|
|
|
|
 |
| International Space Station Expedition 12 Commander
Bill McArthur, KC5ACR |
Bill McArthur, KC5ACR honoured
International Space Station Expedition 12 Commander Bill McArthur, KC5ACR,
has been honoured as the first astronaut to work all states from space
and for inspiring others through his ham radio activities from NA1SS.
McArthur, who returned to Earth in April, received an ARRL Worked All
States (WAS) plaque during a May 25 ceremony at Johnson Space Centre in
Houston. During his six-month duty tour, McArthur became the most active
radio amateur ever to serve aboard the ISS.
His track record from NA1SS is impressive: In addition to WAS, he handled
a record 37 Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) school
contacts, worked all continents, including Antarctica, on both VHF and
UHF--and racked up QSOs with some 130 DXCC entities.
"The Amateur Radio on the ISS program was developed to inspire
students--our next generation of explorers--through Amateur Radio communications
with the ISS crew," remarked ARISS International Chairman Frank Bauer,
KA3HDO, who
presented the WAS plaque to McArthur. "Using Amateur Radio, the Expedition
12 crew took the worldwide community of radio amateurs, the school students
and the general public to unprecedented heights."
The last QSL McArthur needed to confirm WAS--from Wyoming--arrived at
ARRL Headquarters not long before the end of his ISS duty tour. McArthur
also logged a phenomenal number of casual contacts with earthbound radio
amateurs--more than 1800 in all. Bauer noted that McArthur "was very
approachable" with students during the ARISS school contacts. "He
inspired them with his vision, quick wit and sense of humour."
Bauer said McArthur motivated hams and non-hams alike through his on-the-air
activity. He told of hearing from a teacher in Orlando who said one of
his students added Advanced Placement Physics to her course schedule after
participating in an ARISS school contact.
In another inspirational instance: When a prospective licensee learned
he could speak to the ISS via ham radio,
he studied and passed his Amateur Radio examination and made a contact
with McArthur at NA1SS in March, Bauer said.
"Throughout this expedition, Bill McArthur's enthusiasm for the ham
radio hobby kept bubbling to the surface," Bauer said, calling McArthur's
ham radio accomplishments from NA1SS "a testament of success."
"All who have been touched by your efforts will remember their special
ISS connection for the rest of their lives," Bauer concluded.
|
|
|
