*ARISS News Release No. 24-79*

*Dave Jordan, AA4KN *

*ARISS PR*

*aa4kn@amsat.org aa4kn@amsat.org*

*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*

*ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Students at *

*Bishop O'Connell High School, Arlington, Virginia, USA*

November 13, 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 Bishop O'Connell HS located in VA, USA. 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.

Bishop O’Connell High School is a diocesan Catholic college-preparatory high school founded in 1957 and located in Arlington, Virginia. About 1,200 students are drawn from the diverse population of Northern Virginia, Washington, D.C., and Maryland. The school offers a technology-infused, student-centered, learning environment, with an average class size of 17. The curriculum includes classes in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM)--including a Project Lead the Way engineering curriculum--dual credit offerings with Marymount University, and an optional Global Studies program.

Students also have the opportunity to pursue independent research projects and participate in supplemental club activities and programs with a STEM focus. Faculty at O'Connell collaborate through STEM-driven projects/activities that include using innovative technology solutions such as the use of big data to solve real-world problems. These activities include building and tracking satellites, small chip payload development, high-altitude experiments, underwater robotics, Coding, and Amateur Radio.

This will be a telebridge 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 telebridge station.

The ARISS amateur radio ground station (telebridge station) for this contact is in Andergrove, Mackay, Queensland, Australia. The amateur radio volunteer team at the ground station will use the callsign VK4ISS, to establish and maintain the ISS connection.

The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for November 15, 2024 at 1:06:21 pm EST (VA) (18:06:21 UTC, 12:06 pm CST, 11:06 am MST, 10:06 am PST).

The public is invited to watch the live stream at: *https://youtube.com/live/qlIufW_FCBU?feature=share https://youtube.com/live/qlIufW_FCBU?feature=share*

*_______________________________*

As time allows, students will ask these questions:

1. What implications could the recent circadian rhythm studies aboard the ISS have for our use of artificial light fixtures?

2. How do you overcome the language barrier when working with astronauts from other countries? Do you ever use sign language?

3. What did it take in high school that led to you becoming an astronaut?

4. When you go to sleep, what position do you fall asleep to and when you wake up, have you ever woken up upside down?

5. How does being in space change your perspective on life on Earth?

6. How often do you see meteoroids close to the international space station?

7. How closely does your training mimic the actual conditions of space?

8. What do you miss most about earth when you're in space?

9. Have you ever experienced a communication blackout with mission control while in space?

10. What personal items did you choose to bring with you and why?

11. Hypothetically, if you could show an alien any item from earth, what would it be and why?

12. What was the biggest challenge you had to face on the ISS?

13. Can you describe the feelings you have as you look at the Earth and stars?

14. What is something or someone that you miss that you didn't know you would miss when you went into outer space?

15. How does NASA plan to continue human exploration as the ISS nears the end of its mission?

16. How did your view on life change from before you went to space from after you went to space?

17. If you could bring a new space food item to be sent on future missions, what would it be and why?

18. Have your dreams or sleep patterns changed since being in space, and have you noticed any interesting themes or experiences in your dreams?

19. How has being in space altered your sense of home or comfort, and what do you do to create a sense of familiarity while living in space?

20. How does your perception of time differ while in space?

*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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