Shannon Walker, KD5DXB

Astronaut training status

JAXA astronaut Satoshi Furukawa, KE5DAW
received Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) basic operations training as well as an ARISS program overview on January 13.

Furukawa is training as an Expedition 28 crew member which is planned to launch in May 2011.

Two Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) simulated contacts are planned with astronauts Doug Wheelock, KF5BOC and Shannon Walker, KD5DXB on Thursday, January 21.

Wheelock and Walker will answer questions posed by students at the Manhattan Challenger Learning Center, New York, New York and the Challenger Learning Center of Alaska, Kenai, Alaska, respectively.

Both astronauts are slated to fly with Expedition 24 in May 2010.

Amsat