posted 01-26-2006 05:25 PM               

Crewmembers aboard the International Space Station plan to launch a spacesuit into space on Feb. 3rd from the ISS. Called SuitSat-1 it is the first actual space suit to be released into space to serve as a beacon for space enthusiasts on Earth.

Equipped with batteries and a radio transmitter, SuitSat-1 (unmanned and unpressurized) will orbit Earth and will relay the message "This is SuitSat-1, RSORS" in several languages.

More information about this project can be found at the following NASA links:
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2006/26jan_suitsat.htm?list745906
http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/index.php

Who will be the first Collect Space member to hear the transmission after launch?

posted 02-01-2006 08:33 PM               

How many "hams" are here on collectSpace.com?

For those who are not hams but would like to listen to the SuitSat or ISS (ARISS - Amateur Radio ISS), it is quite easy and doesn't require fancy equipment.

Tune a police scanner to 145.990 MHz for the SuitSat and 145.800 MHz for the ISS. For the antenna, a magnetic scanner antenna mounted on top of a car will work just fine.

You will also need to track the station so you know when to listen. http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata/tracking/index.html
Just be listening a little early so you don't run the risk of missing anything.

RadioShack is a convenient source of police scanners and antennas. Every scanner out there will receive the 144-148 MHz "2-meter" band, so the cheapest scanner will do.
http://www.issfanclub.com has tons of inforation about the ARISS and SuitSat programs.
http://pd0rkc.ontwikkel.nl has collections of recordings of actual two-way conversations with hams and the ISS crews. One very excited ham from Turkey is heard saying, "I am from Turkey and I love you!" to Bill McArthur! http://pd0rkc.ontwikkel.nl/ISSAUDIO/04012005_NA1SS_TA3EL.mp3

If anyone would like advice on setting up to receive the SuitSat, I would be happy to assist!

posted 02-01-2006 08:55 PM               

Maybe you could offer to e-mail the files to those who want to see/listen to it but don't have access to radios and then only post it online after Suitsat has ended its mission.

Robert
KB2WLF

posted 02-01-2006 10:55 PM               

For those who would like to see it and are not able to receive it, I will be happy to email the picture and/or audio to anyone who asks (except the kids!). I am sure it will be all over the net in a matter of time.

I hope some students somewhere will be inspired by this "experiment" and see that space exploration isn't an abstract field, but that it requires hands-on work in many different fields from all kinds of people. This is a project in which the kids can truly get their hands on by tracking the ISS/SuitSat, setting up the equipment, and receiving a "live" message directly from space themselves.

Ed

[This message has been edited by edmk5000 (edited February 01, 2006).]

posted 02-02-2006 12:06 PM               

I've been a licensed ham since 1986 and have the General class ticket.

Some radio stuff that you may like to check out is my home weather satellite sation. I have it set up to automatically record, process, and post weather images to a web site. Check out the latest images here - http://home.comcast.net/~tegwilym/wxtoimg

Tom - KA7VIK

posted 02-02-2006 06:11 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by edmk5000:
How many "hams" are here on collectSpace.com?

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KC2OPF here! I was going to mention that Cor also posts here, but I can see you already know him (or at least his website)!

I'm going to try tuning in with my handheld and J-pole antenna. It's going to mean staying up late or getting up early, but it'll be worth it if I hear it!

Carrie

posted 02-03-2006 03:52 PM               

But without having a SSTV recording in advance, I will have to wait to "experiment" with SSTV software.

Anyone else have experience with SSTV??

posted 02-03-2006 05:29 PM               

More information about the ISS Expedition 12 crew can be found at Space Facts:
http://www.spacefacts.de/english/iss.htm

posted 02-03-2006 10:06 PM               

quote:

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Update for 11:02 p.m. EST Friday Feb. 3:

The unmanned Orlan spacesuit cast off from the International Space Station has ceased transmitting to ham radio operators on Earth, NASA officials said.

SuitSat, an expired spacesuit packed with clothes and a radio transmitter, apparently broadcast a weak signal for the first two orbits - or about three hours - before going silent, NASA commentator Rob Navias said. Amateur ham radio operators listening for the spacesuits signals were reportedly not hearing the five-language greeting or receiving telemetry, he added.

ISS flight controllers hoped that SuitSat's batteries would last for several days, but NASA officials suspect they may have become too cold to properly function. The Orlan spacesuit was uninflated, but sealed when it was tossed into orbit at abotu 6:02 p.m. EST (2302 GMT) by ISS Expedition 12 commander Bill McArthur and flight engineer Valery Tokarev.

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posted 02-03-2006 11:02 PM               

A lot of amusing posts there. I like the guy who debunked them:

"Come on you USA Ham Operators. .for goodness sakes.. wait until it's over until you start listening!!"

------------------
-Ben

posted 02-03-2006 11:32 PM               

Also, telemetry including battery "power" and temperature was supposed to be part of the message. According to www.suitsat.org, it doesn't look like anyone was able to get good enough copy to report what these were before the failure.

RIP Mr. Smith.

Ed

posted 02-04-2006 05:13 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by Ben:
Reports indicate Suitsat is still apparently transmitting a very weak signal. It was picked up by a lot of people this morning.

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Well wouldn't it be turning while floating since it has no way to control it's attitude? Wouldn't that make the antenna turn away every now and then?

posted 02-04-2006 11:09 PM               

quote:

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SuitSat Status 4 February

It is absolutely clear that SuitSat-1 is alive. It was successfully turned on by the ISS crew prior to deploy and the timing, micro-controller functions and audio appear to be operating nominally. The prime issue appears to be an extremely weak signal.

I have heard several recordings and have monitored two passes today. When the signal is above the noise level, you can clearly hear partials of the student voices, the station ID and the SSTV signal. One of the complicating factors in reception is the very deep fades that occur due to the spin of SuitSat.

Based on the information we know thus far, one can narrow down the issue to the antenna, the feedline, the transmitter output power and/or any of the connections in between. Through your help, we would like to narrow down the issue further and also gather some internal telemetry from the Suit.

If the transmitter is running at full power, we would expect the Suit to end operations in the next few days to a week. If it is not, then it will operate much longer. Since we do not know how long this experiment will last, we ask for those with powerful receive stations to listen for Suitsat---especially during direct overhead passes when the Suit is closest to your area. If you can record these passes and send the audio to us, it would be most appreciated. We will continue to be optimistic that this issue will right itself before the batteries are depleted. So please KEEP LISTENING!

Based on what we have learned, we would like to provide the following guidelines to save you time and facilitate gathering information:

1) You need as high a gain antenna as possible with mast mounted pre-amps. An arrow is the minimal set...it provides very brief snipets of the communications. HTs and scanners won't cut it.

2) I would not waste your time on passes below 40 degrees elevation. SuitSat is too far from your station to receive a reliable signal. We have found that closest approach provides several seconds of SuitSat communication with 22 element yagis.

3) The "gold" we are looking for right now is the telemetry information and how long the vehicle stays operational. So if you hear any of the telemetry, please let us know.

We are also working to get the voice repeater set up on ISS to downlink SuitSat audio on 437.80 in the event that the ISS Kenwood radio can receive the SuitSat transmissions. The repeater may be operational as early as mid-day Sunday. Please do NOT transmit on 145.99, voice or packet, until we have confirmed that SuitSat is no longer transmitting. These transmissions interfere with our ability to hear SuitSat.

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posted 02-05-2006 06:32 PM               

One can really hear that the fading of the signal seems to be at the same interval as the tumble, just as AMSAT says.

Ed

posted 02-05-2006 09:42 PM               

But 1 watt . . . . . . . . .

"Watt's to receive?" (just 1 watt)

I used to enjoy Goddard Ham Radio Group's actual time rebroadcast of shuttle communication on 2 meters, but that has been inactive for some time now.