An International Space Station Expedition 18 ARISS school contact has been planned with participants at South Park Elementary, South Park, Pennsylvania USA on 17 February. The event is scheduled to begin at approximately 1811 UTC.
The contact will be a telebridge between stations NA1SS and K6DUE. The contact should be audible over eastern N. America. Interested parties are invited to listen in on the 145.80 MHz downlink. Audio from the contact should 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.
Currently our school curriculum for space and related subjects is minimal. We cover the following concepts and topics in 1st through 4th grade: rockets, Amelia Earhart, solar system, rotations, revolutions, atmosphere facts and planets' moons. We also explore constellations and the myths associated with them. We do a lot of hands-on science but can't seem to do much of that in relation to space.
We are very excited and fortunate to be awarded this opportunity. This will definitely enhance our curriculum. Recently, we had an assembly hosted by the Carnegie Science Center on space exploration and what it is like living in space. Since we have announced that we will be involved with the Telebridge Conference, students are asking questions and sharing stories about what they know about astronauts, exploration of space, stars and outer space. We look forward to this unique opportunity and are appreciative of the time and effort put forth by NASA to reach out to students.
Participants will ask as many of the following questions as time allows: 1. What kind of subjects should I study if I want to become an astronaut? 2. What qualifications do you need to become an astronaut? 3. How long do you train with NASA before you go into space? 4. How long did you prepare in Russia for Mission 18? How is it different from NASA? 5. How long is the trip into space? (minutes hours? ) Is it scary? 6. What is it like to be in space? 7. How do you steer the space station? 8. If you look out your window right now, what do you see? 9. How is life different in the Space Station? 10. What would happen if you dropped something during a space walk? 11. How will your research in space help mankind? 12. How do you keep you food on your plate? 13. What are your job responsibilities for this space mission? 14. What is the top speed of the space shuttle? 15. How old do you have to be to be an astronaut? Also, is there a weight limit? 16. What is the most amazing thing you have seen in space? 17. What landmarks on the surface of the Earth can you see from space? 18. Do you ever get motion sickness from being in space without gravity? 19. What do you do for fun in the Space Station? What do you eat? 20. How long does it take you to orbit the earth? 21. Do you think there is life on other planets? If so, which ones? 22. What would you do if the ship's engine broke down? 23. Can you hear a shout in space? 24. Is the moon very bright? 25. Which place in space do you think we will inhabit first - Mars or the Moon? 26. What is the temperature o the moon? How many astronauts have been there? 27. Do you have to be a pilot to be an astronaut? 28. What experiments are you conducting in the space station? 29. Does your body feel real heavy when you return to Earth? 30. What do you miss on earth? 31. What would happen if you took your suit off? 32. How long do you stay on the Space Station? 33. Do you look at the stars differently since you have been in space? 34. How do you land the space shuttle? 35. What do you hope to discover in space? Have you found anything mysterious? 36. What is the temperature of the Space Station?
Information about the upcoming ARISS contacts can be found at http://www.ariss.org/upcoming.htm#NextContact .
Next planned event(s): 1. Salluit Schools, Salluit, Quebec, Canada, via W6SRJ, Thu 2009-02-19 14:17 UTC 2. Erie Planetarium, Erie, PA via W6SRJ, Sat 2009-02-21 18:19 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