First Amateur Radio station in space: W5LFL

FLIGHT OF COLUMBIA
STS-9/Spacelab-1
Launched on November 28, 1983
and after 247 hrs, 47 min
landed at Edwards A.F.B. on December 8,1983  CQ von W5LFL

Columbia W5LFL

Transceiver : modified Motorola MX-300 2-meter FM transceiver, hand-built by the Motorola Amateur Radio Club in Florida.

Antenna : directional ring radiator with cavity, designed to fit in the upper window of the spacecraft; built for NASA by volunteer employees of Lockheed.

Power : 4.5 watts

Mode : FM, CW (by keying carrier) All transmit and receive audio were tape recorded, which constitutes the station log.

Operating orbit : 40D, 56D, 62A, 71D, 91A, 96A, 97A&D, 110D, 111A&D,112A, 113A, 129A, 130A, 134A, 134D, 135A&D, 144A&D, 145A&D,146A, 149d and 150D

Stations : 2-way contact: over 350

SWL : approximately 10´000 card received

Countries : 23

Total operating time : about 4 hrs, 30 min.