ARRL reports the US astronaut who pioneered the use of Amateur Radio to make contacts from space — Owen K. Garriott, W5LFL — died April 15 at his home in Huntsville, Alabama. He was 88. Garriott’s ham radio activity ushered in the formal establishment of Amateur Radio in space, first as SAREX — the Shuttle…
Astronomy/Space
Atronomy and space related
Experts Predict a Long, Deep Solar Minimum
Dr.Tony Phillips on April 10, 2019 If you like solar minimum, good news: It could last for years. That was one of the predictions issued last week by an international panel of experts who gathered at NOAA’s annual Space Weather Workshop to forecast the next solar cycle. If the panel is correct, already-low sunspot counts…
Canadian Military to Launch 3-satellite System
Canadian military to launch 3-satellite system to track vessels. Canada is preparing to launch a group of three satellites to track ships near the nation’s coast and also track vessels in parts of the world where Canada conducts military operations with allied nations, the Department of National Defense (DND) announced in a press release. “This…
ISS Fan Club Closing Down
ISS Fan Club closing down on January 1st 2019 After almost 17 years of service to the amateur radio community, the issfanclub.com site will shut down on January 1st 2019. The ISS fan club website has been an excellent source of information for tracking the ISS and crew activity. The website has also provided frequencies,…
Astronaut, Cosmonaut Safe in Wake of Soyuz Launch Failure
ARRL – A Russian Soyuz spacecraft crew launch to the International Space Station (ISS) suffered an emergency booster failure shortly after lift-off from Kazakhstan on October 11, but the crew is safe. On board the Soyuz MS-10 were US Astronaut Nick Hague, KG5TMV, and Russian Cosmonaut Aleksey Ovchinin. NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine was in attendance at the launch in…
ISS Air Leak Fixed
The International Space Station’s (ISS) oxygen breach was contained by NASA and Roscosmos astronauts after the space station began losing air pressure yesterday. The ISS’ cabin pressure is now “holding steady” after ISS Expedition 56 crew members hunted down a breach in the spacecraft’s hull. Alarm bells went off in Houston, Texas, and outside of…
Parker Solar Probe Rockets Toward Sun
NASA’s Parker solar probe rockets toward sun for closest look yet By Marcia Dunn – The Associated Press – A NASA spacecraft zoomed toward the sun Sunday on an unprecedented quest to get closer to our star than anything ever sent before. As soon as this fall, the Parker Solar Probe will fly straight through the wispy…
International Space Station
The International Space Station (ISS) is a space station, or a habitable artificial satellite, in low Earth orbit. Its first component launched into orbit in 1998, the last pressurized module was fitted in 2011, and the station is expected to operate until 2028. Development and assembly of the station continues, with components scheduled for launch in 2018 and 2019. The…
Perseid Meteor Shower 2018
When, Where & How to See It This Weekend By Sarah Lewin Space.com – According to NASA meteor expert Bill Cooke, the Perseids are perhaps the most popular meteor shower of the year; and in 2018, they’ll be the best shower of the year. During the Perseids’ peak this weekend, spectators should see about 60-70 meteors…
Manned Space – SpaceLodge
Formerly known as the SpaceLodge BBS during the good old Fido BBS days. This area is devoted to the communications that occur in near earth and deep space. This includes satellites, ranging from weather, navigation, military, geographical study and those that men and women call home while in orbit. Yes, you can listen to the…