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WG3K > ANS 08.12.24 03:38l 46 Lines 2531 Bytes #166 (0) @ AMSAT
BID : ANS343.4
Read: GUEST
Subj: Gaston Bertels, ON4WF, SK
Path: IW8PGT<IZ3LSV<DB0ERF<DK0WUE<DK0WUE<VK5RSV<K7EK<KA1VSC<WG3K
Sent: 241208/0229Z 10662@WG3K.#SMD.MD.USA.NOAM LinBPQ6.0.24
*This past week, Frank Bauer KA3HDO ARISS-USA Executive Director and ARISS
International Chair passed this along to the ARISS volunteers:*
It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of Gaston Bertels,
ON4WF (SK). Gaston died today, December 3, 2024, from cancer. He was 97.
Gaston was recently given the title “Elder Statesman” by
the ARISS International team. This honor was given because of his
monumental role in the formation and operation of the ARISS team. He wrote
our ARISS Terms of Reference and participated in numerous discussions, over
the years, on how to run a cohesive, results-oriented international team.
His in-depth knowledge of amateur radio rules and regulations, particularly
his knowledge of licensing and 3rd party traffic, enabled ARISS to develop
an operations plan that could support human spaceflight amateur radio
operations across the world. His knowledge of radio telecommunications was
respected in Europe and elsewhere, allowing him to give presentations on
amateur radio in space to members of the European Parliament. His
personality radiated an inviting aura to all. He has been a friend, a
leader, and an inspiration to all of us.
Gaston began his journey in human spaceflight amateur radio by guiding a
group of engaging students in a radio contact at a Belgian Space Camp
during the 1992 STS-45 Space Shuttle mission. This contact was with
Belgiums first Astronaut, Dirk Frimout ON1AFD. Gaston coordinated the
radio contact preparations and operated the radio station during the
contact. Gaston was instrumental in convincing ESA to install L/S band
antennas on the Columbus module, prior to launch, to support future
operations in Columbus. He worked with Professor Pawel Kabacik from the
Wroclaw University to design, build and certify the antennas and led a
fundraising campaign to pay for the development, test and certification.
With HamTV as the first hardware “customer” of these antennas, Gaston led
the HTT, the HamTV Technical Team meetings to prepare the HamTV ground
stations for operations and to coordinate the on-board HamTV operations.
The L/S antennas have also been employed for two flight
experiments: MarconISSta with TU Berlin and the upcoming NAVCOM experiment
for ASI/Qascom.
Gaston will be sorely missed. But the light of his legacy shines in all of
us that he has touchedinside and outside of ARISS.
Ad Astra Gaston! (To the Stars, Gaston!)
*[ANS thanks Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, ARISS International Chair, for the above
information]*
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