Charles Simonyi

Next Space Tourist is Radio Ham

On Thursday, December 14, astronaut Tim Kopra and future space participant Charles Simonyi took and passed their amateur radio license exams.

Callsigns have since been issued. Charles Simonyi received the callsign KE7KDP and Timothy Kopra was issued the callsign KE5LUT.

Charles Simonyi KE7KDP an architect of Microsoft's Word and Excel programs, paid Russia more than $20 million for a round-trip ride to the station and a stay aboard the orbiting lab during April.

Listen out for him calling CQ on 145.800 MHz FM. If you hear him reply on 145.200 MHz (switch in -600 kHz repeater shift)

According to USA TODAY, he has recently been dating successful US businesswoman Martha Stewart, whose TV programme recently featured a link-up with the International Space Station.

• Martha Stewart suggests making the most of space
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-01-22-martha-space_x.htm?csp=34

• Expedition 14 talks to Martha Stewart
http://www.southgatearc.org/news/january2007/
iss_martha_stewart.htm

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