
Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) reports that its first Interoperable Radio System (IORS) flight unit — serial number 1001 — has been delivered to NASA’s Johnson Space Center for launch in early March. The IORS represents the first major upgrade in ARISS equipment on the International Space Station since Amateur Radio gained a permanent presence onboard the ISS in 2000. In December, ARISS received approval from NASA Safety to launch the IORS on SpaceX CRS-20 and stow the radio system on the ISS for future installation.
“The IORS is a foundational element of the ARISS next-generation radio system and is an incredible engineering achievement by the ARISS hardware team,” ARISS International President Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, said. “This first element delivery will support easier radio mode transitions and enable new, exciting capabilities for hams, students, and the general public.”
The new system includes a higher-power radio, an enhanced voice repeater, and updated digital packet radio (APRS) and slow-scan television (SSTV) capabilities for both the US and Russian space station segments. The IORS consists of a custom-modified JVCKenwood TM-D710GA transceiver, an AMSAT-developed multi-voltage power supply, and interconnecting cables. The IORS set to launch in March will be installed in the ISS Columbus module.
Bauer said a second flight unit is expected to be launched sometime later this year for installation in the Russian Service module. The ARISS hardware team will assemble four flight units — and 10 IORS units in all — to support onboard flight operations, training, operations planning, and hardware testing.
“Future upgrades and enhancements to the next generation system are in various stages of design and development,” Bauer said. “These include a repaired Ham Video system — currently planned for launch in mid-to-late 2020, L-band (uplink) repeater, ground command operations capability, LimeSDR signal reception, a microwave ‘Ham Communicator,’ and Lunar Gateway prototype experiment.”
Bauer said a lot of “heavy lifting” remains to prepare the IORS for operation on the space station. “ARISS has 92 engineering requirements and our operations Phase III safety review to complete,” he explained. “The space agencies take a position of ‘trust, but verify.’ Thus, these engineering and safety ‘verifications’ all need to be closed out before the IORS can be unstowed and turned on. This will be the ARISS hardware team’s focus over the next few months.”
Bauer reminded that ARISS is almost entirely run by volunteers and encouraged donations for next-generation hardware developments, operations, education, and administrative functions.
Source:ARRL
Recent Posts
ARISS Next-Generation Radio System Ready for Launch
Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) reports that its first Interoperable Radio System (IORS) flight unit — serial number 1001 — h… Read more
Radio Receiver Sensitivity
The sensitivity of a radio receiver is a key operational parameter and it is limited by the system noise. The sensitivity of a radio receiver determin… Read more
First KX3 with PX3
“I’m trying out the first KX3 with PX3 retrofit. It is big, but it looks really nice and sounds amazing! Cost for parts, labor and US ship… Read more
VR-N7500 Mobile Radio Approved by CE-RED & FCC Certification
Vero VR N7500 Tech Specs UHF 40W,VHF 50W 136-174&400-470Mhz Multiple Bluetooth connections Full-featured APP settings Global Walkie Talkie With No… Read more
432 MHz world tropo record extended even further to 4,644 kms
” On Saturday the 28th of December 2019, Ian GM3SEK in the south-west of Scotland managed to work D41CV on 432 MHz to set a new world record fo… Read more
Australian Bushfires Causing Major Telecommunication Outages, Hams Asked to Remain Alert
Wireless Institute of Australia (WIA) President Greg Kelly, VK2GPK, says the bushfires in Australia have caused or are expected to cause significant d… Read more
New 60 MHz Beacon Now on the Air from Ireland
The first — and so far only — beacon on 60 MHz went on the air on December 16. The call sign is EI1KNH. In early 2018, the 60 MHz (5-meter) band was a… Read more
Radio Amateurs of Canada Announces a New Section
The number of Sections needed for a clean sweep in the ARRL November Sweepstakes (SS) will rise to 84 in 2020, with the addition of a new Prince Edwar… Read more
Ring In the New Year with Straight Key Night!
It’s time to break out (and/or dust off) the brass and set some time aside on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day to take part in Straight Key Night (S… Read more
Texas Scout Leaders Promote Amateur Radio as a Communication Resource
In 2017, Category 4 Hurricane Harvey left the region of Texas where Assistant Scoutmaster Scott deMasi, KC5NKW, lived under water. With roads flooded,… Read more
New 70-Centimeter Tropo Contact Record Claimed
Tropospheric propagation is being credited with enabling a 70-centimeter contact between the Cape Verde islands and Scotland that may be a new world r… Read more
Two Solar Cycle 25 Sunspots Appear
New Solar Cycle 25 is on the way, but just when the transition from Cycle 24 to Cycle 25 will take place is not entirely clear. On December 24, two ne… Read more
DK2OM receives IARU Diamond Award on retirement from his role as IARUMS coordinator
After many years’ involvement in monitoring intruders on the amateur bands, Wolf Hadel, DK2OM, has decided to retire at the end of 2019. Wolf has work… Read more
Retevis DMR Dual Band GPS radio RT72
Retevis RT72 Digital Dual band 4000 channels Two Way Radio ham radio amateur radio GPS Description & Feature: Broadband digital two way radio RT72… Read more
Kidsday 4 January 2020
Just in the beginning of 2020 it’s time for a new Kidsday. Kidsday is generally on the first Saturday in January and the third Saturday in June. This… Read more
ANS-363 AMSAT News Service Bulletins for December 29
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-363 The AMSAT News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and information service of AMSAT, The Radio Amateur Satellite Corp… Read more
D41CV works 70 CM at 4544 KM ( 2823 miles ) work GM3SEK
70 CM World record at 4544 KM working GM3SEK. Also worked EI3KD on 70CM SSB.#hamradio #hamr pic.twitter.com/XEIRBHUJym — D4C Contest Team (@D4C_team)… Read more
The post ARISS Next-Generation Radio System Ready for Launch appeared first on QRZ NOW – Ham Radio News.