*9M2RPN CALLING OR4ISS*

Dateline: 21st October, 2008

AOS: 08:32 UTC LOS 08:42

"OR4ISS This is 9M2RPN calling. How copy Richard?"

At the very first call Richard Garriot, W5KWQ came back with the proverbial "Ton of Bricks" 5/9 + signal.

Without further ado we started with the 16 school children who had lined up and raring to fire questions. Richard answered each and every one of them with the usual aplomb. The shinning faces of the kids had to be. They were on cloud nine.

Since we had about 30 seconds to spare, we put Maj. Faiz, 9W2FIZ, on the mike. He was one of the two Malaysian finalists trained at Yuri Gagarin Astronaut Training Centre in Start City. He also had Mike Fincke, KE5AIT, the commander of present Expedition 18 training at the same time at the Star City.

ARISS programme is indeed reaping rich harvest in disseminating Space knowledge and nurturing the Space scientists of tomorrow.

9M2RPN operated by:-

Sangat, 9M2SS & Sion, 9W2QC