Shuttle Amateur Radio Experiment

The Shuttle Amateur Radio Experiment (SAREX), later called the Space Amateur Radio Experiment, was a program that promoted and supported the use of amateur ("ham") radio by astronauts in low earth orbit aboard the United States Space Shuttle to communicate with other amateur radio stations around the world. It was superseded by the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) program. SAREX was sponsored by NASA, AMSAT (The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation), and the ARRL (American Radio Relay League).[1]

History

Shortly after the launch of STS-9, On November 28, 1983 Owen Garriott (W5LFL) became the first amateur radio operator active in space. Garriott had already flown on Skylab 3, but did not operate radio equipment on that trip. On STS-9, he used a handheld 2-meter radio to talk to his mother, senator Barry Goldwater, King Hussein of Jordan (JY1), and many others. Garriott made approximately 300 calls and convinced NASA that amateur radio was useful to get students involved in space. Thus began the Space Amateur Radio Experiment, also known as SAREX.[2][3]

The second successful use of amateur radio in space was carried out by Anthony W. England (W0ORE) on Challenger flight STS-51F in 1985. He completed 130 contacts and sent 10 images via slow-scan television. In 1991, STS-37 became the first voyage to space on which the entire crew were licensed amateur radio operators.[4]

After these flights, amateur radios were often taken on the shuttles, as many as twenty-five before the program became known as ARISS. Licensed hams were able to participate during their free time.[5]

Shuttles that Participated and Licensed Astronauts
MissionYearLicensed Astronauts
STS-91983Owen Garriott (W5LFL)
STS-51F1985Anthony W. England (WØORE)
STS-351990Ron Parise (WA4SIR)
STS-371991Kenneth D. Cameron (KB5AWP), Steven Nagel (N5RAW), Linda Godwin (N5RAX), Jay Apt (N5QWL), Jerry L. Ross (formerly KB5OHL)
STS-451992Dave Leestma (N5WQC), Kathy Sullivan (N5YVV), Brian Duffy (N5WQW), Dirk Frimout (ON1AFD)
STS-471992Jay Apt (N5QWL), Mamoru Mohri (7L2NJY)
STS-501992Unknown
STS-551993Jerry L. Ross (N5SCW)
STS-561993Kenneth D. Cameron (KB5AWP), Mike Foale (KB5UAC), Ellen Ochoa (KB5TZZ), Kenneth Cockrell (KB5UAH)
STS-571993Brian Duffy (N5WQW), Janice Voss (KC5BTK)
STS-581993Richard Searfoss (KC5CKM), William S. McArthur, Jr. (KC5ACR), Martin J. Fettman (KC5AXA)
STS-591994Linda Godwin (N5RAX), Jay Apt (N4QWL)
STS-601994Charles Bolden (formerly KE4IQB), Ronald Sega (KC5ETH), Sergei Krikalev (U5MIR)
STS-641994Richard N. Richards (KB5SIW), Blaine Hammond, Jr. (KC5HBS), Jerry Linenger (KC5HBR)
STS-651994Donald A. Thomas (KC5FVF), Robert D. Cabana (KC5HBV)
STS-671995Stephen S. Oswald (KB5YSR), William G. Gregory (KC5MGA), Tamara E. Jernigan (KC5MGF), Wendy B. Lawrence (KC5KII), Samuel T. Durrance (N3TQA)
STS-701995Donald A. Thomas (KC5FVF)
STS-711995Richard Searfoss (KC5CKM), Linda Godwin (N5RAX), Ronald Sega (KC4ETH), Shannon Lucid (R0MIR)
STS-741995Kenneth D. Cameron (KB5AWP), Jerry L. Ross (N5SCW), William S. McArthur (KC5ACR), Chris Hadfield (VA3OOG), James Halsell (KC5RNI)
STS-761996Richard Searfoss (KC5CKM), Linda Godwin (N5RAX), Ronald Sega (KC5ETH), Shannon Lucid (R0MIR)
STS-781996Charles Brady (N4BQW), Susan Helms (KC7NHZ)
STS-791996Jay Apt (N5QWL), John Blaha (KC5TZQ), Carl Walz (KC5TIE)
STS-831997James Halsell (KC5RNI), Janice Voss (KC5BTK), Donald A. Thomas (KC5FVF)
STS-941998James Halsell (KC5RNI), Janice Voss (KC5BTK), Donald A. Thomas (KC5FVF)
STS-931999Eileen Collins (KD5EDS), Cady Coleman (KC5ZTH), Michel Tognini (KD5EJZ)

Educational uses

Most amateur radio operators used SAREX to speak with licensed astronauts during their down times. SAREX, however, has been very educational for young students from kindergarten to fifth grade involved in a program similar to young astronauts, in which elementary school children learn about astronauts' daily activities and what it is like in space. Students also have had the opportunity to communicate via video when the shuttles have had suitable equipment. Teachers have found out about how to link their classes with the SAREX program through the Amateur Radio in Space Guide distributed by NASA.[6]

Licensing

An amateur operator license is needed before operating an amateur station.[7] The license can be obtained from the U.S. Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) Amateur Radio Service.[8] No special SAREX license is required for operation, but certain regulations come into play for space communications.[9]

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gollark: Nonsense, it is COOL™ and for approximately the same area as this.
gollark: Well, "turing complete" isn't a high bar, I could integrate a BF interpreter.
gollark: I'll go look at WASM and RISC-V for inspiration.
gollark: I can't help but feel like that would cause problems.

References
  1. Kelley, Mark. "Radio in Space: In the Beginning There Was SAREX". DXCOFFEE.
  2. Kelley, Mark. "Radio in Space: In the Beginning There Was SAREX". DXCOFFEE.
  3. Netting, Ruth. "Ham Radios in Space". NASA. Retrieved 28 February 2012.
  4. "SAREX". Space Today Online. Retrieved 28 February 2012.
  5. Petty, John. "International Space Station Reference". NASA. Retrieved 28 February 2012.
  6. "Amateur Radio in Space-- A Teachers Guide with Activities in Science, Mathematics, and Technology" (PDF). NASA. Retrieved 2012-03-19.
  7. "SAREX Field Operations Guide, Draft Version 2.1a: Technical and Engineering Reference: FCC Rules and Regulations". January 28, 1999.
  8. "Amateur Radio Service: Licensing". Federal Communications Commission: Wireless Telecommunications Bureau. Retrieved 19 March 2012.
  9. "SAREX Field Operations Guide, Draft Version 2.1a: Technical and Engineering Reference: FCC Rules and Regulations". January 28, 1999.
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