Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC, writes on the ARRL New England Division members list:
Hundreds of The Big E attendees and spectators will be able to watch students make a live contact with an astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) from The Big E Arena on Tuesday, September 27, 2022. Hams who bring an official copy of their FCC license on the day of The Big E Space Chat will receive free admission for themselves and up to 3 members of their family and friends (see Instructions for Free Admission below).
NASA Astronaut Bob Hines, KI5RQT, will contact the students via a radio link provided by amateur radio ground station ON4ISS in Belgium. The contact is organized through Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS). Around a dozen New England young people have been selected to participate in The BIG E Space Chat.
Please plan to arrive in time for the pre-contact program, which begins at 1:20 pm ET on Tuesday and will feature a series of videos about space, NASA, ARISS, going to Mars, and more. Pre-contact program speakers will include:
• Gene Cassidy, CEO of the Eastern States Exposition
• David Minster, NA2AA, ARRL CEO
• Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC, ARRL Director – New England Division
• Bob Phinney, K5TEC, President, New England Sci-Tech
Instructions for Free Admission
Parking and walking to The BIG E arena will take a little time, so be sure to get there early. The arena will hold well over 1,000 people. The BIG E is helping publicize the event and is arranging for TV coverage for the program and the contact. Help us get the word out!
The Big E free admission for amateur radio operators and up to three guests (maximum 4 people) is good on Space Chat Day (Tuesday, Sept. 27) only.
• You must present an official copy of your FCC license to the Gate Captain at The Big E pedestrian gates 1A, 1B, 4, 5, 7, or 9A to receive free admission on Space Chat Day.
• Visit http://www.arrl.org/obtain-lic
• Parking is not included.
• The Big E is at 1305 Memorial Ave, West Springfield, Massachusetts.
If you’re attending The Big E, visit the amateur radio booth (#103) inside Door 6 of the Better Living Center for more information. Be sure to spread the word to your friends and fellow radio club members!
You can download and print The Big E Brochure and a Fairgrounds Map. Both are available at https://www.thebige.com/p/gene
Can’t come to The BIG E on Space Chat Day?
A live video stream of the contact will be carried on the New England Sci-Tech YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdxnD8uF8t0.
For up to date information about Space Chat @ The BIG E, please visit https://nediv.arrl.org/big-e-s
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ARRL New England Division
Director: Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC
ab1oc@arrl.org
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