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![Previous (earlier) Story](/images/sty-down.gif "FCC Noncommittal on "Morse Code" Proceeding Action"){kind=small} Previous: FCC Noncommittal on "Morse Code" Proceeding Action | ![Next (later) Story](/images/sty-up.gif ""Hello" Campaign to Put Friendly, Inviting Face on Amateur Radio"){kind=small} Next: "Hello" Campaign to Put Friendly, Inviting Face on Amateur Radio |
NEWINGTON, CT, Feb 14, 2006--Completing an overhaul of the International Space Station's exercise treadmill cut into Expedition 12 Commander Bill McArthur's ham radio time from NA1SS. But when he did get on the radio February 13, he made excellent use of the time remaining.
"Only
one contact," McArthur reported. "3Y0X! Thanks!" The 2-meter contact between
the space station and the Peter I
Island DXpedition in the Bellinghausen Sea near Antarctica occurred during
a barely viable 2-degree pass. The 3Y0X QSO pushed McArthur's count of DXCC
entities worked from space to 104. McArthur already has worked all states and
all continents during his duty tour aboard the ISS.
 Expedition 12 Commander Bill McArthur, KC5ACR, at the helm of the NA1SS Phase 2 ham radio equipment. |
On the Peter I Island end of the contact was 3Y0X DXpedition team member Gordon Hardman, W0RUN. McArthur, who's KC5ACR, reports he and Hardman enjoyed "a brief, but nice chat."
Because the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) Phase 2 gear is in crossband repeater mode for SuitSat-1, McArthur used the lower-power Phase 1 Ericsson 2-meter gear for the contact. He reported good copy on 3Y0X, which was using its moonbounce equipment and array for the event. The 3Y0X team already was celebrating the nine moonbounce contacts it had made over the weekend.
"We're going to keep working in case other members of the team are interested," McArthur said. "Gordon mentioned that one of their team members is Russian, so I've asked Valeri [Tokarev] to be on tomorrow. Also will allow them to log RS0ISS."
Topping
the Peter I Web site I is the
comment, "More people have flown in outer space than have set foot on Peter I
Island!" ARISS Ham Radio Project Engineer Kenneth Ransom, N5VHO, notes that the
3Y0X DXpedition is the first to work someone in space from that location.
 Remote Peter I Island. The Yagi graphic shows the approximate location of the 3Y0X DXpedition. |
McArthur already had worked the 3Y0X DXpedition team while it was still onboard the ship heading for Peter I and operating as XR9A/mm. Previous tries at a 3Y0X-NA1SS contact had been unsuccessful, but Ransom thinks a recent change in the space station's orientation may have contributed to this week's success.
The Daily DX reports the 3Y0X team has been able to send more logs for posting on the Peter I Web log search site. For those earthlings who have yet to put 3Y0X into their logs, plans call for the DXpedition to continue at least through this coming weekend--when the ARRL International DX Contest (CW) takes place.
"If you need it, don't put this one off," The Daily DX (and QST "How's DX?") Editor Bernie McClenny, W3UR, advised. He said a number of "little pistols" in the US have reported working 3Y0X late at night or very early in the morning on 30, 40, and 80 meters.
"My advice would be to put in the time now before the weekend, as there will
definitely be more DXers trying to work them this coming weekend," he added.
According to The Daily DX, the 3Y0X team continues to keep six or seven
stations on the air around the clock on various bands and modes from 160
through 15 meters.
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