An International Space Station school contact has been planned with participants at Walter Jackson Elementary, Decatur, Alabama on 18 March. The event is scheduled to begin at approximately 13:53 UTC. The duration of the contact is approximately 9 minutes and 30 seconds. The contact will be direct between NA1SS and N8DEU. The contact should be audible over the state of Alabama and adjacent areas. Interested parties are invited to listen in on the 145.80 MHz downlink. The contact is expected to be conducted in English.

Walter Jackson Elementary School is located in Decatur, AL. Decatur lies in Morgan County which borders Madison County, home of the U.S. Space and Rocket Center. United Launch Alliance (ULA) also builds rockets in Decatur. Because of our proximity to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center and ULA, space, aeronautics, and robotics are a part of our school's curriculum.

Approximately 300 students attend, from kindergarteners to fifth graders.Our teachers have high expectations for students and we are known for excellence in math, science, technology, and reading. Students here excel on math teams, participate in hands-on science demonstrations, utilize up-to-date technology, and engage in reading across all subjects.

Besides being known for our innovative use of technology, our school has an international outlook. Our 34 North program allows students in each grade to learn about a city or country that lies along the 34 North line of latitude, the same latitude of our school. For students that attend all six years at our school, they leave with an appreciation and understanding of many cultures that shape our world.

In summary, Walter Jackson is a growing school in a tight-knit Southern town. We enjoy the small-town benefits of teachers really getting to know students and families while simultaneously having access to cutting-edge resources. We look forward to adding the International Space Station to our ever- expanding global network!

Participants will ask as many of the following questions as time allows:

1. Please describe how you communicate with your family. How did you feel

about leaving them?

2. Are common illnesses like colds and headaches common? How do you treat

them?

3. What training and education are involved in becoming an astronaut?

4. Please describe your daily jobs on the ISS.

5. How are animals used in experiments on the ISS? What have you learned

from them?

6. Have you had any frightening moments or emergencies while on the ISS?

7. How do you celebrate holidays on the ISS?

8. We learned that astronauts get weekends off. How do you spend your

weekends?

9. Please describe a spacewalk. What are they for and have you had a

memorable one?

10. How do you find your way around the ISS? Did you have to memorize the

layout or is there a map?

11. Please describe some of the experiments on which you have worked. What

kind of experiments do you find most interesting?

12. What is your biggest challenge in space: microgravity, separation from

Earth, fatigue, or something else?

13. Did you take any items from Earth with you to the ISS?

14. Is breaking a bone in space any different than on Earth? How would it be

treated?

15. Does microgravity affect snoring?

16. Do you grow plants or food on the ISS? If so, how is that done?

17. What are some of your favorite sights from the ISS?

18. Does the ISS search for alien life? If so, have you discovered any signs

of it?

19. What is it like living with astronauts from different countries? Do you

have anything in common?

20. Do you use robots on the ISS? If so, how?

PLEASE CHECK THE FOLLOWING FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ARISS UPDATES:

Visit ARISS on Facebook. We can be found at Amateur Radio on the

International Space Station (ARISS).

To receive our Twitter updates, follow @ARISS_status

Next planned event(s):

TBD

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 International Space Station (ISS). In the United States, sponsors are the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT), the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The primary goal of ARISS is to promote exploration of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) topics by organizing scheduled contacts via amateur radio between crew members aboard the ISS and students in classrooms or informal education venues. With the help of experienced amateur radio volunteers, ISS crews speak directly with large audiences in a variety of public forums. Before and during these radio contacts, students, teachers, parents, and communities learn about space, space technologies, and amateur radio. For more information, see www.ariss.org, www.amsat.org, and www.arrl.org.

Thank you & 73,

David - AA4KN

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