ISSCOM.049  11 August 2005

On 11.08.05 during the pass of ISS within range of the Netherlands during orbit ISS 38436 between 0833 and 0843UTC Krikalyov established a test communication session with the Russian tracking ship Kosmonavt Viktor Patsayev.   Krikalyov reported that the signals were excellent  and without any interference.

Kri asked the radio operator on board the KVP the position of the ship. Regretfully it was not possible to hear the answer, but possibly the ship was in or near Kaliningrad. Kri asked the operator whether he had communications with TsUP-Moscow (MCC-Moscow). The answer was negative.  Kri also did not have contact with TsUP-M at this moment.  The ISS just flew over former Yugoslavia. Kri stated that in a few minutes the ISS would make contact with TsUP-M via the American segment.

(Recently there were messages about the eventual use of a Russian tracking ship for the operations during and after the launch of the European ATV Jules Verne from Kourou.  Though not yet confirmed: there has been word of agreements between ESA and RKA. )

Other communication news:

1. During the mission  of STS-114  only a few contacts could be monitored  within the range of the Netherlands via the Russian channels with TsUP-M .

2.    On 15, 20 and 23 July and on 1 and 2 August 2005 radio amateurs used the ISS transponder via the 145.800 mc.

3.    During and after the redocking of Soyuz-TMA6 on 19 July  2005 Krikalyov could be heard now and then via the 121.750 mc.  The operation got full attention of NASA TV with extensive radio communications between TsUP-M and Krikalyov.

Chris van den Berg, NL-9162/A-UK3202.