time, an astronaut and a cosmonaut were on the air simultaneously from both Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) operating positions. Astronaut Mike Fincke, KE5AIT, operated during Field Day 2004 as NA1SS, while Expedition 9 Commander Gennady Padalka, RN3DT, was on the air as RS0ISS. Between them, they racked up more than five dozen QSOs.

Mike Fincke, KE5AIT, uses the Ericsson 2-meter handheld transceiver aboard the ISS to make Field Day contacts.

"Mike Fincke and Gennady Padalka both participated on June 27 by making voice contacts with stations in the United States (including Alaska), Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, Venezuela, Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil," said ISS Ham Radio Project Engineer Kenneth Ranson, N5VHO. "This was Mike's first time to make general contacts, and he did really well." Fincke was active during five US passes as well as during two over Central and South America.

Fincke snagged some 60 contacts on 2 meters--some of them in Spanish--using the Ericsson handheld transceiver in the Zarya Functional Cargo Block or FGB. Padalka picked up four US contacts on 70 cm using the Kenwood D700E in the ISS Zvezda Service Module. The packet system now is back in operation.

Fincke called the Field Day operation "a great experience!" and suggested he'll be on the air more frequently as a result. "Both Gennady and I were very happy to have 'met' so many different people in North, Central and South America," he said. "I know I will be using the ham radio more often, now that I could feel the warmth of the community."

Gennady Padalka, RN3DT, fired up the Kenwood D700E on 70 cm during Field Day. [NASA Photos]

ARISS mentor Tim Bosma, W6MU (ex-W6ISS) said his Field Day crew worked the ISS on three consecutive passes. "I don't think I've had so much fun since Susan Helms [KC7NHZ] did over 200 Field Day contacts a few years back," he remarked on the SAREX reflector. "He impressed a lot of scouts and hams here at our Field Day site and made a very positive impression for ARISS and AMSAT."

Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA, in Florida was one of the stations fortunate enough to work Padalka. "What an awesome signal on 70 cm!" he exclaimed. "Forty over S9. He asked to go slow with him as there is a language barrier, but he stuck with me until I think he got the call."

Speaking on behalf of the ARISS Team, Scott Stevens, N3ASA, expressed appreciation for the Field Day operation. "Thank you gentlemen for your time and outstanding effort in making the 2004 Field Day an excellent experience."

NA1SS and RS0ISS will be off the air June 30 prior to the crew's second attempt at a space walk to make repairs to a gyroscope control module. Mission controllers cut short the first attempt after some 14 minutes after they spotted a pressure drop in Fincke's spacesuit oxygen tank. Unless the schedule changes, the ARISS ham gear should be back on the air July 1.

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