ARISS International delegates, officers, and team members will convene this week in Tokyo for what is being called “a critical meeting” to discuss strategy, teamwork, hardware, and operations. The meeting will take place August 20-23. Delegates represent the five ISS member regions — the US, Russia, Japan, Canada, and Europe. Keigo Komuro, JA1KAB, of ARISS-Japan and the Japan Amateur Radio League (JARL) is scheduled to deliver opening remarks. ARRL First Vice President Rick Roderick, K5UR, who is in Tokyo for the JARL Ham Fair, also will speak briefly to the gathering. ARISS-International Chair Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, will lead the meeting. Also on hand is ARISS Secretary-Treasurer Rosalie White, K1STO, an ARRL liaison to the organization.

The Japanese Space Agency JAXA will welcome the group and offer an overview of its Innovative Satellite Technology Demonstration Program.

Agenda items include:

• ARISS working group business discussions and reports, including regional reports, ARISS terms of reference update, space agency coordination status, sustainability and fund raising, and future ARISS projects.

• Technical discussions on current and future hardware developments, including next-generation ARISS radio systems, and an update on the Ham TV system.

• Operations discussions, including presentations on educational activities, international expansion and planning of SSTV, school selection and regional scheduling procedures, and plans for the ISS mission of UK astronaut Tim Peake, KG5BVI, and the Astro Pi Project during his mission.

The UK’s first European Space Agency astronaut, Peake plans to share his “Principia” mission space adventure with students on Earth via Amateur Radio, and he’s invited youngsters in his country to contact him while he’s on station. Peake is scheduled to head to the ISS in November for a 6-month duty tour. Nearly a year in development, the program represents a collaboration of ARISS and the UK Space Agency (UKSA), the Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB), the European Space Education Research Office in the UK (ESERO-UK), and the European Space Agency (ESA) to raise awareness in Space, Amateur Radio and STEM subjects in general.

Two Raspberry Pi computers will head to the ISS as part of Peake’s 6 month mission, and both will be paired with a new Astro Pi board that incorporates a host of sensors and gadgets. Students have been invited to submit programs as part of a competition.

In addition to their ambitious agenda, ARISS delegates will begin each day with an opportunity for informal discussion and will have the opportunity to visit the Tsukuba Space Center. — Thanks to AMSAT News Service and ARISS International