‰ Now 18 WPM transition file follows ‰

nasa astronauts michael lopez alegria, ke5gtk, and sunita williams,
kd5plb, and russian cosmonaut mikhail tyurin, rz3ft, have been named
as the 14th crew of the international space station.  expedition 14
is scheduled to begin this fall. lopez alegria will serve as
expedition 14 commander and as nasa iss science officer for the six
month mission. several fcc part 97 amateur radio rule revisions to
implement changes agreed to at the international level during world
radiocommunication conference 2003 now are in effect.  the changes
affect 97R111, authorized transmissions, 97R113, prohibited
transmissions, 97R115, third party communications, and 97R117,
international communications.  the fcc said the amendments will
ensure that the its amateur radio service rules conform to article
25 of the international radio regulations adopted at wrc 03.
Geomagnetic conditions were quiet this week in most places, but on
April 22 there was a geomagnetic storm at high latitudes caused by
solar wind and a south pointing IMF. The college A index in
Fairbanks Alaska reached 38, and the K index was 7 at its highest.
The mid latitude A index for the day was only 10, just slightly
unsettled. Ron Wright, ZL1AMO, and others, including AE6RR, wrote in
to say that ZK1JD, mentioned in last weeks bulletin as worked by
VA7GO, is not actually in the South Solomon Islands, an area of
great civil unrest currently. Jim Ditchburn, ZK1JD is actually in
Rarotonga in the South Cook Islands. Craig Bradley, AE6RR worked
ZK1JD a few days ago on 20 meters, and when told about his call
appearing in the bulletin, Jim commented that he, would not want to
be in the Solomon Islands at this time.  Sunspot numbers were 30,
14, 15, 24, 38, 33 and 60 with a mean of 30R6. 10R7 cm flux was
78R7, 76R4, 82R4, 86R7, 92R8, 95R1, and 100, with a mean of 87R4.
Estimated planetary A indices were 5, 8, 18, 8, 7, 5 and 5 with a
mean of 8. Estimated mid latitude A indices were 3, 6, 10, 8, 4, 1
and 2, with a mean of 4R9‚

‰ End of 18 WPM transition file ‰