[sarex] ARISS Equipment Status

["Frank H. Bauer" <ka3hdo@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

All,

The USA team just recently returned from Russia where we were supporting a 
series of meetings and tests at the Energia facility in Korolev (Moscow 
Area).  The USA team included Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, Mark Steiner, K3MS, Lou 
McFadin, W5DID, Miles Mann, WF1F, Carolynn Conley, KD5JSO and Dave Taylor, 
W8AAS.  The entire activity at Energia was led by ISS Ham Russian Segment 
manager Sergej Samburov, RV3DR.

We had a great set of meetings and tests.  We signed several protocols 
(agreements) that documented our test results and provided some context for 
the future.

The primary reason for the US team visit was to complete the testing of the 
Phase 1 (Ericsson 2 m and 70 cm radios) and the Phase 2 Kenwood D700 radio 
system with a set of flight identical ARISS antenna systems.  Successful 
completion of a series of end-to-end tests was a requirement by the Russian 
team to clear these radio systems for use in the Service Module with our 
ARISS antennas.  The tests were performed in the KIS facility at Energia 
which is their high-bay that houses all their flight equipment.  Inside the 
KIS is a flight equivalent Service Module.  Our antennas were installed on 
the outside of the service module and tests were performed inside the 
Service Module with our flight-equivalent radio systems using the flight 
equivalent feedlines and, as stated before, flight equivalent ARISS 
antennas.  We also planned to perform a series of tests on the SSTV system 
including tests in the KIS/Service Module with the Ericsson and Kenwood 
radios and then separate tests in Sergej Samburov's radio station R3K.

We successfully completed the end-to-end testing of the Kenwood and 
Ericsson radio systems on 2 meters and 70 cm as well as successfully 
completed the necessary SSTV system tests.  The ISS Ham radio team signed 
the certification paperwork and the certification documentation is 
currently winding its way through the signature process at Energia.  Once 
signed by the Energia leadership, the Kenwood radio system and the Ericsson 
(SAREX) radio systems will be cleared for use in the Service Module with 
the new ARISS antennas.  It is our hope that this will be completed by 
December 8, maybe sooner.

My sincere thanks to Sergej Samburov, RV3DR and his team for his 
outstanding hospitality and hard work.  We had a very memorable time in 
Russia.

Frank Bauer, KA3HDO
ARISS International Chairman

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