An International Space Station Expedition 14 ARISS school contact has been planned with students at Romeo Elementary in Dunnellon, FL, USA, on Wednesday, 17 Jan. The event is scheduled to begin at approximately 17:53UTC.
The contact will be a direct between stations NA1SS and K4OZS. The contact should be audible in the Eastern United States. Interested parties are invited to listen in on the 145.80 MHz downlink. The participants are expected to conduct the conversation in English.
Romeo Elementary School is located in Marion County, Florida. Many of its students are socially and economically disadvantaged, but this radio contact with the International Space Station will help to overcome those barriers and excite students about the world, learning, science and technology. The purpose of the contact is to inspire students to continue their education.
For the last four years we have incorporated into our curriculum for fourth and fifth graders the study of electromagnetic waves and radio communication. We have received grants used to purchase radio equipment, antennas and a satellite tracking program for the school. Our students are excited about using their station to communicate with a station in space.
Students will ask as many of the following questions as time allows:
1. What special skills determine who is chosen to stay on the ISS?
2. With your experience in space, do you wish to live in space with your family?
3. What is the maximum amount of time NASA feels an astronaut can stay in space with no long-term health effects?
4. What kinds of medicines are you making and how do you plan to make them?
5. What did you do for the holidays and did you make presents for each other?
6. What is the space station made of?
7. How long does it take to get used to Earth's gravity after being in space for so long?
8. Do you go through any special training to prevent space sickness?
9. Do you see meteors pass by the windows?
10. Is there weather in space?
11. How long will the space station last?
12. How is the ISS going to be participating in the plans for a manned mission to Mars?
13. If water floats, how do you take a bath?
14. How do you prevent harmful germs from Earth getting onto the Space Station?
15. With so many different languages spoken on the ISS, do you have to learn all of the languages?
16. What made you interested in becoming an astronaut?
17. How do you keep the ISS in orbit?
18. What is your favorite thing to do when you are in space?
19. How is air produced in the ISS?
20. Do you get TV in space? If you do, what shows do you watch?
21. How do you keep in contact with your friends and family?
22. What will replace the Shuttle?
Please note, the amateur equipment on the ISS is not functioning in the automatic modes properly and may be silent more than usual. The radios are planned to be shutdown in preparation for the upcoming Progress docking and undocking events. Information about the next scheduled ARISS contact can be found at http://www.rac.ca/ariss/upcoming.htm#NextContact .
Next planned event(s): École élémentaire publique Le Prélude - Ottawa - ON, Canada, direct via VE3JW, Wed 2007-01-24 13:55 UTC Winnebago Public School, Winnebago, Nebraska, USA, direct via VE3JW, Thu 2007-01-25 14:18 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.rac.ca/ariss (graciously hosted by the Radio Amateurs of Canada).
Thank you & 73, Kenneth - N5VHO