An International Space Station school contact has been planned with participants at Pita Kallak School, Kuujjuaq, Quebec, Canada, on 20 May. The event is scheduled to begin at approximately 16:28 UTC.
The duration of the contact is approximately 9 minutes and 30 seconds. The contact will be a telebridge between OR4ISS and ON4ISS. The contact should be audible over portions of Europe. Interested parties are invited to listen in on the 145.80 MHz downlink. The contact is expected to be conducted in English.
Kuujjuaq, Nunavik's largest community, is located on the west shore of the Koksoak River, about 50 km upstream from Ungava Bay. Daily life in this community is closely tied to the mighty river. The boreal forest is present around Kuujjuaq. Patches of black spruce and larch stand in marshy valleys. Kuujjuaq also witnesses annual migrations of the George River caribou herd. These animals pass through the region throughout August and September. Kuujjuaq was known before by another name, that of Fort Chimo. 'Chimo' is a mispronunciation of the phrase saimuk, 'Let's shake hands!' Early fur traders were often welcomed with this phrase which they eventually adopted as the name of the trading post.
The construction of a U.S. Air Force base (Crystal 1) in 1942 on the westshore of the Koksoak River, the site of today's settlement, and the occupation of the site by the American army between 1941 and 1945 sped up the development of the community. After the end of World War II, the United States turned the base over to the Canadian government. In 1948, a Catholic mission was established, followed by a nursing station, a school and a weather station. When the HBC moved upstream closer to the airstrips in 1958, it was followed by the remaining families that still lived across the river at Fort Chimo. In 1961, a co-operative was created.
Participants will ask as many of the following questions (translated) as time allows:
1. Explain the feeling of lift off from earth? 2. What are the temperature changes you deal with on Space Station? 3. What is the total crew on board or that can stay on board the Space
Station? 4. What kind of food do you eat? 5. How do you drink? 6. How do you breath? 7. How do you sleep and do you move around when you sleep? 8. Do you see any odd things? 9. Do you have a special camera to take pictures? 10. Do you get lonely in space? 11. Do you enjoy being on the space station for a long time? 12. Why do you move slowly? 13. Do you ever get frightened in space? 14. Do you feel weird and is it hard to be weightless? 15. Why is it dark in space? 16. What do you miss the most on earth? 17. Do you think there is life elsewhere? 18. Did any astronaut ever bring pets on board Space Station? 19. What education do you need to become an astronaut? 20. How do you wash yourself? 21. What happens when you get sick? 22. Do you work regular days and take time off on space station?
Information about the upcoming ARISS contacts can be found at http://www.ariss.org/upcoming.htm#NextContact.
Next planned event(s):
1. Wireless Institute of Australia, Bayswater, Victoria, Australia, Sat, 29 May 2010: 10:43 UTC
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