An International Space Station school contact has been planned with participants at St Richards Catholic College, Bexhill on Sea, UK on 18 Apr. The event is scheduled to begin at approximately 14:56 UTC. The duration of the contact is approximately 9 minutes and 30 seconds. The contact will be direct between GB1SS and GB4SRC. The contact should be audible over the UK 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.

St Richard's Catholic College is a Science Specialist school tucked between the South Downs and the English Channel. We have 1000 pupils on roll between Years 7-11. We provide an inclusive education for Catholic and Christian pupils covering an extended catchment area covering approximately a 30 mile radius. St Richard's was awarded Teaching School status late in 2014 and we are the lead school in the Thrive Alliance, an association of primary schools, secondary schools and a sixth form college as well as lead in the Sussex Science Subject Hub. We are also a strategic partner in the Sussex Maths Hub. St Richards' Science department enjoys a very strong relationship with the University of Sussex (particularly Astronomy & Physics); University of Greenwich (Outreach)and we sit on the STEM Focus Group hosted by the University of Brighton's STEMSussex.

We are a keen supporter of STEM events in our region, with particular success at the Annual STEMFest event where we have won prizes at the National Science and Engineering Competition for the last four years, twice through to national competition. STEMSussex have used St Richard's STEM Clubs' provision as an exemplar due to its success in engaging pupils of all abilities across all year groups. The department has also enjoyed high quality Continuous Professional Development engagement in the STEM agenda with involvement in 'Space as a context for teaching science' courses and a future STEM project with the University of Reykjavik in Iceland.

We enjoy Space Camp UK, a residential trip with all things "spacy" at the National Space Centre and Duxford. The coordinating teacher, Dr Joolz Durkin, is the curriculum enhancement for science and is also an enthusiastic "Space Ambasador" and has worked with the Tim Peake Primary Project at Parklands Infants Eastbourne, Dallington School in Dallington, Pebsham Primary in Bexhill on Sea and Vinehall School in Heathfield as part of this link up.

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

1. You have mentioned in an earlier call that you have been sleeping very

well on the Space Station. Is that still the case or have you found any

cumulative effects after four months in space ?

2. As the ISS hosts astronauts from many different nationalities, what

public holidays do the crew observe, if any, and how are they chosen?

3. St Richards and two of our Primary Project Partner school, Dallington and

Vinehall are taking part in the RHS 'Rocket Science' Experiment from the

Principia Mission. How will the results from this experiment

influence future planning for growing similar samples in another planet's

gravity?

4. We have seen the preparation with Heston Blumental of an exciting

astronaut menu for the mission - does the food taste the same in space as

it did on Earth?

5. In a sealed spacecraft like the International Space Station, how is the

air quality monitored and controlled?

6. We see the wonderful time lapse images of the ISS orbiting the Earth, but

what I like looking at are the stars and making out the constellations.

Do you do any astronomical research on the ISS?

7. During the mission you yourself are part of experiments using the British

designed MMS Cerebral and Cochlear Fluid Pressure Analyser to collect

data for the NASA Fluid Shifts investigation. Which aspect of the

self-experimentation has been the most interesting or challenging?

8. Are there any experiments that rely on naked flames on the ISS? If so,

how are they carried out and what low gravity precautions are employed?

9. If I oversleep my parents will wake me up - have you overslept on the ISS

and had to be woken up by someone?"

10. The distance between Bexhill and Brighton is 31 miles with a journey

time by car of nearly 50 minutes. How much time would it take for the

ISS to do this trip?

11. What are the greatest challenges of living in space and in retaining a

permanent crew on board the ISS?

12. You have tweeted some amazing and beautiful images of the aurora. Have

you been able to monitor solar flare or CME activity and correlate to

the brightness of the aurora?

13. How does it feel to be able to see all humanity?

14. Is the ISS affected by the Earth's magnetic field?

15. On Sunday you will be joining thousands of others in taking part in the

London Marathon. What special routines have you trained for this in

space?

16. In the London marathon, runners will have natural cooling as the run -

how do you regulate your body temperature in a sealed environment such

as the ISS?.

17. We understand you are taking part in the Skin B research on the ISS?

Can you share any interesting findings?

18. You have tweeted that having a bacon sandwich and cup of tea on arrival

at the ISS was the best welcome possible. What food are you looking

forward to on landing?

19. What is special about space suits that help you breathe in space when on

an EVA?

20. How smooth was the launch in December?

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):

1. STEM Trajectory Initiative with Albuquerque Public Schools,

Albuquerque, New Mexico, direct via NM5HD

The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS

The scheduled astronaut is Jeff Williams KD5TVQ

Contact is a go for: Fri 2016-04-22 17:32:37 UTC

2. Wellesley House School, Broadstairs, Kent, UK, direct via GB1WHS

The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be GB1SS

The scheduled astronaut is Timothy Peake KG5BVI

Contact is a go for: Sat 2016-04-23 12:10:50 UTC

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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