Applause and accolades to the ARISSat-1 Team, for the tremendous amount of fun, excitement, opportunities and activity that ARISSat-1 provided!
I got hooked at launch, listening/watching on the internet even as I was also on HF that day conducting an exercise with the local and state R.A.C.E.S. teams and the local nuclear power plant during the launch. I started tracking and gathering telemetry a few days later and dedicated a PC and my sat station to automated telemetry gathering 24/7. I split off the 2M signal to my FT-817 and captured hundreds of amazing SSTV pictures. I enjoyed watching the telemetry decoding program on my PC showing the live readings. I followed especially in the last days, on the arissattlm.org web site. Much of this excitement I shared with my local ham radio groups in meetings and on the air, with local children and non-hams, and even in Colombia over Christmas I engaged some of the family with listening for the "secret word" in Spanish. A few attempts were made when I had time, to make contacts through the transponder. I heard myself and others, and had a part of a QSO... but never got that complete QSO. I became so engaged with the telemetry that near the end, I wrestled with the decision to try a transponder contact or to keep copying telemetry in hopes of the "last telemetry" award! Thank you very much, all who made ARISSat-1 possible. Your work was very fruitful indeed. I look forward to the Fox family and hope that we can keep up the enthusiasm and support necessary to stay on the air in space! 73, Jerry N0JY _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
