@S1-A.ARPA,@MIT-MC.ARPA:wmartin@Almsa-2 (07/25/85)
From: Will Martin -- AMXAL-RI <wmartin@Almsa-2> Does someone out there know what the antenna setup is for the anateur radio operations on the space shuttle? Do the hams on board disconnect some mission radio equipment from external antennae and connect their ham gear during the scheduled times of operation? Or are there extra antennae installed, either mission spares or specially-set-up for the amateur radio operations, that are used? Or are no external antennae needed? (That is, is the shuttle made of enough composite and/or non- metallic components that it is not a "Faraday cage" that would restrict the RF radiation from passing through?) I looked at at least one ham-radio magazine article on the subject, but found no technical details like this, which surprised me. Have there been QST or CQ articles covering ham radio on the shuttle with a lot of technical details? (Those are the only two ham mags that I can get to back issues of...) Thanks for any info! Regards, ARPA/MILNET: wmartin@almsa-1.ARPA USENET: seismo!brl-bmd!wmartin