Amateur Radio contact with NA1SS - International Space Station

Here's a recording of an Amateur Radio contact I made with Col. Doug Wheelock aboard the International Space Station 11-11-2010 1348hrs.
I'm using a Kenwood D-710 / AvmapG5 setup with just the 2m vertical in my car on 145.800MHz up/down. It's also fun to send APRS messages to other Amateur operators on the ground via the ISS on 145.825MHz up/down when the voice frequency is not active.
Had to turn it into a video to upload to Facebook and YouTube so I found a few good space pics to enjoy while you listen.
This was my 3rd contact with the Col.
It's not every day when you can tell friends and family you were able to speak to an astronaut on the space station.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• ISS
• NA1SS
• KC9JGE
• Amateur Radio
• Col. Doug Wheelock

[msuetti]

Thanks.

I was using .490 then I heard someone using .800 and got through so I switched and used that frequency for several contacts over a few weeks.

Don't quote me on this but I think if .490 is busy with pileups or unusable he would switch to .800 simplex.

[psmanici4]

Just an incredible thought that a difference of only 1.8% in our DNA has diverged us so far from our chimp cousins that while they swing from the trees, we are able to maintain conversations across the lifeless emptiness of space.

[surefirefan]

Very nice!! I am hoping to make a contact with ISS one day. Also I thought you are not supposed to transmit on 145.800(and use 144.490 instead)? 73 ke5rrh