An International Space Station school contact has been planned with participants at Guilford County Schools, Greensboro, NC on 02 May. The event is scheduled to begin at approximately 14:52 UTC. The duration of the contact is approximately 9 minutes and 30 seconds. The contact will be direct between NA1SS and W4GSO. The contact should be audible over portions of the eastern US and Canada. Interested parties are invited to listen in on the 145.80 MHz downlink. The contact is expected to be conducted in English.
Ronald E. McNair Elementary is a K-5 public school located in Browns Summit, N.C. McNair Elementary is a part of Guilford County Schools, North Carolina's third largest school district, which serves more than 72,000 students. The school is in its first year and recently moved into a brand new facility. The 88,900 square-foot school building features sustainable materials, natural lighting in hallways, solar panels for water heating, light sensors, a light-colored roof to reduce heat gain, an integrated fresh-air system, sun shades for large windows and low-flow plumbing fixtures. All classrooms have access to outdoor learning environments. Vegetation has been planted to grow up green screens that will provide shade over outdoor patio areas. Additionally, the art and science labs are equipped with movable exterior wall systems, allowing the classrooms to literally open up to the outdoors when weather permits and facilitate an indoor/outdoor classroom space. Students attended their first day in the new school on Feb.4, 2013. The school is named for astronaut and physicist Dr. Ronald E. McNair, who received his bachelor's degree from nearby North Carolina A&T State University. He was one of seven crew members killed on the Space Shuttle Challenger in 1986. Currently, about 488 students are enrolled.
Participants will ask as many of the following questions as time allows:
1. Why do you wear a white suit and what is it made of?
2. How would you handle an emergency in space, like if someone gets really
sick or injured on board the space station?
3. How does the day being only 92 minutes affect living and working on ISS?
4. Do you think there is something in outer space that could cure diseases
and save lives?
5. Was there any class that you took in elementary or middle school that
influenced your decision to become an astronaut?
6. What are the sacrifices made to become an astronaut and do you ever have
any regrets or worries about the amazing adventures and time in space?
7. What is the most incredible thing you have seen while in space?
8. How has the experience of being in space and learning the science of
space helped you appreciate what it means to be human?
9 How did your family and friends feel about you going into space?
10. What are some of the experiments running on the International Space
Station and how are they related to society on Earth?
11. We used the Drake Equation to find the percentage of the chance of
intelligent alien life. Do you believe in alien life? If yes, why? If
no, why? How can we know for sure?
12. What dangers could you face living at the Space Station and what drills
or procedures are in place if something happens?
13. Does zero gravity affect the things you dream about and how long you
sleep? If yes, what ways is it different than sleeping on Earth?
14. What and how do you eat on the space station?
15. Please tell us about one interesting experiment you are currently doing.
16. Did you have any fears about going into space? If so, how did you
overcome those fears?
17. How do you fix the equipment without floating out into space?
18. You astronauts work hard. What do you do for fun?
19. What is the most interesting thing you do in a day?
20. Why do you take your shoes off when you are in space?
Information about the upcoming ARISS contacts can be obtained by subscribing to the SAREX maillist. To subscribe, go to http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/tools/maillist/ and choose "How to Subscribe".
Next planned event(s):
1. Hay River, NWT, Canada, telebridge via VK4KHZ
Fri, 03May2013, 19:55 UTC
2. The Gary Literacy Coalition, Inc, Gary, IN, direct via KC9JQN
Wed, 08May2013, 19:35 UTC
3. Yellowknife R.C.M.P. Headquarters, Yellowknife, NWT, Canada,
telebridge via K6DUE
Sat, 11May2013, 18:46 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