Shuttle Amateur Radio Experiment (SAREX) Bulletin
January/February 1995
For More Information Contact:
American Radio Relay League (ARRL)
Educational Activities Department (EAD)
225 Main Street
Newington CT 06111-1494 USA
Telephone (203) 666-1541
Frequently Asked Questions about SAREX
What is SAREX?
With the help of Amateur Radio clubs and ham radio operators, astronauts
have been speaking over the ham airwaves while in orbit. They are 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. The program is called SAREX, the
Shuttle Amateur Radio EXperiment.
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 a SAREX mission, the astronauts will typically make the following
types of Amateur Radio contacts:
- Scheduled radio contacts with schools.
- Random contacts with the Amateur Radio community.
- Personal contacts with the astronauts' families.
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.
Who sponsors SAREX?
The American Radio Relay League (ARRL),
The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT)
and NASA sponsor these exciting experiments.
AMSAT volunteers support all technical operations for SAREX, and mentor
participating school groups. The ARRL provides the Amateur Radio
community with SAREX information and educational support. The ARRL
Educational Activities Department (EAD) and NASA Headquarters create and
distribute SAREX lesson materials and resources for teachers. SAREX is
supported by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
Hundreds of Amateur Radio operators work behind the scenes, including
those from NASA's Amateur Radio clubs at the Johnson Space Center,
Marshall Space Flight Center and Goddard Space Flight Center.
A SAREX Working Group was created to administer the program. The working
group is comprised of
- Roy Neal, K6DUE -Chairman;
- Rosalie White, WA1STO -ARRL;
- Frank Bauer, KA3HDO -AMSAT; and
- Lou McFadin, W5DID -NASA Johnson Space Center.
I am a school teacher. How can I get started?
Schools wanting to make a scheduled SAREX contact with the astronauts are
required to submit proposals and a SAREX school application to ARRL.
While only a handful of schools get chosen for scheduled contacts, all
schools can participate by eavesdropping, or by trying to make a random
contact with the shuttle astronauts. SAREX lesson materials are available
from ARRL for all schools who participate. Imagine listening in on the
astronauts from your classroom! If you are a school teacher, but you are
unfamiliar with ham radio, you can still become a part of SAREX in your
school. Contact the ARRL EAD to get a list of your local Amateur Radio
clubs to assist you.
If you are a parent, grandparent and/or a ham radio operator, contact ARRL
EAD and a local school. EAD will send you materials, including ways to
convince teachers and school administrators that Amateur Radio is an
important discipline the school should take advantage of on a full-time
basis. This is a tremendous opportunity for you to showcase SAREX and
Amateur Radio to kids of all ages in a big way.
How do I submit a SAREX school application for a scheduled contact?
If your school is interested in a radio contact for a future SAREX
mission, you must complete a SAREX school application and write an
educational proposal. ARRL collects applications and proposals, and then
forward them to the SAREX Working Group who makes the final selection in
collaboration with the astronauts. All grade levels and type of schools
(rural, suburban and particularly urban) are encouraged to apply.
SAREX school applications are available by sending a business-sized self-
addressed stamped envelope to ARRL, or
email your request
for an
electronic version of the application to ead@arrl.org. Applications may be
returned to ARRL by mail or email.
A proposal must accompany all completed applications. The SAREX Working
Group and NASA want to know-
- How will you:
- integrate this activity into the school curriculum and
- involve as many students as you can, participating through essay
contests, poster drawing, letter writing, etc.
- What are your capabilities for setting up all necessary Amateur Radio
equipment and antennas? Do you have the resources of an experienced
group of hams to assist you?
- How will you get as much media coverage as possible?
How will I know if my school has been selected to participate?
Schools that have been selected for scheduled SAREX contacts are contacted
by a SAREX coordinator. NASA requires school selections to be made
approximately seven months prior to launch. If a school is not chosen for
the next SAREX mission, its application is recycled for future
opportunities. Schools typically wait one year or longer to be selected.
I am a ham. How can I introduce SAREX to my son or daughter's school?
Establish a SAREX station at the school. Bring in a shortwave receiver and
let students eavesdrop on amateur retransmissions of the NASA
shuttle-to-mission control audio--from launch to landing. Then, set up a
2-meter satellite ground station and attempt a random SAREX contact from
the classroom. The teacher may even apply for a school contact, almost
guaranteeing that the students will have an opportunity to communicate
with the shuttle crew during a future SAREX mission.
Are there videos available on SAREX?
The ARRL Educational Activities Department has videos available for school
teachers to borrow. Use of the Audiovisual Library is free, the only cost
being return shipping.
"Ham Radio In Space" is a 30-minute color video chronicling the
participation of schools and hams in SAREX. You and your class will enjoy
watching students talk to the astronauts via ham radio as they participate
in this unique educational program. To borrow a copy of this video, mail a
postcard with your request to ARRL EAD. Borrowers, please indicate the
date you will need the video. Requests should be made at least one month
in advance.
Can a ham make an unscheduled SAREX contact?
Yes. The astronauts have not lost sight of why SAREX has been so
successful. It is the Amateur Radio community that has brought the
astronaut's voices into classrooms all around the world. 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.
What type of equipment do I need?
A typical SAREX ground station includes a 2-meter FM transceiver and
25-100 watts of output power. A circularly polarized crossed-Yagi antenna
capable of being pointed in both azimuth (N-S-E-W) and elevation (degrees
above the horizon) is desirable, but successful contacts have even been
made with verticals and groundplane antennas. Commercial and public domain
computer tracking software is available to assist you in determining when
the shuttle will be within range of your station and where to point your
antenna. For more information on assembling your own satellite/SAREX
station, obtain a copy of the "Satellite Experimenter's Handbook" from
ARRL.
How do I "talk" to the astronauts?
You may communicate with the shuttle astronauts using a variety of modes:
voice,
packet (computer) radio
or television. It all depends on which
equipment configuration the astronauts take into space. For example,
astronauts Jay Apt and Mamoru Mohri made hundreds of random voice contacts
with Amateur Radio operators during STS-47 in September 1992. When the
astronauts were sleeping, however, a robot computer ham station aboard the
orbiting Shuttle automatically made contact with hundreds more amateurs
around the world. The robot computer transmitted an acknowledgment to each
ham whose computer successfully made contact with it.
On other missions, the SAREX configuration has even included Amateur Radio
Slow Scan Television (SSTV)
and Fast Scan Television (FSTV) allowing
amateurs a firsthand glimpse at life in space.
What are the SAREX radio frequencies?
The following VHF frequencies are used for SAREX missions. These frequencies
were chosen after much deliberation to minimize contention between SAREX
operations and other 2-meter users. If you have any comments, please
direct them to
AMSAT
via Frank Bauer, KA3HDO (at his address in the "Radio
Amateur Callbook") or the ARRL EAD. We appreciate the cooperat>
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