ARISS News Release No.24-71

Dave Jordan, AA4KN

ARISS PR

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Students at

Magnet Innovation Center, Inlet Beach, Florida, USA

October 22, 2024—Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has received schedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact between an astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and students at the Magnet Innovation Center located in Inlet Beach, FL. ARISS conducts 60-100 of these special amateur radio contacts each year between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses aboard the ISS.

The Magnet Innovation Center is the newest public high school in Walton County School District and provides a STEAM program of study in the fields of biomedical science, computer science, digital design, engineering, fine arts through theatre, and game design. For the last year, students have had the opportunity to research space exploration in preparation of this ARISS contact. Students in the school’s Wireless Technology Club have been instrumental in the preparation for this contact. They helped build and install radio equipment that will be used during this contact. The entire school will be in attendance for this contact, while the local elementary and middle schools will be watching via livestreaming.

This will be a direct contact via Amateur Radio allowing students to ask their questions of astronaut Nick Hague, amateur radio call sign KG5TMV. The downlink frequency for this contact is 145.800 MHz and may be heard by listeners that are within the ISS-footprint that also encompasses the relay ground station.

The amateur radio ground station for this contact is in Inlet Beach, FL. Amateur radio operators using call sign WD9GIU, will operate the ground station to establish and maintain the ISS connection.

The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for October 24, 2024 at 10:23 am CDT (Inlet Beach, FL) (15:23 UTC, 11:23 am EDT, 9:23 am MDT, 8:23 am PDT).

The public is invited to watch the live stream at: https://youtube.com/live/L1ykXRXIUvs?feature=share and https://live.ariss.org/

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As time allows, students will ask these questions:

1. Do training regimens differ for shorter missions compared to extended missions?

2. How do you think space travel and exploration will further humankind?

3. How long does it take to readjust to Earth’s gravitational force when you return home?

4. What ongoing research aboard the ISS is being conducted that could speak to terraforming Mars or increasing the likelihood of habitability on another planet, and do all countries represented on the ISS have equitable access to this research?

5. How did you feel when you saw the Earth from space for the first time?

6. Why is space exploration important?

7. How do you cope with the isolation and confinement of space, and how has it affected you mentally, physically, and emotionally?

8. What bacteria can live in the biome of Mars or other planets being considered for future human habitation, and what makes them able to do so?

9. Do you have the technological capacity to see beyond the infinitesimally small portion of the light wave spectrum visible to the naked eye while in outer space from that much closer of a vantage point to cosmic phenomenon; if so, how has it shaped your view of the universe?

10. In the same way that vehicular emissions cause concern for Earth, are there any concerns for how emissions or even the newfound presence or introduction of new particles into space will have ramifications we might not possibly yet know or understand; if so, what processes are in place to mitigate the effects?

11. Have you ever seen something in space that you can’t explain?

12. Is the construct of time different or perceived differently in space given the 16 daily passes across all time zones on Earth an astronaut may experience on any given day aboard the ISS; if so, how, and does it impact your circadian rhythm?

13. Are rigorous medical examinations completed for all astronauts before being sent into space to reduce the likelihood of contamination of communicable disease; do all astronauts from various countries on the ISS submit to a similar standard battery of medical exams to screen for and prevent the spread of communicable disease?

14. Can you describe the role of computer vision algorithms that are used to guide spacecraft landings and how the systems or structures that encase this sensitive technology protect it from the extreme heat and pressure of re-entry?

15. What is the most exciting or awe-inspiring moment you have experienced in space?

16. How are operations for future crewed lunar missions progressing?

17. What do you love most about space?

18. Besides rehydrating food, what are other ways to prepare food in space?

19. What preparation did you undergo to become an astronaut?

20. In what ways does the design of the rocket affect its aerodynamics?

21. What is your exercise regimen in space?

22. In the 21st-century, to what extent did virtual reality play a role in your training to become an astronaut?

23. What was the best moment you’ve experienced during your time as an astronaut?

24. How do you receive medical attention while in space?

25. What is the most trivial thing you miss about being on Earth?

26. If you had the ability to create artificial gravity inside the ISS, would you want it, or would you rather stay in zero gravity floating; why?

27. Do you grow plants on the ISS; if so, how?

28. What is your primary research objective on this mission?

About ARISS:

Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) is a cooperative venture of international amateur radio societies and the space agencies that support the ISS. In the United States, sponsors are the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC), Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT), NASA’s Space Communications and Navigation program (SCaN) and the ISS National Lab—Space Station Explorers. The primary goal of ARISS is to promote exploration of science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics topics. ARISS does this by organizing scheduled contacts via amateur radio between crew members aboard the ISS and students. Before and during these radio contacts, students, educators, parents, and communities take part in hands-on learning activities tied to space, space technologies, and amateur radio. For more information, see http://www.ariss.org.

Media Contact:

Dave Jordan, AA4KN

ARISS PR

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