Suitsat Readies for Operation

One of the strangest satellites in the history of the space age is about to go into orbit. Launch date: Feb. 3rd. That's when astronauts onboard the International Space Station (ISS) will hurl an empty spacesuit overboard.

SuitSat can be heard by anyone on the ground. "All you need is an antenna (the bigger the better) and a radio receiver that you can tune to 145.990 MHz FM," says Bauer. "A police band scanner or a hand-talkie ham radio would work just fine." He encourages students, scouts, teachers and ham radio operators to tune in.

"Those that hear SuitSat should send their signal reports with a large (9x12 inch) self-addressed stamped envelope to one of the addresses listed below:"

* USA: ARRL Headquarters SuitSat QSL 225 Main Street Newington, CT 06111-1494 USA
* Canada: Radio Amateurs of Canada SuitSat QSL 720 Belfast Road, Suite 217 Ottawa Ontario K1G 0Z5
* Europe: F1MOJ - Mr CANDEBAT Christophe SuitSat Europe QSL Manager 7 Rue Roger Bernard 30470 AIMARGUES FRANCE
* Japan: SuitSat Japan QSL JARL International Section Tokyo 170-8073 JAPAN
* Russia: Alexander Davydov, RN3DK Novo - Mytishchinsky prospekt 52 - 111 Mytishchi 18, Moskovskaya obl. 141018, RUSSIA
* Other countries, please use the US or Canadian address above.

"Students will get a certificate commemorating their reception. Those that receive the picture or copy the special words will get a special endorsement on their certificate."