Message from Bill McArthur KC5ACR to Ham Community

Here's a note from Bill McArthur KC5ACR, thanking the ham community for their support. He needs to thank us? After hearing Bill chat with school kids and lots of hams, I conclude that he is one fine ham. Thanks to you, Bill!

73, Bob K0NR

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 085.03
From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
March 26, 2006
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-085.03

To the Amateur Radio Community,

As Expedition 12 draws to a close onboard the International
Space Station, a note of gratitude is due.

I would like to express my deep gratitude to the world-wide
amateur radio community for your participation in this great
adventure. Clearly, one of the benefits for Amateur Radio
is bridging the distances between us. Through your parti-
cipation, you helped realize the potential for the human
exploration of space to do exactly that. Thanks to you,
over the past six months, the International Space Station
has been more international than ever before. Together,
we achieved many significant milestones from space, DXCC,
WAC, WAS, and most importantly, 35 school contacts
(as of March 21).

Special thanks go to Kenneth Ransom, N5VHO, without whose
tireless efforts to coordinate our activities onboard none
of this could have been achieved. Kenneth provided invaluable
technical advice, as well as raising the bar as each goal was
achieved. I would also like to thank the ISS Fan Club for
your enthusiastic support of ARISS. And personal thanks
to Cor - PD0RKC in The Netherlands, Alain - IZ6BYY in Italy,
Keith - ZS6TW in S. Africa, and Patrick - WD9EWK in Arizona
for enlisting the participation of the stations we needed
to meet the goals for Expedition 12.

It is with no small degree of sadness to realize that soon
I will no longer be able to float to the aft part of the
station, dial up our frequency pair and call “CQ”, knowing
that a host of friends are waiting to talk. Good luck to
you all. Thank you, again, for your participation in this
greatest of all human endeavors. I look forward to listening
as you continue your enthusiastic support of the International
Space Station and, one day, human colonies on the Moon and Mars.

73 de NA1SS
Bill McArthur, KC5ACR
Commander, Expedition 12
International Space Station