An International Space Station school contact has been planned with participants at Boy Scout Space Jamboree, Rantoul, IL on 8 Aug. The event is scheduled to begin at approximately 09:12 UTC.The duration of the contact is approximately 9 minutes and 30 seconds.
NOTE: DUE TO COOLING PROBLEMS ONBOARD THE ISS, THE CONTACT COULD BE ABORTED AT THE LAST MINUTE.
The contact will be direct between NA1SS and WB9SA. The contact should be audible over the central U.S. Interested parties are invited to listen in on the 145.80 MHz downlink. The contact is expected to be conducted in English.
Advances in science and technology are redefining the world around us. Boy Scouting is changing also, and while we are still teaching traditional pioneer skills, we recognize that new frontiers require new skills. The astronauts we'll be talking with are today's pioneers; Space, the Moon and Mars are our new frontiers. At this years Space Jamboree we will be offering the usual technology merit badges- Space Exploration, Radio, Electronics (including Robotics), Aviation, Nuclear Science and Composite Materials, but we are also Going Green by adding all of the energy and conservation related merit badges and one 'just for fun'- the Duct Tape merit badge.
This year one thousand participants are here from 8 states. Boy and Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts kids from the Don Moyers Boys and Girls Club are in attendance. We are confident that at least one of the youth here today will become an astronaut.
Participants will ask as many of the following questions as time allows:
1) Do the Russian astronauts wear "tapochki" (slippers) on the Space
Station? 2) What sport or game do you think would be the most fun to play in zero
gravity? 3) Which country do you think sends it astronauts with the best space food? 4) What's the most beautiful sight from space? 5) How many different words (in different languages) do you know for the
word "astronaut"? 6) What's the first thing you want to do when you get back to planet earth? 7) What do you think about space tourism and will it really cost over $30
million fo the next space tourist? 8) Do you think you could plant a successful garden on the space station? 9) What's the coolest piece of technology on the space station? 10) How has your perspective on earth life changed after being in space? 11) What's the #1 thing I should do to become an astronaut? 12) Other than earth, what's your favorite celestial body in the solar
system? 13) I do chores at home, what's the worst and the best chore on the space
station? 14) In case we run out of time, I just want you to know that at least one of
us here today will become an astronaut. 15) Which moon in the solar system is most likely to have life on it and why? 16) You guys have some cool patches, if we send you some Space Jam patches
will you send us some ISS patches? 17) I heard that salt crystals tend to clump together in space, if that's
true, why? 18) Did you know what you wanted to do when you were 12 years old? 19) Because you are traveling at 17,000 miles per hour how many sunrises do
you see in a day? 20) When do you think we will set foot on Mars? 21) What's the next most important step in space exploration? 22) When will you have an astrobot up there to help do EVAs? 23) Who was the youngest and oldest person in space? 24) What do astronauts dream about?
Information about the upcoming ARISS contacts can be found at http://www.ariss.org/upcoming.htm#NextContact.
Next planned event(s):
1. IRSEA, Bisceglie, I-70052, Italy, Tue 10 Aug 2010 18:23:31 UTC Due to cooling problems on the ISS, this contact could be aborted at the last minute.
ARISS is an international educational outreach program partnering the participating space agencies, NASA, Russian Space Agency, ESA, CNES, JAXA, and CSA, with the AMSAT and IARU organizations from participating countries.
ARISS offers an opportunity for students to experience the excitement of Amateur Radio by talking directly with crewmembers on-board the International Space Station. Teachers, parents and communities see, first hand, how Amateur Radio and crewmembers on ISS can energize youngsters' interest in science, technology, and learning. Further information on the ARISS program is available on the website http://www.ariss.org/ (graciously hosted by the Radio Amateurs of Canada).
Thank you & 73,
David - AA4KN