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| | Ham Radios in Space |
 | | Hams, as amateur radio operators are often called, use radio transmitters and receivers to talk to other hams all over the globe, as well as to those in space. |
 | | In the United States, the first letters are A, K, N, or W. Garriott had originally proposed the idea of taking a ham radio into space on his first space mission, Skylab 3, but was unable to due to timing and other complications. |
 | | Students and amateur radio operators can attempt to contact astronauts flying on a SAREX mission through voice, packet (computer) radio, or television, depending on what equipment is flying on the shuttle and on what equipment is available on the ground. |
| science.nasa.gov /headlines/y2000/ast21aug_1.htm (1168 words) |
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