The Philip B. Petersen Collection Broadcast May 10, 1989

     How would you like to communicate with astronauts aboard the shuttle spacecraft?  Well, hundreds of radio amateurs around the world have already done so.  Yes, radio amateurs are very much employed in the space programs, working as scientists, engineers, technicians, managers and, of course, as astronauts.  At least three of the astronauts are also radio amateurs.
     On the 28th of November, 1983, when the space shuttle Columbia was launched into orbit with astronaut Owen Garriot, W5LFL, a special amateur radio experiment was about to take place.  This time, Owen took his amateur radio set with him to be used in a radio communications experiment.  He already had made some minor design changes to adapt his radio set as a completely independent communications system from the shuttle communications.  NASA officials were interested in this amateur radio experiment for several reasons.  It could be used as a possible emergency communications link to thousands of radio amateurs around the world, have a direct person-to-person communication with school students and others to motivate interest in science and technology, and to provide communications with others during off-duty times.  It proved to be very successful and was given the acronym SAREX for Space Amateur Radio Experiment.
     While orbiting the earth at 17,000 miles per hour, Owen Garriot, W5LFL made his first amateur radio contact with Lance Collister, WA1JXN, of Frenchtown, Montana.  It was followed by hundreds more, including such notable radio amateurs as Senator Barry Goldwater, K7UGA and King Hussein of Jordan whose call letters are JY1.  The success of this experiment led to another when on the 29th of July, 1985, radio amateur astronaut Tony England, WØORE made a more elaborate amateur radio experiment using two-way amateur radio television aboard the space shuttle Challenger on a six-day mission.  Yes, I am sorry to say that this is the same Challenger that exploded six months later on the 28th of January, 1986 shortly after liftoff killing seven courageous Americans.  Tony, WØORE, was very successful with the two-way amateur radio television system.  Many teachers in the schools who are also radio amateurs took part in the experiment too and had set up their amateur radio TV transmitters so the students could take part in the action.  Oh yes, some of us have our own TV stations.  Carole Perry, WB2MGP, a school teacher in the Staten Island, New York Intermediate School has used amateur radio in the school to motivate the students with great success in many areas of the school's curricula.  She arranged a special demonstration using amateur radio TV in the school auditorium where hundreds of students and others could be a special part of this experiment with astronaut radio amateur Tony England, WØORE.  Similar special TV events were held with many other schools and individuals.  The effect of this live two-way amateur radio TV experiment has had a great impact in opening up many new horizons in learning for all of us.

May 10, 1989

** Broadcasts recordings preserved and presented here by Mr. Robert Buss and Mr. Bernie Ricciardi, Phil's friends and fellow Marconi Chapter 138 QCWA members **

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