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The initial element of the Amateur Radio on the International Space
Station, ARISS, next generation radio system has been installed
onboard the ISS, and amateur radio operations using the new gear are
now under way.  The first element, dubbed the InterOperable Radio
System, or IORS, was installed in the ISS Columbus module. The IORS
replaces the Ericsson radio system and packet module that were
originally certified for spaceflight in mid 2000.  Finally.  Its
been a scramble the last few days with coordination over the weekend
and yesterday with astronaut Chris Cassidy, KF5KDR, ARISS US
Delegate for ARRL Rosalie White, K1STO, said. But the new ARISS
radio system is now installed, set up, and functioning. What a long
road weve traveled over the past 5 years.  Initial operation of the
new radio system is in FM cross band repeater mode using an uplink
of 145.99 MHz, with a CTCSS of 67 Hz, and a downlink of 437.800 MHz.
System activation was first observed at 0102 UTC on September 2.
Special operations will continue to be announced, ARISS said.  The
IORS was launched from Kennedy Space Center last March onboard the
SpaceX CRS 20 resupply mission. It consists of a special, space
modified JVC Kenwood D710GA transceiver, an ARISS developed multi
voltage power supply, and interconnecting cables. The design,
development, fabrication, testing, and launch of the first IORS was
the culmination of a 5 year engineering effort by the ARISS hardware
team of volunteers.  ARISS says the system will enable new, exciting
capabilities for ham radio operators, students, and the general
public. Capabilities include a higher power radio, voice repeater,
digital packet radio, or APRS, capabilities, and a Kenwood VC H1
slow scan television system.  A second IORS will undergo flight
certification for later launch and installation in the Russian
Service Module. The second system enables dual, simultaneous
operations, such as voice repeater and APRS packet. It also provides
on orbit redundancy to ensure continuous operations in the event of
an IORS component failure.  Next gen development efforts continue,
ARISS said. For the IORS, parts are being procured and a total of 10
systems are being fabricated to support flight, additional flight
spares, ground testing, and astronaut training. Follow on next
generation radio system elements include L band repeater uplink
capability, currently in development, and a flight Raspberry Pi,
dubbed ARISS Pi, that is just in the design phase. The ARISS Pi
promises operations autonomy and enhanced SSTV operations, ARISS
explained.  ARISS this year marks 20 years of continuous amateur
radio operations on the ISS.

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