NCTAMS PAC Helps NASA Boost Morale Aboard International Space Station

By Chief Mass Communication Specialist (SW/AW) Aaron Strickland, Naval Network Warfare Command Public Affairs

HONOLULU (NNS) -- Naval Computer and Telecommunications Area Master Station Pacific's (NCTAMS Pac) Makalapa (Pearl Harbor) Tech Control helped a NASA astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) talk with an active duty Navy family member stationed in Japan over a video teleconference (VTC) April 10.

The VTC is part of the Private Family Conferences (PFC), a long-standing NASA program for family morale during long duration space missions.

This VTC connected the Fleet and Family Services Center (FFSC) at Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Japan, with NASA and the ISS. Makalapa became involved to provide a bridge to change NASA's Internet Protocol (IP) connection to the Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) connection Atsugi's FFSC uses for VTCs.

Officials with NASA said they believe it is the first time the Navy has assisted NASA in its PFCs.

"[This is] not much different from the type of support we provide to our Sailors in the fleet and their families when Sailors are deployed in middle of the ocean," said Senior Chief Information Systems Technician Charmain Stanley, NCTAMS Pac Makalapa Tech Control. "It helps maintain morale."

According to Atsugi FFSC's VTC coordinator, William Driscoll, attempts to connect his VTC directly to NASA, point to point failed and NCTAM Pac's connection tested successfully. The results on April 10 exceeded his expectations.

"This is the best quality video and audio I've seen in almost three years of doing VTCs at the Fleet and Family Support Center," Driscoll said. "I have the utmost confidence that all our future VTCs will be as successful as this one was."

FFSC plans to continue the VTCs while the astronaut is aboard ISS.