Submitted by KD4SFF
Hi All
I attended the South Carolina Wings Weekend held at the Greenville downtown airport, which I assisted with an amateur radio display.
The guest speaker at Saturdays evenings Wings dinner was South Carolina astronaut / ISS Expedition 3 Cmdr Frank Culbertson Jr.
His parents, and other family members were among over 500 in attendance.
During Franks speech there was a 82 degree double ISS/ Progress visual pass occurring at 7:52 PM EDT.
Everyone knew that because of the heavens-above hand outs Rex Smith, with the "Roper Mountain Science Center", was passing out in front of the NASA trailer.
Several of us went outside the hanger, to view the ISS, during Franks speech.
I turned on my mobile radio which I had attached an arrow antenna, just in case Valery was on. As the ISS broke the horizon, we heard Valery clearing with another station.
I called to him with our club call - N4ISS - and he returned my call.
I told Valery Frank Culbertson was giving a speech, and I turned the mic over to Franks cousin, Martin Culbertson, who just graduated from college.
Martin was able to pass Franks best wishes to Valery. Valery wished Frank Culbertson best wishes on his retirement from NASA.
Rex Smith was also able to speak to Valery. Rex is also the liaison person for the ISS for South Carolina. Rex is now "hooked" and is going to get his amateur radio license! I played the audio tape of Valerys wishes to Frank and his family after his speech!

Everyone was ecstatic!

Earlier in the day, Frank met with the boy scouts, he spoke with during JOTA aboard the ISS, at the NASA trailer.
The scouts had the time of there lives!!!

What a "Grand Day" it was!
I will make the audio available soon on our new website

73, Al
KD4 Scouting For Fun
Experimenters Group ARC - N4ISS - trustee

PS - During Franks speech - he spoke very highly of the ARISS program!