An International Space Station school contact has been planned with participants at Gymnasium Michelstadt, Michelstadt, Germany on 07 Sept. The event is scheduled to begin at approximately 08:52 UTC. The duration of the contact is approximately 9 minutes and 30 seconds. The contact will be direct between OR4ISS and DK0DK. The contact should be audible over Germany 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.
Michelstadt is a remote city located in the center of Germany and surrounded by a low mountain range. The city was mentioned the first time in historic documents of the year 741. Several historic buildings survived till today; most famous are the convent "Einhardsbasilika" (827) and the historic town hall (1484). The environment is dominated by temperate broadleaf forest and agricultural fields. The population of Michelstadt and its neighbor city Erbach counts around 30.000 inhabitants. The closest cities in the area are Darmstadt (in 50 km distance, ESA satellite control center), Heidelberg (in 60 km distance, US army base) and Frankfurt (in 70 km distance, main international airport).
The Gymnasium Michelstadt was founded by the count Albert of Erbach-Fuerstenau in 1823. Today the school teaches over 1500 students and employs about 120 teachers. Being the only secondary school dedicated exclusively to high education standards, the school attracts students of the entire region. Many students have to travel over 30 minutes to school each morning. Due to its size it offers many specializations and voluntary courses, especially in science and music. The school aims not only to educate the students but also supports them in the development of their personality. In the last years students took successfully part in a science contest "jugend forscht". The school had some insights into space research due to our yearly visits to the ESA satellite control center. The entire school is excited about being chosen for a contact with the ISS and looks forward to the day of the contact.
Participants will ask as many of the following questions as time allows:
1. What was the most interesting scientific project you were involved in at
the ISS?
2. Is living in space living up to the expectations you had on earth?
3. Did some things in space surprise you or were you prepared for everything
by the training on earth?
4. What was the biggest accident or mishap during your time on the ISS?
5. Are you able to follow major sport events, for example the super bowl?
6. Is zero gravity fun or does it get annoying after some time?
7. How do American astronauts vote for the president?
8. Are there some things that are really annoying on ISS?
9. Do you miss things from earth on ISS?
10. How is sleeping at zero gravity?
11. How do you spend your free time?
12. How is a typical day on the space station?
13. Do you feel any medical effects of the zero gravity? What do you do to
prevent them?
14. How was your first impression seeing the earth out of space?
15. Can you see the Chinese Wall or any other human made structure form
space?
16. Can you notice anything when you leave or re-enter the earth atmosphere?
17. Are you afraid of meteorite or space debris hits?
18. Are you allowed to drink alcoholic drinks?
19. At which time zone is the space station operating?
20. How does personal hygiene work in space? Can you shower?
Information about the upcoming ARISS contacts can be found at http://www.ariss.org/upcoming.htm#NextContact.
Next planned event(s):
1. Tara Anglican School, North Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia,
telebridge via ON4ISS
Sun, 09Sept12 08:50 UTC
2. NASA Goddard Child Development Center, Greenbelt, MD, direct via
K6DUE
Thu, 13Sept12 16:43 UTC
3. Burns Sci-Tech Charter School, Oak Hill, FL, direct via TBD
Thu, 13Sept12 18:21 UTC
4. Maroochydore State School, Maroochydore, Queensland, Australia,
telebridge via VK5ZAI
Fri, 14Sept12 07:06 UTC
5. Gymnasium Unterrieden, Sindelfingen, Germany, direct via DN1ISS
Fri, 14Sept12 09:41 UTC
6. Marcelino Canino Canino Middle School, Puerto Rico, via K6DUE
Contact postponed again from: Tue 2012-09-04 14:17:09 UTC 67 deg
New contact time is TBD.
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