Richard Garriott, W5KWQ, a well-known programmer and designer in the video game world, will soon be a household name those who follow space flights. He's the next private citizen to be flown to the International Space Station (ISS) by the Russian Federal Space Agency (RKA), and is taking ham radio into space just as his dad Owen Garriott, W5LFL -- the very first ham to make QSOs from space -- did in 1983.

If you're younger than 35 and enjoy computer games, you probably know who Richard Garriott is: A legendary video game programmer and designer who has become even more well known from his Web site. If you're a bit older, you might remember when Owen Garriott, was heralded as the first Amateur Radio operator to make QSOs from space.

The ARISS volunteer team is working quite feverishly in preparation for the upcoming Soyuz 17S mission with Richard Garriott, W5KWQ, and Mike Fincke, KE5AIT, on-board. This e-mail provides an interim update for the mission and some new news regarding on-orbit ARISS hardware. Please refer to the press release dated Sept 18 for additional information on Richard Garriott's flight operations.

Hardware Deliveries

SSTV: Richard plans to take a Kenwood VC-H1 SSTV communicator with him on-board the Soyuz for his flight and leave this on-board the ISS for future ARISS use. The VC-H1 has completed all hardware certification on the US and Russian sides. The final test, an EMI radiated emissions test, was performed last week and the test data was delivered to Sergey Samburov, RV3DR in Russia this week. The VC-H1 provides a very simple interface for ISS crew members and does not require the use of a computer. Computer usage has been a real challenge for ARISS, so the VC-H1 represents a lesson learned to improve ARISS operations.