09/26/2025
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is seeking volunteers
to passively track the 2026 Artemis II Orion spacecraft as the crewed mission
travels to the Moon and back to Earth[1].
The Artemis II test flight will send NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, KF5LKT;
Victor Glover, KI5BKC; and Christina Koch, along with Canadian Space Agency
(CSA) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, KF5LKU, on an approximately 10-day mission
around the Moon.
Targeted for no later than April 2026, the mission will rely on NASA's Near
Space Network and Deep Space Network for primary communications and tracking
support throughout its launch, orbit, and reentry. However, with a growing
focus on commercialization, NASA wants to further understand industry's
tracking capabilities.
This collaboration opportunity builds upon a previous request[2] released by
NASA's Space Communication and Navigation Program (SCaN ) during the Artemis I
mission in 2022. Ten volunteers successfully tracked the uncrewed Orion
spacecraft on its journey thousands of miles beyond the Moon and back.
One of those volunteers tracking in 2022 was Scott Chapman, K4KDR, of
Montpelier, Virginia. "Sometimes it's what you don't know that makes this kind
activity interesting," said Chapman. "All I had was a small S-band dish and
receiver and wasn't sure what I could or couldn't hear...but when I started
hearing the signals...it made everything worth it."
Chapman said he felt good about the whole process and, while it was
interesting, it was also lot of fun!
There were also other participants during the Artemis I mission, including
international space agencies, academic institutions, commercial companies,
nonprofits, and private citizens who were also attempting to receive Orion's
signals. Chapman added that NASA is also looking for commercial partnerships to
share in the process.
If you're interested in volunteering for next year's event, all of the
information can be found at SAM.gov[3]. The response deadline is October 27,
2025, at 5:00 PM EDT.
[1] https://www.nasa.gov/mission/artemis-ii/
[2] https://www.nasa.gov/missions/artemis/artemis-1/volunteers-worldwide-success
fully-tracked-nasas-artemis-i-mission/
[3] https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/50d4e81f54e34118a8164fb786b554a6/view
---
■ Synchronet ■ Whiskey Lover's Amateur Radio BBS
|
