[HIham] [Fwd: ARISS Queries--Answered]

[Ron Hashiro]

 From Frank H. Bauer, ka3hdo at comsat.net regarding several recent 
questions about ARISS.


-------- Original Message --------


All,

The ARISS team has had a number of queries on several topics.  It is 
hoped that this e-mail will answer these for you.

1)  25th Anniversary of Ham in Space Special Event Certificate---Many 
have asked how to receive the special certificate and what qualifies you 
for the certificate. 

Qualification:  Those that have had 2 way communications with the ISS on 
Voice, Packet (APRS), or through the voice repeater.  And those that 
have heard the ISS from space in any of the ARISS operations modes 
(Voice, SSTV, School Contact, Voice Repeater, Digital).  Valid dates to 
qualify for certificate:  November 30 to January 15.

Receiving the Certificate: 
A) Please note on your QSL the ARISS mode of operation (e.g. SSTV, 
voice, school, etc) and whether the contact with you was 1 way (receive 
only) or 2 way. 

B) Send your SASE to the normal ARISS QSL volunteer distributor in your 
area of the world. 
C) On the outside of the QSL envelope, please include the words "25th 
Anniversary Certificate" 
D) Make sure your envelope is big enough to accept an 8.5 by 11 inch 
certificate and includes the proper postage. 
E) Go to _www.ariss.org_ <file://www.ariss.org> if you do not know where 
to send your QSL and please use one of the standard international QSL 
distributors that are noted on the Web page. 

Important note:  We will be sending your certificate to the volunteer 
distributors in bulk AFTER the event is over.  (This saves workload and 
money).  So do not expect to see it until 1-2 months after the event 
closes on January 15. 

2)  Richard Garriott QSL Card---there are have several queries about the 
final results of Richard Garriott's flight and how the QSL cards will be 
handled.

QSO Results:  Richard made over 500 voice QSOs during his flight, 
clearly more than any single ham has made on-orbit during a short 
duration mission.  And he sent down about 1000 SSTV images during his 
flight.

QSL Card:  Those that had a QSO with Richard can receive an ARISS QSL 
card using the normal ARISS process.  (See _www.ariss.org_ 
<file://www.ariss.org>).  Richard Garriott is also planning a personal 
card which is in development.  Once it is developed, they will be 
shipped to the ARISS international QSL distribution volunteers for 
distribution.  The current plan is that those that have already sent in 
for an ARISS QSL card will also get a Richard Garriott personal card 
once it is available.  If you made a contact with Richard, have not sent 
in your QSL, and would like Richard's personal QSL card, please stand by 
for QSL distribution instructions until the QSL card is ready.  The 
distribution of this special QSL will parallel how we are distributing 
the 25th Anniversary Certificate.

3)  SSTV Operations Web Site---The ARISS team appreciated the special 
web page support from UC Berkeley.  They allowed us to use their server 
to support SSTV operations during the Richard Garriott's flight.  This 
was a temporary solution.  The web site is currently down while we move 
the web pages from the Berkeley site to the AMSAT server.  This should 
be completed in the next few days.  You will see a follow-on e-mail with 
details on connecting up to the SSTV Operations server.  We thank you 
for your patience.

On behalf of the ARISS International team of volunteers, I thank you all 
for your interest and participation in the ARISS Program.

73,  Frank Bauer, KA3HDO
AMSAT V.P. for Human Spaceflight Programs
ARISS International Chairman