ISS contact confirmed by NASA for Friday 10/18 with Astronaut Sunita Williams KD5PLB KD5MDT

Here are the details for the upcoming ISS Contact by Zeke, KJ7NLL

Hello everyone,

We just received confirmation from NASA’s ARISS program!

The ISS crewmember will be Sunita Williams KD5PLB, KD5MDT.
The event will take place on Friday, October 18, 2024, at 11:30:14 AM PDT.

The purpose of this email is to introduce everyone who may have been working on different parts of the project independently. In just over a week the event will begin, so I want to connect everyone. If you’re included in this email, you play an important role in the International Space Station contact, so please read through the entire message.

This event is open to the public! Feel free to invite family and friends and post the event on social media. Steve Brown is working on a press release and social media details to follow so that you can post them.

Day-of:

We are planning to arrive at 7:00 AM to set up. Anyone who would like to help set up on-site is encouraged to join us:
- Please confirm if you able to arrive at 7am.
  - If you need to arrive after that time, then let us know when you anticipate arriving.
  - If you are unable to attend in person then let us know that as well.
- We will need someone to open the observatory door since we will arrive before the museum opens.
Assistance is needed to help move the equipment from the observatory to the future observatory site for antenna placement. The hill is steep, and the ground is uneven.
- Please wear sturdy close-toed shoes. Hiking boots, or rain boots are recommended.
Bring a camping chair to sit at the event.
Students will arrive about two hours before the event to run through preparations and get started.
See below for a detailed tentative onsite schedule.

Quick introduction of everyone on this email thread:

Carlton Observatory where the event will take place:
- Janet Zuelke, founder
- Roger Pence, observatory volunteer
Kori Dunn, director of TEACH-NW, the school from which students will ask questions
Lara Triback, project coordinator admin (and Zeke’s mom)
Oregon Tualatin Valley Amateur Radio Club (OTVARC) members:
- Steve Bils, K3SHB, vice president
- Casey Baldwin, WC7L, club trustee; website/media director
- Terrill Jarvis, K7TLJ, club trustee; will provide internet connectivity for streaming
- Zeke Wheeler, KJ7NLL, satcom contact and young innovator
- Eric Wheeler, KJ7LNW, ISS contact technical coordinator for OTVARC
ARISS Volunteers:
- Phil Shreves, N7GZT, technical mentor
- Dan Vasen, education and non-technical mentor

Technical details from ARISS:

TEACH-NW Charter School, Springfield, OR, direct via KJ7NLL
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS
The downlink frequency is presently scheduled to be 145.800 MHz Primary Frequency
The scheduled crewmember is Sunita Williams KD5PLB KD5MDT
Contact is go for: Fri 2024-10-18 18:30:14 UTC 57 deg

Location directions:

Carlton Observatory at the Evergreen Air & Space Museum
500 NE Captain Michael King Smith Way, McMinnville, OR 97128
Directions to ARISS site once you arrive at the museum:
- Right on cumulus ave
- Follow signs to museum and go across speed bumps
- Take a right towards the theater signs
- take a hard right onto Gravel road
- Drive to the end of Gravel road and park on the right side.
Kori will be available to help anyone who needs assistance in finding us. (541)-972-1548

Preliminary schedule (suggestions are welcome):

7:00 – 8:00: Physical Deployment of Antennas

Set up antennas at the site
Ensure proper placement and alignment of equipment
Verify all connections are secure and stable
8:00 – 9:00: Antenna/Transceiver Checks

Primary Antenna/Transceiver:
- Update TLEs
- Verify:
  - Azimuth/elevation tracking
  - Doppler configuration (pre-programmed)
  - TX/RX split on transmit
  - LNA bias tee functionality
  - Antenna functionality and low VSWR at power
8:40 – Secondary Antenna/Transceiver:
- Repeat verification steps (exclude TLE and AZ/EL tests)
9:00 – 10:00: Audio/Video Checks

Sound Check:
- Verify transceiver line-input levels using hand held radios and test frequencies
9:15 – Internet and Streaming Tests:
- Test YouTube channel: @KJ7NLL
- Test OBS streaming platform
- Verify persistent storage for saved video streams
9:30 – 10:00: Media Arrival

Coordinate media-specific needs (e.g., power, seating)
Deploy “Recording in Progress” signs
10:00 – 10:15: Student Preparation

Students receive question printouts
Practice reading questions aloud to build confidence
10:15 – 10:40: Open to Public

Check-in and distribute nametags
Hand out surveys (to be returned post-event)

10:50 – 10:55: Student Lineup:
- Line up students in question order at the podium
10:55 – Streaming Begins – Start live stream for remote users
- 11:00 – Emcee Introduction:
  - Audience Announcements:
    - Share live-stream link on social media and with friends/family
    - Encourage audience to record and share the event
  - Informational Logistics:
    - Explain AOS/LOS process, ISS pass, rise/set, and elevation
    - Display ISS path on the monitor and point out countdown to AOS
- 11:20 – Pre-AOS Preparation:
  - Bring first student to podium
  - 11:27 – Initial Signal Test:
    - Call ISS for signal test and greet astronaut
- 11:30 – AOS:
  - Greet astronaut, thank them for joining
  - Students ask questions, managed by timing between each question
- 11:39 – Prepare for LOS:
  - One minute before loss of signal, wrap up with astronaut and thank them
- 11:40 – Emcee Closing:
  - Thank sponsors and support personnel
  - Remind participants to submit surveys
11:40 – 12:30: Post-Contact Networking & Engagement

Invite OTVARC radio club rep to podium:
- Discuss ham radio opportunities
- Offer students the chance to use radios and communicate with ground stations
- Demonstrate azimuth/elevation rotor use
Encourage networking among parents, students, and STEM groups
12:00: End Live Streaming
12:00 – 12:30: Socializing and Student Engagement
12:30 – Event Close
Collect surveys from departing students and parents
13:00 – Shutdown and Cleanup

Disassemble and pack antenna/radio equipment
Final site cleanup and breakdown