An Expedition 19 ARISS contact has been planned with participants at Flemish Space Days, Leuven, Belgium on 10 May. The event is scheduled to begin at approximately 1055 UTC.
The contact will be a telebridge between NA1SS and W6SRJ. The contact should be audible over western N. America. Interested parties are invited to listen in on the 145.80 MHz downlink. Audio from the contact may also be available via the AMSAT conference on EchoLink and via the 9010 Discovery reflector on IRLP. The participants are expected to conduct the conversation in English.
For the 5th time VRI - Flemish Space Industries - organizes with the support of the Federal and Flemish government the Flemish Space Days. This year the event will focus especially on the new mission of the Belgian ESA astronaut Frank De Winne and on the International Year of Astronomy. In the Brabanthal in Leuven the Flemish space and aviation industry, research centres and educational institutes will show their latest technological and scientific developments to students and the large public. On Friday May 8th the Flemish schools are invited in order to try to stimulate young people to choose for a technical or scientific career. Different booths occupied by space and aviation industry, research centres and other actors in the field of aeronautics and astronomy will lead the visitor into the fascinating world of space. Workshops and lectures will highlight the applications of space technology in daily life.
Participants will ask as many of the following (translated) questions as time allows: 1. Don't you get dizzy from floating around in the ISS? 2. What is the greatest disadvantage of living in weightlessness? 3. Is it quiet in the Space Station or do the space station and the instruments make a lot of noise? 4. Do you have to do a lot of unforeseen repairs on the Space Station? 5. Do you have free time and what do you do then? 6. How warm is it inside the ISS and how cold is it outside? 7. How long do you have to do physical exercises a day? 8. Is it true that you are taller in space than on earth? 9. Do you see the Moon from the space station and do you see it in the same way as from Earth? 10. What would happen if you leave the space station without a space suit? 11. Can you see the Sun from the Space Station and does it ever get dark in the ISS? 12. Do you see the same starry sky as from Earth? 13. Can you watch TV in the ISS or make a phone call? 14. How do you sleep? Floating? 15. Is the astronaut suit comfortable? 16. Don't you ever quarrel being together for such a long time in a small place? 17. How do you go the toilet? 18. What do you miss the most in space? 19. There aren't any showers in the ISS. How do you wash your hair? 20. Is the astronaut food tasteful?
Information about the upcoming ARISS contacts can be found at http://www.ariss.org/upcoming.htm#NextContact .
Next planned event(s): Besyo Elementary School, Saitama, Japan direct via 8J1KW, Mon 2009-05-11 11:02 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, Kenneth - N5VHO