Talking to Andy Thomas at Astrofest

[jjjnettie]

Hi everyone.
I'm not going to do a big report on Astrofest at this stage, the others may be able to give a more lucid report than I. ( I'm a little short on sleep at the moment)
By far one of the most exciting things that happened for all of us was when one of our fellow observers, Renato, got in radio contact with the ISS. :anaut: Andy Thomas chatted for a little bit, and wished us all well with our weekend. I'll upload the MP3 as soon as Renato sends it to me. At camp Duckadang, there is no mobile phone coverage, but at least we know we can get out a message via ISS. LOL :rofl:
Houghy took loads of pics, and well, a picture says a thousand words that I don't have to type.
The Counterweight Toss contest, male and female Champions, were both IceInSpace members.
Look, I had a ball. Everyone there was so very friendly, happy, and willing to have a chat. I didn't stop smiling the whole time.
I'll be back next year. :thumbsup:
Jeanette

[ballaratdragons]

Sounds like you had a great time Jeanette. Glad you enjoyed it.

Now get some sleep so you can tell us more when your brain is awake Lol!

Where you the female winner of the c/weight toss?

[astro_south]

Yes Jeanette....a picture does say a thousand words (see attached!)......sorry Jeanette but you left me no choice :D

when you see Jeanette's sleeping quarters you can see why she needs to catch up. (By the way - it did get down to -3 degrees C merely hours before this photo).

A thread will no doubt be started in the appropriate area for the full wrap up of the Queensland Astrofest with heaps of other pics, but I would like to add that the replaying of Renato talking with Andy Thomas at the Astrofest dinner was one of the highlights for me in a jam packed few days. :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[h0ughy]

the winning people :D

[h0ughy]

further to andrews picture

[ballaratdragons]

Houghy,

Mr. Muscles! Well done.

[h0ughy]

this man spoke to Dr Andy Thomas

[[1ponders]]

What a team of champions. Great photos h0ughy. I don't thing jjjnettie will forgive you for posting her first thing in the morning though h0ughy :lol:

[ving]

and the winner of the nagler toss is.....

[jjjnettie]

Paul,

Your Pondering Thinker man needs some purple flowers in his hat. Tee hee

[astro_south]

The MP3 where Renato chats with Andy Thomas is on the SAS website and the link is below:

www.sas.org.au/renato/ISS_qso_with_KD5CHF.mp3

[astro_south]

From Renato........



Below is a transcript of this conversation with Andy Thomas:


Space station on this frequency, over.


Space station this is VK4 Tango November Tango, do you copy?


Tango November Tango, go ahead this is Space Station, over.


Good morning Space Station, this is Tango November Tango from South-East Queensland. We are at Queensland Astrofest, it’s about 100 people here, and all amateur astronomers. I would like to find out is it possible to get a QSO scheduled for tomorrow, back to you.


Negative I am afraid, we are undocking from the Space Station tomorrow, and the Space Shuttle Discovery is leaving, and won’t be back for some time, so this is the last opportunity to talk, over.

Roger that, well thank you very much for the QSO, we will send you a QSL card from QLD Astrofest, very pleased that I was able to talk to you, and I hope you guys have a great flight, back to you.


Well, thank you very much, and we are right over the coast line of Queensland right now, as I can tell, and heading North-East towards daylight. Tell everyone there at your event that … please pass on my greetings, I wish everyone well and can’t talk again another time but … operate of a spacecraft call, over.


Yes, Thank you very much. I will pass on the greetings and look forward to sending you the QSL card. Our location is 27 degrees South and 153 degrees East, this is Victor Kilo 4 Tango November Tango, back to you Space Station.


Copy that, Tango November Tango. I’m gonna sign of from this contact if you don’t mind, cause I might be able to get one other before we cross over the horizon. So, thank you for talking and good luck with everything, Space Station clear.

Roger that Space Station, thank you very much for the QSL and have a good flight. This is VK4TNT clear.


And KD5CHF aboard International Space Station on this frequency, over.




Glossary:


QSO ….. radio contact


QSL….. reception of radio transmission


KD5CHF….. amateur radio call sign of astronaut Andy Thomas

VK4TNT …. my amateur radio call sign (Renato Langersek)

[seeker372011]

mega cool:)

[iceman]

That's awesome..

[cometcatcher]

Congratulations Renato. I'm sure that contact will bring pleasant memories for many years to come.

[h0ughy]

aparently Renato appeared on today tonight as well last night. Well done

[jjjnettie]

I wonder if he made an .avi of his TV interview?

[h0ughy]

he will beam it to us from the bonnett of the Magna :rofl: :rofl: :D :poke: He's a very cleaver guy! :thumbsup:

[jjjnettie]

Houghy,
Where did you put your trophy? Mine is sitting behind the PC on the bookcase.
I had to glue her stump back into the prosthetic foot. LOL I might make her a wee pair of trousers as well, I don't wear dresses, why should she?

[ebm]

Hello everyone. Boy that sure is cool! Congrats to Renato!

Anyhow I thought I better let you all know that I've used this story on the space dot com message board, where we have been following the STS-114 mission very closely. Heres the link to my post

http://uplink.space.com/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=missions&Number=306985

Cheers EBM :thumbsup:

[cyclone]

Hello all,
my first post :)
I'm near Cairns and i recorded that contact on my scanner, you can listen to it on my website.
let me know what you think