FRAM2 HAM
An amateur radio competition for the Fram2 space mission
What is Fram2?
The Fram2 mission is set to become the first human space flight in polar orbit – flying over the North and South poles. Named after the famous polar exploration ship Fram, which completed voyages to both the Arctic and Antarctica, we want to showcase pioneering spirit, wonder and technological innovation through the ages. The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch four astronauts from Europe and Australia into orbit for 3-5 days, targeted launch is set for spring 2025 (soon!). On board the Dragon spacecraft are mission commander Chun Wang of Malta, vehicle commander Jannicke Mikkelsen of Norway, pilot Rabea Rogge of Germany and mission specialist Eric Philips of Australia. During the Fram2 mission Rabea Rogge, LB9NJ (Norway) and KD3AID (USA), will be operating the onboard amateur (ham) radio system sending SSTV images as part of a high school and university student competition. These SSTV images will also be available to be received by the general public during the mission. Read more about Fram2 and its crew here: f2.com
FRAM2 HAM competition
Welcome to Fram2Ham! This is an experimental radio competition open to high school and university ages. We will send pictures of three geographical locations via an onboard ham radio, but here’s the twist: they’ll be cut into pieces and mixed up! You’ll receive only fragments of the locations and need to guess where on Earth they are and what their role in polar history was. While anyone can receive the pictures, forming an international team may help you solve the puzzle!
Quick facts:
- Guess two out of three locations
- International teams of three to five educational institutions
- Open to members of educational institutions between ages 16-25 years
- Prizes: QSL cards with space-flown Fram2 mission stickers
- Eligible countries: Europe (CEPT), US, Canada, Australia
Fram2Ham SSTV Simulation on ISS
The ARISS international team is planning an SSTV event to help all participating to be as proficient as possible in acquiring images for the comptition. Like previous SSTV events, ARISS will provide special commemorative certificates for those who upload images to the gallery. Certificates will be delivered after the completion of both the Fram2 simulation event and the Fram2 mission. For more information, please see ariss.org.
SSTV Simulation details
ARISS radio: The Kenwood TM-D710GA transmitter will be set to low power (5 watts vs. 25 watts for previous SSTV events).
Operations Frequency: 437.550 MHz.
SSTV Mode: PD120.
Operations Duration: February 13 (World Radio Day) to February 17, 2025.
What do you need to do to participate?
User Guide
As a first step, please read our user guide here: USER MANUAL V3
Discord Server
To find a team, get support and exchange your ideas, feel free to join our Discord Server here:
LINK DISCORD SERVER
Sign up form
To be eligible for the prizes, register your team here: LINK GOOGLE FORMS
You can register until the 28th of February.
FAQ
Do I need a ham radio license to participate?
You do not need a license to participate. This is because you are only receiving and not sending!
What kind of equipment do I need to participate?
Please have a look at our user guide. There you will find a recommendation for a simple portable and more advanced stationary groundstation.
Who do I contact if I have any more questions?
You can ask the organizers of the competition or other contestants your question on the Discord server or write us an email on fram2ham at gmail.com
What if I want to participate but am outside the age bracket?
No problem! You are more than welcome to still upload your received pictures in the ARISS SSTV gallery and receive a digital certificate for participation. Please refer to the user manual for instructions.
In collaboration with ARISS
Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) inspires, engages and educates youth in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) by giving them the opportunity to talk directly with the on-orbit crew via amateur radio. Students can ask the ISS crew about life in space, career opportunities, or other space-related topics. Before the ARISS astronaut connection, students spend approximately 4 to 6 months learning about space exploration, space research, space communication and radio technology via amateur (ham) radio.
Amateur Radio groups and space agencies in the USA, Canada, Japan, and Europe support this educational program by supplying equipment and support for direct communication between ISS crew and students worldwide. Hundreds of Amateur Radio operators worldwide help make these experiences possible.
The ARISS program has several goals:
- Inspire an interest in science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM) subjects and in STEAM careers among young people
- Provide an educational opportunity for students, teachers, and the general public to learn about space exploration, wireless technology and satellite communications through Amateur Radio
- Provide crew with another means to directly interact with a larger community outside the ISS, including friends and family
More can be learned about the ARISS program at ariss.org
