My first contact with the Russian MIR Space Station and Astronaut Mike Foale.

This was also my first QSO with my new Icom IC-821.

432Mhz SSB QSO with Wal, VK6KZ in Perth, WA, Australia.  My QTHR was Exmouth, WA, Australia.  A distance of over 1100kms.  My antenna was a homebrew eggbeater !!

My first contact with Australian Astronaut Dr Andy Thomas aboard the Russian MIR Space Station.

144Mhz SSB QSO with Bill, VK6AS in Esperance, WA, Australia.  I was at my current QTH in Geraldton, WA.  The distance here was almost 900kms over land.