An International Space Station Expedition 18 ARISS school contact has been planned with participants at Santa Teresa del Bambin Gesù, Rome, Italy on 30 October. The event is scheduled to begin at approximately 0855 UTC.
The contact will be a direct contact between stations NA1SS and IK0USO. The contact should be audible over Europe. Interested parties are invited to listen in on the 145.80 MHz downlink. The participants are expected to conduct the conversation in English.
The school "Santa Teresa del Bambino Gesù" is a catholic primary school in Rome, established to answer to the needs and demands for catholic education of the local population. The school belongs to the Congregation of Missionary Carmelitane Sisters of Saint Therese of Jesus Child. The school is open to families that take care of the religious education and formation of their children. The preparation of the ISS radio contact is under way since a long time: educational projects on different scientific topics support the special event.
Participants will ask as many of the following questions as time allows: 1. Why do you eat liquid food? 2. What does the moon look like from the space station? 3. How long are you staying on the ISS? 4. What do the stars look like from the space station? 5. What happens if you are ill? 6. Could a child stay on the ISS? 7. How is the daily life organized on board the space station? 8. Is it difficult to be an astronaut? 9. Why did you choose to become an astronaut? 10. Are you afraid of the space outside the ISS? 11. Could an animal stay on board the space station? 12. Is it possible to see the ozone hole from the ISS? 13. Is there a bathroom on board the space station? 14. What does the earth look like from above? 15. Have you ever met an alien? 16. Have you ever seen other planets? Which ones? 17. Is there a doctor with you? 18. What do you eat and drink for breakfast, lunch and dinner? 19. How do you drive the space station? 20. How do you move without gravity on board the ISS?
Information about the upcoming ARISS contacts can be found at http://www.ariss.org/upcoming.htm#NextContact .
Next planned event(s): 1. IES Trassierra, Córdoba, Spain-14011, direct via AO7URC, Mon 2008-11-03 08:58 UTC 2. St. Thomas' Primary School, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, direct via VK4HBK Tue 2008-11-04 10:10 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