Richard Garriott, W5KWQ

Richard Garriott, W5KWQ,
wins 2009 Hamvention Special Achievement Award

Richard Garriott, W5KWQ, is a legendary video game programmer / designer and ham radio operator who was the sixth private citizen to fly to the International Space Station (ISS).

Like his father, Owen Garriott, W5LFL, who made history as the first ham to communicate from space with radio amateurs during the STS-9 Space Shuttle mission, Richard was a ham radio pathfinder in his own right through on-orbit experimentation, implementation of new capabilities, extensive operations using many diverse operations modes, and phenomenal educational outreach initiatives that inspired and transformed the lives of tens of thousands students, worldwide.

Garriott was the most prolific ham radio operator to fly on a short duration (<15 day) mission. During his 10 day stay on the ISS over 500 2-way voice QSOs were conducted, over a thousand SSTV images were down linked. He communicated
with tens of thousands of students in schools around the world. Garriott also had numerous random chats with scouts world-wide as part of the amateur radio Jamboree on the Air (JOTA).

Hamvention® Chairman Carl Rose, K8CPR, praised the winners, saying: “On behalf of the Dayton Amateur Radio Association and Hamvention® 2009 it is my pleasure to congratulate this year’s Award Winners. Their outstanding contributions and the many years of service exemplify what the amateur radio service is."

Richard will also be the keynote speaker at the AMSAT/TAPR Banquet during Hamvention 2009. The Banquet will be on Friday evening, 15 May 2009. There is limited seating for the banquet, and tickets may be purchased for $30 on-line at
the AMSAT store or by contacting Martha at the AMSAT office.

Richard will give a short presentation at the AMSAT Forum on Saturday morning, and visit the AMSAT & ARRL booths.

Source: Amsat, Dayton Amateur Radio Association