Paul, N1PSX, Jim, KA1ZOU, Jeff, KA1NGP, Bob, WB4SON, and Mike, K1NPT went to All Saints Academy Saturday to remove the antenna array used for the May 6 ARISS event.  Arriving at 9 AM, it took less than an hour to disassemble the antenna on the roof. The Middletown Fire Department arrived at 10 AM and used their Tower Ladder to lift the antenna parts down to the ground.  By 10:25 AM, the job was done, and the ARISS event is just a fond memory!

The ARISS event, despite a few funny gotyas up front, went off as planned.  A preprogram of comments and background began at 11:45, and at 12:43 the first call went out to NA1SS, the International Space Station.  With Hollywood-like suspense, Paula, an ASA student-ham, called SEVEN times before the sound of Jeff Williams’s voice filled the auditorium to thunderous applause (ed: my personal take on the “suspense” was I hoped someone would perform CPR to restart my heart waiting 1min50sec before hearing our astronaut).

Jeff Williams was a real pro, both very personable talking to the kids, and moving things along at a quick pace.  As a consequence, all 24 questions were asked and answered. As Paula sent her 73’s, Jeff faded into the noise.

All three local stations ABC6, NBC10, and CBS12 had news coverage during their early 5-6PM shows.  They probably will have additional coverage at 11 PM.  In addition the live streaming is still up and will be for a few days.  I’ve been told that you need to move to the 3 hours 28 minutes 40 second mark before the actual event begins (the earlier hours were streaming a stationary antenna and some background noise – good thing internet isn’t billed by the minute).  The questions begin at 4h 13m 50s

http://livestream.com/accounts/9685187/events/5301163

Many thanks to all the NCRC members that helped:  Chuck, N1CKT, Paul, N1PSX, Willy, W1LY, Paul K1YBE, Jim, KA1ZOU, Mike, KA1IOO, Brian, KC1EQB, Charles, K1ECU, Rob, KB1ZZU, Jeff, KA1NGP, Bob, WB4SON, and of course Mike Cullen, K1NPT, who put the entire event together.

Be sure to pick up a copy of The Newport Daily News which has a story on the front page!

Link to the online story: http://www.newportri.com/newportdailynews/news/page_one/one-giant-step/article_8316e623-adb5-526b-8ed1-6c568f6b9be3.html

With less than 24 hours to go for our live on-air contact between the students of All Saints Academy and Astronaut Jeff Williams aboard the International Space Station, we are happy to report that our final practice session was glitch free.  Both primary and secondary stations were verified as well as the event sound gear.  The students had another walkthrough practicing their questions.  In fact, things went so smoothly that we had keyboard QSOs with two hams during our second pass:  K8OE and WB3CSY.

Rick, WB3CSY posted this to the AMSAT Bulletin Board this afternoon:

RICK WALTER <WB3CSY@xxxxx.com> 3:00 PM (1 hour ago)
to amsat-bb

Just made a packet contact via the ISS with N1ASA on the last pass. This is
the student station that will be making contact with the astronaut on board
the ISS tomorrow.

*N1ASA>CQ,RS0ISS*,FN41IM,+/ [05/05/16  17:38:15] <UI C>:*

*N1ASA>CQ,RS0ISS*,FN41IM,+/ [05/05/16  17:39:59] <UI C>:**All Saints
Academy*

*WB3CSY-11>CQ,RS0ISS* [05/05/16  17:40:29] <UI R>:**N1ASA DE WB3CSY-11*

*N1ASA>CQ,RS0ISS*,FN41IM,+/ [05/05/16  17:40:38] <UI C>:**WB3CSY Hello*

*WB3CSY-11>CQ,RS0ISS* [05/05/16  17:41:03] <UI R>:**N1ASA DE WB3CSY-11
HELLO QSL?*

*N1ASA>CQ,RS0ISS*,FN41IM,+/ [05/05/16  17:41:12] <UI C>:**QSL WB3CSY*

*WB3CSY-11>CQ,RS0ISS* [05/05/16  17:42:21] <UI R>:**N1ASA DE WB3CSY-11 TU
73*

73,

Rick WB3CSY

Jim, KA1ZOU, spoke with host Will Gilbert of Channel 12’s Rhode Show about the upcoming Space Chat with the International Space Station this Friday May 6th.

You can watch the interview here:  http://wpri.com/2016/05/03/newport-radio-club-space-talk/

Remember, you can listen to the event live beginning at 11:45:
livestream.com/accounts/9685187/events/5301163

Free Tickets to attend the event in person are available at:
https://spacechat2016.eventbrite.com