ISS Amateur Radio Project Engineer Kenneth Ransom, N5VHO reports the
ARISS digipeater has changed frequency from 145.825 MHz (up/down) to
437.550 MHz (up/down). The same digi alias ARISS is still used.
This change was started with the docking of the ESA Automated Trans-
fer Vehicle (ATV). The ATV is an expendable, unmanned resupply space-
craft delivering propellant, water, air, payloads and experimental
supplies to the International Space Station (ISS).
Packet operations were moved to the Columbus Module UHF radio when
the Kenwood D700 radio was recently powered off due to needing an
additional air purifier to support the ATV. Normally the air puri-
fier is located in the ATV but recent power support issues related
to the ATV and ISS necessitated the system be relocated to the Ser-
vice Module. The purifier is now using the power outlet that the
Kenwood radio normally uses. The Russian team has agreed to briefly
power the purifier off for the scheduled ARISS school events but then
will re-activate the purifier right afterwards. This appears to be a
long term impact as ATV is currently scheduled to depart from ISS in
September.
[ANS thanks Kenneth Ransom, N5VHO for the above information]
