An International Space Station Expedition 16 ARISS school contact has been planned with participants at Lycée de la Borde Basse, Castres, France on 5 March. The event is scheduled to begin at approximately 09:49 UTC.
The contact will be a direct between stations FX0STD and F8IDR. The contact should be audible over Most of Europe. Interested parties are invited to listen in on the 145.80 MHz downlink. The participants are expected to conduct the conversation in French.
As the only public high school in Castres (population 47,000 and the second largest city in the Tarn region) Borde-Basse accommodates around 2,000 students, offering general, technological and professional studies in several areas of specialization. The school is situated in a marvelous location on the outskirts of the city and surrounded by a man-made lake, on a huge campus equipped with a large range of sporting facilities. The class concerned with this project is a 10th Grade class (15-16 years of age), made up of 35 students, and accompanied by Mrs. Amat Chappuis, their Physics and Chemistry teacher.
Participants will ask as many of the following questions as time allows: 1. Quel cursus scolaire avez-vous suivi pour devenir spationaute (durée et type d'études)?(What type of schooling and higher studies did you complete, to enable you to become an astronaut? How long did you study for?) 2. Combien de temps dure une mission dans la station au minimum, au maximum?(What is the typical duration for a mission onboard the space station (minimum & maximum)?) 3. Quelle est la limite raisonnable de la durée d'un séjour en impesanteur pour l'homme? Quels sont les dangers encourus en cas de durée excessive?(What is a reasonable time limit for living in a state of weightlessness? What are some of the risks in case of exceeding these reasonable time limits?) 4. Comment vous êtes-vous préparé à cette mission et en particulier à l'accélération lors du décollage de la navette?(What sort of preparation did you undergo for this mission, especially concerning the extreme acceleration upon the Shuttle's takeoff?) 5. En moyenne, combien y a-t-il d'arrimages à la station par an? Quelle est la fréquence du ravitaillement?(On average how many visits/outside dockings do you receive per year? How frequent is refueling?) 6. Pour le voyage, que pouvez-vous emporter comme affaires personnelles?(What sort of personal effects are you able to bring with you aboard the flight?) 7. Avez-vous du temps libre. Si oui, comment l'occupez vous?(Do you have any free time? In this case, how do you spend your time off?) 8. Pouvez-vous nous décrire une expérience que vous allez mettre en place dans le laboratoire Colombus?(Could you describe one of the experiments you are to conduct in Columbus's laboratory?) 9. Pour maintenir vos muscles en état, vous devez pratiquer de l'activité physique. Pouvez-vous nous préciser quels exercices vous pratiquez et à quelle fréquence?(To keep your muscles in shape, you have to practice physical activities. Could you detail some of these exercises and their frequency?) 10. Vous avez déjà effectué une mission sur MIR, quelles sont les analogies et les différences avec l'ISS?(You have already carried out a mission aboard MIR. What are some of the similarities and differences with the ISS?) 11. En cas de conflit personnel dans la station, comment faites-vous pour le régler?(How do you resolve cases of onboard personal conflicts (arguments)?) 12. Savez-vous si des chercheurs travaillent à la conception de robots permettant de remplacer les spationautes dans certaines de leurs tâches, par exemple pour les sorties extra véhiculaires?(Do you know if research is being done on the conception of robots to relieve astronauts of some of their duties? For example, concerning work outside?) 13. Que se passerait-il en cas de panne totale du système informatique dans la station?(What would occur if there was a total computer system breakdown onboard the station?) 14. L'ISS est-elle soumise à des agressions extérieures? Si oui, comment s'en protège-t-elle?(Is the ISS subject to impacts or 'attacks' coming from the exterior? If this is the case, then what methods are used to protect it?) 15. Quel est le matériau constituant majoritairement la superstructure de l'ISS?(What are the principal materials used in the ISS superstructure?) 16. Que mangez vous dans la station?(What do you eat onboard?) 17. Combien êtes-vous de spationautes dans l'ISS en ce moment et quelles sont les différentes nationalités?(How many astronauts are living in the ISS at the moment and what are their nationalities?) 18. Perdez-vous la notion du temps dans l'ISS? Avez-vous le même rythme de sommeil que sur Terre?(Do you lose the notion of time on the ISS? Do you have the same sleeping patterns as when you are on Earth?) 19. Quel est le coût de fonctionnement de l'ISS en un an?(How much does the ISS cost to run (operate) per year?) 20. Quels ont été les apports des vols habités à la science jusqu'à maintenant et quelles sont les perspectives pour l'avenir?(What have been the benefits to science from these manned space flights and what are some of the perspectives for the future?)
Information about the next scheduled ARISS contact can be found at http://www.rac.ca/ariss/upcoming.htm#NextContact . Packet is transmitted on 145.825 simplex.
Next planned event(s): Lycee mixte René Gosse, Clermont L'Herault, France, Mon 2008-03-10 08:30 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