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W4DPH > SAT 18.08.03 17:19l 74 Lines 3622 Bytes #999 (0) @ AMSAT
BID : ANS-229.04
Read: GUEST
Subj: Roy Neal, K6DUE, SK
Path: DB0ZKA<DB0FSG<DB0RGB<DB0MRW<DB0ERF<DB0FBB<DB0GOS<DB0EEO<DB0RES<ON0AR<
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Sent: 030818/1539Z @:W4DPH.#TPA.FL.USA.NOAM #:2261 [CLW] FBB $:ANS-229.04
From: W4DPH@W4DPH.#TPA.FL.USA.NOAM
To : SAT@AMSAT
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 229.04 From AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD. August 17, 2003
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-229.04
Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, provided the following report on the passing of Roy
Neal, K6DUE.
It is with great sadness in my heart that I must tell you that my good
friend and mentor, Roy Neal, K6DUE has passed away today, August 15. Roy
was recovering from heart surgery that was performed on August 12 when he
passed away.
Roy played a pivotal role in bringing amateur radio on-board human
spaceflight vehicles. Through his extensive contacts in NASA, he was
instrumental in convincing NASA management to fly amateur radio on-board
the Space Shuttle. Roy's successful negotiations with NASA management led
to the first on-orbit amateur radio operations by astronaut Owen Garriott,
W5LFL, on the STS-9 Space Shuttle Columbia flight in November 1983. He was
the leader of the Shuttle Amateur Radio Experiment (SAREX) working group
and he was instrumental in the formation of the international team that
represents Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS). For
the ARISS program, Roy served as moderator of the ARISS international
meetings. K6DUE's extensive experience as a newsman was put into practice
as he utilized these talents to keep the ARISS team on-track and focused
during these critical, consensus-gathering meetings. Roy loved the amateur
radio hobby in general and continued to be on-the-air until the last few
weeks of his life. He provided substantial support and guidance to amateur
radio organizations such as AMSAT, ARRL and amateur radio news
organizations such as Newsline.
The general public will remember Roy for his years of outstanding service
at NBC news. As the NBC science correspondent, K6DUE covered the space
program extensively, particularly the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo and Space
Shuttle missions. He was personal friends of the astronauts, particularly
the Mercury 7 astronauts. Roy was full of stories about the fledgling U.S.
space program. I enjoyed countless hours listening to him talk about the
space missions, the challenges and many of the "behind the scenes" stories
about what happened before, during and after the flight. When it came to
the U.S. space program, Roy Neal was an encyclopedia of knowledge.
As a young child, I remember seeing Roy Neal on NBC news standing near the
launch pad explaining to me (and the whole world) all the details of the
upcoming Mercury, Gemini and Apollo flights. At that time, I would have
never have guessed that I would not only meet Roy but that he would become
my personal friend. I feel blessed to have had such a wonderful person as
a friend and a mentor. I will miss him dearly.
K6DUE worked tirelessly to expand amateur radio operations beyond the
surface of the Earth. He personally challenged me and the entire ARISS
team to develop, operate and maintain a permanent amateur radio station on
ISS. The ham radio station on-board ISS serves as a living legacy to Roy
Neal. As humans extend their reach beyond Earth orbit and into the far
reaches of the universe, may Roy Neal's spirit inspire us to continue the
pursuit of expanding amateur radio in space.
On behalf of AMSAT and the ARISS International team, I would like to extend
our collective condolences to the Neal Family. Our thoughts and prayers
are with you.
To Roy Neal SK: Our sincerest 73's and 88's
Frank H. Bauer, KA3HDO
AMSAT-NA V.P. for Human Spaceflight Programs
Chairman, ARISS International
[ANS thanks Frank, KA3HDO, for the above information]
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