LIVE CONTACT WITH THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION FROM MALTA [Stella Maris College - Gzira]
Channel: Trevor Sammut
Date: 2023-02-15

About the International Space Station (ISS – OR4ISS)

The International Space Station is a large spacecraft in orbit around Earth. It serves as a home where crews of astronauts and cosmonauts live. The space station is also a unique science laboratory. Several nations worked together to build and use the space station. The space station is made of parts that were assembled in space by astronauts. It orbits Earth at an average altitude of approximately 250 miles (402.33KM). It travels at 17,500 mph (28163.52 KM/Hr). This means it orbits Earth every 90 minutes. NASA is using the space station to learn more about living and working in space. These lessons will make it possible to send humans farther into space than ever before.

The Malta Amateur Radio League (MARL - 9H1MRL) , established in 1922, has its premises in Mdina Road Attard. 

MARL is a certified voluntary organisation VO/0797 and represents the local licenced radio amateurs community with MCA locally and with the International Amateur Radio Union worldwide. MARL offers free tuition for interested parties in electronics, science, technology, physics and math and prepares them to obtain the HAREC certification which is recognised locally by MCA and globally by the respective authorities. Voluntary services are also offered to the Civil Protection Department, Scouts and other registered NGOs who require radio services or support. Premises are open on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays for social gatherings and other ongoing activities.

MARL also offered and executed extra-curricular lectures in RF (radio frequency) to the Department of Electronics Engineering at the University of Malta when required covering topics ranging from RF interference, antennas, associated math and electronic circuitry and design.

With the above in mind, five key members of the club (referring to themselves as the TEAM ARISS MALTA) are currently intensely working and are heavily invested in establishing live-contact via radio with astronauts onboard the International Space Station and make this available to the school willing to host such an event. This is a very technically challenging and ambitious undertaking. The established plan is to hold the event under strict ARISS / NASA & ESA regulations at Stella Maris College, Gzira. The orbits of the International Space Station and the astronaut schedules determine when the contact will happen. 

About the Astronaut:
Josh A. Cassada was selected by NASA in 2013.  He grew up in White Bear Lake, Minnesota and is a physicist and US Navy test pilot.  Prior to becoming a naval aviator, Cassada earned his Physics B.A. at Albion College and his Ph. D. at the University of Rochester, conducting experimental high energy physics research at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory.  After two operational deployments in the P-3C, including 23 combat missions, Cassada was a P-3C and P-8A test pilot, as well as an instructor at the US Naval Test Pilot School.  Cassada has accumulated more than 4,000 flight hours in over 45 different aircraft. 

Cassada launched to the International Space Station as pilot of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-5 mission aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft on October 5, 2022.

Do you want to support similar events? Contact club secretary at ivan.privitera@gmail.com or ARISS TEAM MT directly at emmgrech5@gmail.com

Any music played during the live stream is by Scott Buckley and released under creative commons. Support this fantastic music artist at www.scottbuckley.com.au

TEAM ARISS MT - Music Soundtracks are freely available for listening pleasure at http://bit.ly/3jVJQe1  (C) Scott Buckley www.scottbuckley.com.au released under CC-BY license. [Creative Commons License]

ARISS TEAM MALTA consists of:

9H1M Dominic Azzopardi - RF and Systems Engineering, Operations and ARISS coordinator.
9H1GW Emmanuel Grech - RF Transmissions, Antennas, Educational Presentations
9H5TS Trevor Sammut - Redundant RF Setup, Live Streams, I.T Logistics
9H2AV - Andrew Vella Antenna Setups and Support, Live Event moderation
9H2AS - Anthony Scicluna - Logistics and Support.
SWL Kyle Bugeja - IT Support, IT Networks and technical configurations.
SWL Neville Azzopardi - Cameraman, video recording
SWL Richard Galea - Professional Camera setup and Event recording
SWL Nirvana Grima - Photography 



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