ISSCOM 30 March 2006 (053)

25 March 2006.

Orb. 41995, 0908-0917UTC.

Radio amateur traffic via 145.800 mc.

(Without any doubt I am sure that Bill McArthur is the most active space radio amateur I ever monitored! So he deserves some attention in this respect.)

PI4AZL with Bill McArthur. Bill confirms that it is very cloudy. Now we fly over Central Europe. He answers a question of Dick (PA0DFN) that they will return in 15 days after being in space for 175 days. He promises to establish a QSO during the next orbit.

Bill in contact with OZ9S. He tells that the amateur station will remain open until a short time before the docking of the Soyuz-TMA8. In that phase they will be asked not to use the station for the Soyuz uses the VHF (2 meter band) . But he promises to try to keep the station operational and open as long as possible. Hereafter some QSO-s: with among others HH9BQ, LA7LL and IZ7GEG.

Orb. 41996, 1043-1053UTC. ( automatic recording )

Via 145.800 mc a long comm. session of Bill with the Dutch Octopus School in Zwolle. The c/s of the school is PI4AZL and is now under control of Cor, PD0RKC.

This all took place during an open day of that school. Cor introduced the pupils of the school to Bill. The event was an enormous success.

Almost simultaneously Tokarev communicated with TsUP-Moscow on VHF-1 (143.625 mc.)

Tok answers questions about the way in which he and Bill get news from earth, among which photographs a.s.o. Tok says that they get all the necessary information , but with some delay. Most of the information they get comes from American sources, like CNN, electronic links, CBS and newspaper articles.

Orb. 41997, 1218-12228UTC.

Bill makes a lot of contacts via 145.800 mc, for instance with DG5AAG, IZ1EGT, OE6MWG and IK1NEC.

26 March 2006.

Orb. 42011 0932-0941UTC. 143.625 mc.

Tokarev tries to make contact with TsUP Moscow via VHF-1. There is a lot of interference and he does not succeed while in range of the Netherlands.

27 March 2006

Orb. . IRS 42026 0821-0831UTC. Tokarev and McArthur are on board of the Soyuz-TMA7 to check the systems of this ship.. They call on 121.750 mc.

Many times Tokarev calls TsUP Moscow using his service call sign Rassvet-1. McArthur also calls TsUP Moscow with Rassvet-2. Tokarev: If you hear me: I gave the command Chayka ON, but did not do this with RP (possibly Computer Control), because of the fact that we do not have contact with you. (Chayka is the steering control system of the Souyz).

29 March 2006

Orb. 42058, 0909-0919UTC. 143.625 mc.

Tokarev with TsUP Moscow. He reports that they checked something and fastened this in relation to the pressure. He promises that they will do something.

In his opinion these were 2 contradictory orders: to drink more water, but not fill up the bladders.

30 March 2006

LAUNCH OF THE SOYUZ-TMA8 WITH THE RELIEF CREW FOR THE ISS AND A BRASILIAN GUESTCOSMONAUT.

Commander Pavel Vinogradov, Board engineer Jeff Williams and the Brasalian guest cosmonaut Marcos Portes.

And just as we for many years experienced with Russian launches: a flawless start, exactly at the planned time!

Launch from Baykonur on 30 March 2006 at 02.30.18UTC.

Separation of the ship S-TMA8 at 02.39.06UTC.

Between 0532 and 0536UTC during orb. 2 the ship was in range of the Netherlands. Very strong telemetry signals via 166.133 mc.

Regretfully no voice via 121.750 mc.

During orb. 3 this was better: between 0703 and 0709UTC: again strong telemetry via 166.130 mc and voice communications of commander Vinogradov (call sign Karat) with TsUP Moscow.

Vin reports a good regime for stabilisation. 20 seconds until starting SKD, 5 meters, functioned well within the norms. SIRT (system for measurement fuel consumption) , 10 … 12 meters and then switched off.

Williams (wants to say something), the proceeding,,,,,,,

Vin: once more, of course the 1st correction was 27.7. Pressure of the nitrogen is 608 MM.

Vin: VDR normal , VRP Okay.

The spherical (balloon) tank. 2.197 Atmosphere.

755

Williams corrects Vinogradov 775.

Vin: sorry, 775. Vin: we switched on the ZU (memory recorder)

Vin: (in reaction on something Williams says). We will do that immediately.

Vin: We received that, we will execute this. Now the indicator gives 0.

During orb. 4 I had to use a time switch for automatic recording.

Between 0825 and 0845UTC voice comm.. between Vin and TsUP Moscow.

Vin: here Karat answer please.

Vin: We are feeling well. We cleaned up the BO (life compartment). There is a lot of luggage … also space suits .. To be honest: we had to make some room in the BO to reach our water.

Vin with Sergey. Yes, I got that.

Vin: Thanks Sergey, we are ready for that. Got it. 421.30

Chris van den Berg, NL-9165