[continued from previous message]   
      
   The superstar launched on a suborbital trip with five celebrity women on Blue   
   Origin's New Shepard rocket on Monday April 14, cementing her status as the   
   first pop singer in space. She even sang "What A Wonderful World" on the trip   
   after seeing Earth from above.   
      
      
   But that musical milestone in space history could have looked very different,   
   because Katy Perry isn't the first performer with space ambitions.   
      
      
   Sarah Brightman booked a 10-day trip to the International Space Station with   
   Space Adventures in 2015 that she financed herself. The total price was   
   neverdisclosed.   
      
      
   Brightman underwent spaceflight training with Russia's space agency   
   Roscosmos, the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre and Energia, the makers of   
   the Soyuz rocket. But despite being scheduled to launch on Sept. 1, 2015 on a   
   Russian Soyuz rocket, Brightman called the space mission off in May of that   
   year, citing family concerns.   
      
      
   So - how much for Katy Perry to go to space?   
      
   On its first crewed flight in 2021, Blue Origin had auctioned off a seat for   
   $28 million.   
      
      
   The entire trip had but 4 minutes of weightlessness which completed the brief   
   foray into space on Monday, reaching the edge of the cosmos aboard one of   
   billionaire Jeff Bezos's rockets.   
   (ndtv)   
      
   WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - IOTA   
   iota-world.org/   
      
   CHANGE TO QUALIFYING ISLANDS FOR AS-178P   
      
   The  IOTA Directory currently lists  Pillar Rock  as the only island   
   qualifying for the Andhra Pradesh State North group (AS-178P).   
      
   Recently a close investigation  of the rock has raised  serious concerns   
   about the safety of an IOTA radio operation. Advice from local fishermen is   
   that the rock would be unsafe to climb, not because of the level of   
   difficulty involved but because of the risk that a part of the upper half of   
   the rock could give way and break without warning.   
      
   IOTA Management  has decided  that  any attempt to establish  a radio   
   operation from Pillar Rock would be too dangerous, and is  removing it   
   with immediate effect as an AS-178P qualifier.   
      
   (425DXNEWS)   
   ------------   
      
   REMINDERS:-   
   y   
   AS-169 Arnala Island.   
      
   The DX India Foundation will be active as AU 2 M during May 29-June 1.   
   This is a rare opportunity for IOTA enthusiasts around the world to log   
   this highly sought-after entity, currently the most wanted IOTA in India!   
      
   Situated on India's west coast the nearest major coastal city is Mumbai.   
      
   (DX-world)   
      
   ---------------   
   y   
   EU-012 Shetland.   
      
   Four operators G4AFF, G0DWW, M0NKR and G4LPP from Norfolk Amateur Radio Club   
   will be travelling to Shetland and will be active from July 23  28.   
   An entry in the RSGB IOTA contest July 26-27 is included.   
   Operation from 80 to 10 meter with a station on 6m & 4m  CW/SSB and   
   Digital modes.   
      
   (DX-world)   
      
   WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - MILITARY   
   Recordings of military transmissions can be found on the   
   Signal Identification Guide Wiki at   
   sigidwiki.com/wiki/Category:Military   
      
   The annual US Armed Forces Day (AFD) Cross band Test, hosted by the   
   Department of Defence, is scheduled for Saturday May 10, 2025. The event   
   will test two-way communications between military stations and amateur radio   
   operators.   
      
   The annual D.O.D. message will be transmitted via RTTY on 14,667 kHz at   
   1400 and 2000 UTC. Military stations will transmit on selected military   
   frequencies and announce the specific amateur radio service frequencies   
   that will be monitored. All scheduled times will be in UTC, and all   
   scheduled frequencies will be USB, unless otherwise noted.   
      
   For more than 50 years, military and amateur stations have taken part in   
   this event.   
      
   Information on frequencies, times, and other technical information can be   
   found at DoD MARS - Armed Forces Day.   
   dodmars.org/mars-comex-information-website/armed-forces-day   
      
   A QSL card will be available in May after the test at   
   usarmymars.org/home.   
      
   (ARRL)   
   CLOSER TO HOME   
      
   VI 100 SIG, is the special callsign celebrating the centenary of the   
   Australian Corps of Signals on air during 2025.   
      
   (dx-world)   
      
   WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO AMATEUR YOUNG TIMERS - YOTA   
   (Youngsters On The Air)   
   WIA committee:- Steve VK6SJ, Alec VK2MV and Pete VK2LP.   
   ham-yota.com/category/yota-region-3/   
   facebook.com/groups/YOTAOC/   
   youtube.com/channel/UClAapljf0VQ751sOgu2IzaA   
      
   Now I know we have viewers, listeners and readers to this your WIA National   
   News from all around the world, so, if you are in Europe this news is for   
   you.   
      
   If you are aged between 16 and 25 and are passionate about amateur radio,   
   then this year's Youngsters on the Air Summer Camp will take place 18-25   
   August at the historical Chateau de Jambville near Paris in France.   
      
   The event is being organized by the French national amateur radio society,   
   R.E.F., and the IARU. It is a chance of a lifetime for young members to   
   represent their country and their national society. If you are ready for   
   exciting experiences, would like to make new friends and want to help shape   
   the future of amateur radio, then your Society would love to hear from you.   
      
   (sourced to eHam)   
      
   And as many of we VKers don't have enough pocket money to attend, why not   
   try for some special event calls from Singapore?   
      
   To mark the 60th anniversary of Singapore's independence, all members of the   
   Singapore Amateur Radio Transmitting Society may substitute the prefix S60   
   for their usual 9V1 prefix until August Nine. Special events are planned for   
   introducing more young people to amateur radio, for example through   
   cooperations with the Singapore Scout Association and the Singapore School   
   of Science and Technology   
      
   (dx-news)   
      
   WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO AMATEUR OLD-TIMERS   
   qcwa.org   
   raotc.org.au   
      
   HASMRADIO NEWS READER QUITS - AGE 101   
      
   Happy birthday and happy retirement to Peter Valentine, GNQZ, who upon   
   reaching the age of 101 on the 12th of April, has decided to take things   
   a little easier..but only just a little.   
      
   Peter is still an active radio ham and participant in regular nets,   
   including the HF nets of the International Short Wave League and the   
   Radio Amateurs Old Timers Association. Peter has to his credit an enviable   
   record as a presenter for the Radio Society of Great Britains GB2RS report.   
      
   Best wishes and see you on the air, Peter!   
      
   (newsline2476)   
   ------------------------------------------------------------*   
   	   
   IT'S A DATE   
      
   Clubs are welcome to email text with audio for this section,   
   nationalnews@wia.org.au   
      
   Details of all WIA affiliated clubs and societies can be found   
   on the WIA website, including email addresses and website links.   
      
   ----------------------------   
      
   2025   
      
   VK - WIA AGM May 3 - 4. Hosted by Bendigo Amateur Radio & Electronics   
   Club and their Technology Expo                   (vk3gtv/wiacal)   
   An important reminder that the Annual General Meeting of the WIA is being   
   held in Bendigo Victoria on the 3rd May.   
      
   It is essential to register to attend either online or in person.   
   There is no charge to attend the AGM.   
      
   It is also essential to register to attend and prepay for the dinner on the   
   Saturday night. The cost of the dinner is $35 per person. Dinner   
   registrations can also be made on the AGM registration site. The dinner is   
   open to both members and non-members. During the dinner there will be   
   telebridge open to the International Space Station and students from a local   
   school will ask questions of the crew.   
      
   The Bendigo Amateur Radio and Electronics Club (BAREC) will be holding a   
   technology festival on the Sunday 4th May at the Bendigo show grounds,   
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-DOS v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)