Subj : Newsline Part 2
To : All
From : Daryl Stout
Date : Fri Sep 30 2016 11:47 am
CELEBRATING MAINE'S FIRST YL AT 108
JIM/ANCHOR: We'd now like to wish a happy birthday to Mary Cousins. Happy
birthday to the woman once known as W1GSC.These wishes come a few days
late but then, turning 108 as the Maine resident did this past Sept. 20
has likely cultivated a lot of patience for this retired librarian.
Mary Cousins was the first woman in the State of Maine to become a
licensed radio amateur, a feat she accomplished in 1933, when her name
was Mary Sibyl Wallace, and she was 24 years old. The licensing authority
back then was the Federal Radio Commission, an entity that did not even
exist in 1908, the year she was born.
Even though it has been some time since she operated as W1GSC, Mary did
enjoy a sweet moment with her old call sign: the likeness of her license
decorated the dessert at her party in Deer Isle, Maine. In fact, you might
say it was the icing on the cake.
(ARRL, THE ELLSWORTH AMERICAN)
**
ARISS INSPIRES THE NEXT GENERATION
JIM/ANCHOR: In the UK, one special presentation is about to celebrate the
role the International Space Station has had with thousands of youngsters.
Amateur Radio Newsline's Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, tells us more.
JEREMY: Take the number 10 and multiply it many times over. That is in
fact, what happened this year with hundreds, if not thousands, of school
children in the UK, who experienced one of 10 radio contacts with
International Space Station astronaut Tim Peake, GB1SS, during his
Principia mission. The youngsters' experience will be the subject of a
presentation on Saturday, the 8th of October, by Susan Buckle, the UK
Space Agency's Astronaut Flight Education Programme Support Manager,
when she speaks at the Radio Society of Great Britain's convention. The
convention takes place from the 7th of October until the 9th.
She and Ciaran Morgan, M0XTD, will discuss the 10 ARISS school contacts
with the astronaut, exchanges which sparked interest in amateur radio
among the young in a new and meaningful way. The two will also present
an RSGB video about the contacts at the schools, where many of the
student participants were already newly licensed amateurs.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
(SOUTHGATE ARC)
**
ARISS GETS AN UPGRADE
JIM/ANCHOR: All those ARISS radio contacts are about to get a little bit
better, thanks to an upgrade in the works. Here's Newsline's Neil Rapp,
WB9VPG.
NEIL'S REPORT: The International Space Station is in the final stages of
getting an upgrade! For some time, the radio equipment onboard the station
has needed to be replaced. While new equipment has been graciously donated,
significant funding has been needed for testing, certification, and
delivery of the equipment to make sure it meets NASA standards; and the
post office doesn't have free 2 day shipping to the space station. Frank
Bauer, KA3HDO, the ARISS International Program Chair, explains the details.
FRANK: Basically, the interoperable radio systems we're developing for the
International Space Station will have both the JVC Kenwood D710 radio in
it which will provide higher power and more capability for both the schools
and make the contact more robust, as well as for the hams on the ground.
Also, as part of that, we are developing a multi-voltage power supply, that
will support not only the new radio system, but more capabilities for the
future that we are planning on deploying on space stations. It's actually
going to be something for not only the present, but the future. And, also
we are working with NASA, and the other space agencies, to certify this
across all of space stations.
NEIL: Contact between schools and the space station have inspired young
people to study science and technology, and is one of the more publicized
demonstrations of the power of amateur radio to communities that are
involved. Frank reports that funds are still needed to complete the
equipment upgrade.
FRANK: This fundraising activity we're doing right now is critically
important to get this radio system ready for flight. It is very expensive
to test and certify for NASA, and the other space agencies' standards.
And, so it is way over $100,000 -- almost $200,000 to make this happen.
We would appreciate anything. At the AMSAT.ORG website, we have a
"donate" button for ARISS, and you are welcome to donate. Anyone that
donates $100 or more gets the specially developed ARISS Challenge Coin.
NEIL: Corporate donors should contact Frank Bauer directly at
[email protected].
Reporting for Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Neil Rapp, WB9VPG.
**
BREAK HERE:
Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline,
heard on bulletin stations around the world, including W5AW, the Big
Springs Amateur Radio Club Repeater in Big Springs, Texas, on Thursdays
at 8 p.m.
Posted by VPost v1.7.081019
--- Virtual Advanced Ver 2 for DOS
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS (801:1/7)
� Synchronet � The Curmudeon's Place
