ARISS News Release                                                                                            No. 24-29

DaveJordan, AA4KN

ARISS PR

aa4kn@amsat.org

FORIMMEDIATE RELEASE

ARISSContact is Scheduled with Students at

Eric Knows CIC, Newcastle upon Tyne, UnitedKingdom

May 9, 2024—AmateurRadio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has received scheduleconfirmation for an ARISS radio contact between an astronaut aboard theInternational Space Station (ISS) and students at the Eric Knows CIC located inNewcastle upon Tyne, UK.  ARISS conducts60-100 of these special amateur radio contacts each year between studentsaround the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses aboard the ISS.

EricKnows CIC, is a not-for-profit organization working with children and youngpeople across the North East of England. The school provides education, support and training to peoplewho are autistic and their families. Eric Knows CIC also runs creative classes and sessions with STEMthemes around the Co Durham area with other not-for-profit organizations.Eric Knows CIClaunched ‘STIM-ulating Science’, a rolling STEM project for neurodivergentchildren. Support for this ARISS contact is coming from the Bishop AucklandRadio Amateurs’ Club along with other local amateur radio clubs.

This will be atelebridge Contact via AmateurRadio allowing students toask their questions of astronaut Matthew Dominick, amateur radio call sign KCØTOR.The downlink frequency for this contact is 145.800 MHz and may be heard bylisteners that are within the ISS-footprint that also encompasses thetelebridge station.

The ARISS amateur radio ground station (telebridge station)for this contact is in Greenbelt, Maryland, U.S. The amateur radio volunteerteam at the ground station will use the callsign K6DUE, to establish andmaintain the ISS connection.

The ARISS radiocontact is scheduled for May 11, 2024 at 9:42:32 am BST (UK) (8:42:32 UTC, 4:42 am EDT, 3:42 am CDT, 2:42 am MDT, 1:42am PDT).

The public isinvited to watch the live stream at:  https://live.ariss.org/

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As time allows,students will ask these questions:

1. Who/whatinspired you to become an astronaut?

2. What do youthink is the strangest thing about being in space?

3. I haveautism and ADHD. How will this affect my chances of getting into the spaceprogram?

4. What dothunder and lightning storms look like from space?

5. What mealare you most looking forward to eating when you return to earth?

6. Whatmaterial does your space suit and helmet contain and why?

7. Whatactivities do you do to relax in space?

8. How muchoxygen does an oxygen tank hold?

9. How muchgravity is on the space station?

10. What isyour favorite thing about being an astronaut and in space?

11. Can you seethe constellations from space, and if so, which is your favorite?

12. What doesit feel like when you get back down on earth?

13. If youcould go anywhere in the universe, where would it be and why?

14. How do youget into bed in space? Do you get a good night’s sleep?

15. How long doyou have to be away from your family and can you speak to them?

About ARISS:

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

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Media Contact:

Dave Jordan,AA4KN

ARISS PR

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