Ham radio makes contact in space

REGINA - Space: The final frontier of man -- and ham.

Murray Crandon was one of several ham radio operators around the country who took their hobby to new heights last week, by making contact with the International Space Station as it passed over Canada. Mr. Crandon, known on the air as "VE5MC," was at home in Moose Jaw, Sask., when he was able to speak with space tourist Richard Garriott on board the space station.

It was quite a thrill. It's not something that the average person can do and it's really wonderful that amateur radio gives us this ability," said Mr. Crandon, a longtime ham radio buff.

Before the space call, Mr. Crandon said his biggest accomplishment had been a contact with a man in Iraq -- a feat Mr. Crandon pulled off with a modest wire antenna he made himself for about $10.

"You'd like to say it was all skill, but really there was an awful lot of luck involved a lot of times for me," he said.

Aided by a computer program that shows where the space station is in orbit, Mr. Crandon was able to time and refine his attempts at radio contact. Finally, he heard the transmission he had been waiting for: NA1SS, the call sign of the International Space Station.

Source: http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=743343a6-359a-4908-a17c-36599121b096