SAREX FACT SHEET -- STS-67 Media Contact: Jennifer Hagy Media Relations Assistant American Radio Relay League (203) 666-1541, Ext. 328 SHUTTLE ENDEAVOUR ASTRONAUTS TO SPEAK WITH STUDENTS VIA AMATEUR RADIO. With the help of Amateur Radio clubs and ham radio operators, astronauts have been speaking over the ham airwaves while in orbit, as part of the Shuttle Amateur Radio EXperiment (SAREX). During mission STS-67, the crew will be talking directly with large groups of the general public, showing teachers, students, parents and communities how Amateur Radio energizes youngsters about science, technology, and learning. Amateur Radio has been flying aboard the shuttles since 1983. WHEN: Launch is scheduled for March 2, 1995 at 1:37 AM EST (0637 UTC) from the Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral, Florida. Landing is scheduled for March 18, 1995 at 3:09 PM EST (2009 UTC) at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida. 15 day mission. WHERE: The launch will place the shuttle into Earth orbit at an altitude of 218 miles and an inclination of 28.45 degrees. WHY: NASA's intent in making astronauts available for SAREX operations is to involve the largest possible numbers of people, particularly youngsters, in technology and the US space program with the help of Amateur Radio. During SAREX missions, the astronauts will typically make the following types of Amateur Radio contacts: Scheduled radio contacts with schools. Random radio contacts with the Amateur Radio community. Personal contacts with the astronauts' families. AMATEUR RADIO-LICENSED CREW MEMBERS: Stephen S. Oswald, Commander, call sign KB5YSR William G. Gregory, Pilot, call sign KC5MGA Tamara E. Jernigan, Payload Commander, call sign KC5MGF Wendy B. Lawrence, Mission Specialist, call sign KC5KII Ronald A. Parise, Payload Specialist, call sign WA4SIR Samuel T. Durrance, Payload Specialist, call sign N3TQA PAYLOAD: Primary Payload--ASTRO-2. ASTRO-2 is the second in a series of ASTRO missions that will make precise measurements of astronomical objects such as planets, stars, and galaxies, in relatively small fields of view. Consisting of a variety of instruments, the payload will provide stability for extended periods and highly accurate instrument pointing of 1.2 arc seconds. The ASTRO observatory is a key element in the Spacelab program. (Information provided by the NASA Public Affairs Library Staff.) SAREX SPONSORS: The Shuttle Amateur Radio EXperiment (SAREX) is sponsored by the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT) and The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). SAREX is supported by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS: A handful of schools are selected from around the world to make contact with the shuttle during most SAREX missions. These contacts are prearranged, giving the schools a greater chance at making a successful contact. Two or more students at each of the selected schools ask questions of the astronauts during the contact. The nature of these contacts embodies the primary goal of SAREX--to excite students' interest in learning. Brewton Elementary School, et al. Brewton AL Watson Elementary School Huntsville AR Fullbright Avenue Elementary Canoga Park CA Tri City Christian Schools Vista CA Plymouth Center School Plymouth CT Bishop Planetarium & South Florida Museum Bradenton FL Renfroe Middle School Decatur GA Pearl City High School Pearl City HI Waihe'e Elementary School Wailuku HI Highland Park High School Highland Park IL Kentucky Tech, Montgomery County Area Vocational Education Center Mt. Sterling KY US Naval Academy Annapolis MD Ridgely Middle School/Lutherville Elementary Lutherville MD Silver Spring/Burtonsville Schools Silver Spring MD William Bryant Elementary Blue Springs MO Plank Road South School Webster NY Lockport High School Lockport NY Saint Peters School Greenville NC Washington Senior High School Washington C.H. OH Bethany Middle School Bethany OK Tarkington Middle School Cleveland TX Chisum Jr/Sr High School Paris TX J. J. Fray Elementary School Rustburg VA Group of Scholars from South Africa South Africa Little Lillys English School Bangalore India Cobram Secondary College Cobram Australia ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR AMATEUR RADIO OPERATORS- SAREX RADIO FREQUENCIES: During most SAREX missions, many of the crewmembers will make random contacts with earth-bound hams. They make these contacts during their breaks, before and after meal time, and during their pre-sleep time. In fact, over the past years the astronauts have contacted thousands of amateurs around the world. On many missions, they have even carried a 2-meter packet radio station. Innovative computer software allows the crew to operate the packet gear in an "unattended" mode, allowing amateurs to make contacts with the ROBOT station when the astronauts are working or sleeping. The crew will use separate receive and transmit frequencies. PLEASE do not transmit on the shuttle's DOWNLINK frequency. The DOWNLINK is your receiving frequency. The UPLINK is your transmitting frequency. FM Voice Downlink: (Worldwide) 145.55 MHz FM Voice Uplink: 144.91, 144.93, 144.95, 144.97, and 144.99 MHz FM Voice Uplink: (Europe only) 144.70, 144.75, and 144.80 MHz FM Packet Downlink: 145.55 MHz FM Packet Uplink: 144.49 MHz CALL SIGNS: FM voice call signs KB5YSR, KC5MGA, KC5MGF, KC5KII, WA4SIR, and N3TQA FM packet call sign W5RRR-1 QSL VIA: Send reports and QSLs to ARRL EAD, STS-67 QSL, 225 Main Street, Newington, CT 06111, USA. Include the following information in your QSL or report: STS-67, date, time in UTC, frequency and mode (FM voice or packet). In addition, you must also include a SASE using a large, business-sized envelope if you wish to receive a card. The Edison Radio Amateurs Association in Detroit/Edison MI has generously volunteered to manage the cards for this mission. SHUTTLE TRACKING: Current Keplerian elements to track the shuttle are available from the NASA Spacelink computer information system, BBS (205) 895-0028 or via Internet spacelink.msfc.nasa.gov, and the ARRL BBS (203) 666-0578. Also, the JSC ARC BBS will have the latest element sets available during the STS-67 flight. The number is (713) 244-5625, 9600 baud or less. The following are prelaunch Keplerian elements for STS-67: STS-67 1 00067U 95061.32643015 .00011689 00000-0 86071-4 0 46 2 00067 28.4675 88.9985 0004519 287.7960 72.2100 15.71297841 21 Satellite: STS-67 Catalog number: 00067 Epoch time: 95061.32643015 = (02 MAR 95 07:50:03.56 UTC) Element set: 004 Inclination: 28.4675 deg RA of node: 88.9985 deg Space Shuttle Flight STS-67 Eccentricity: .0004519 Prelaunch element set JSC-004 Arg of perigee: 287.7960 deg Launch: 02 MAR 95 06:37 UTC Mean anomaly: 72.2100 deg Mean motion: 15.71297841 rev/day Gil Carman Decay rate: 1.1689e-04 rev/day^2 NASA Johnson Space Center Epoch rev: 2 Checksum: 304 CONFIGURATION: During STS-67, the SAREX hardware will be carried in configuration C. SAREX configuration C consists of the handheld transceiver, I/F module, PGSC, spare battery set, window antenna, packet module, SAREX headset assembly, personal recorder, and the required cable assemblies. The packet module contains a power supply and packet TNC. The power supply provides power for the TNC and the handheld transceiver. The TNC interconnects with a radio transceiver so that data to and from the computer is transmitted to and received from other amateur radio stations. Configuration C is capable of operating in either the voice or data mode in communications with amateur stations within LOS of the Orbiter. This configuration can be operated in the attended mode for voice communication and either the attended or automatic mode for data communications. The payload control weights is 45 lb (20.41 kg). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Contact the American Radio Relay League, Educational Activities Department, 225 Main Street, Newington CT 06111 USA Telephone (203) 666-1541, FAX (203) 665-7531, ARRL BBS (203) 666-0578 Internet ead@arrl.org CompuServe 70007,3373 Prodigy PTYS02A America Online HQARRL1 ARRL's (Newington, CT) Amateur Radio station (call sign W1AW) transmits news bulletins (9:45 PM, 12:45 AM EST) on HF bands at 3.99, 7.29, 14.29, 18.16, 21.39, 28.59 and VHF at 147.555 MHz. W1AW bulletins are also forwarded on packet. Goddard Amateur Radio Club's (Greenbelt, MD) Amateur Radio station (call sign WA3NAN) transmits SAREX news and shuttle-to-mission control retransmissions during SAREX missions. Tune to Amateur Radio high frequency (HF) bands at 3.86, 7.185, 14.295, 21.395, and 28.65 megahertz (MHz) and on very high frequency (VHF) bands at 147.45 MHz. GARC also maintains a Bulletin Board System (BBS) which is accessible via the Internet, modem and packet radio. The BBS contains Keplerian orbital elements updated daily, AMSAT and SAREX bulletins and Space Shuttle mission information. Via Internet: wa3nan.gsfc.nasa.gov or 128.183.105.17, via telephone: (301) 286-4137, via packet: WA3NAN on 145.090 MHz in DC area. The "SAREX Bulletin" contains additional general information on SAREX. This document may be obtained electronically from many of the popular on-line electronic services. The American Radio Relay League, Newington Conn. USA STS67FCT.TXT RJI 2/1/95 eof