An International Space Station school contact has been planned with participants at George Observatory, Needville, Texas on 08 Oct. The event is scheduled to begin at approximately 16:50 UTC.

The duration of the contact is approximately 9 minutes and 30 seconds. The contact will be a telebridge between NA1SS and WH6PN. The contact should be audible over Hawaii and adjacent areas. Interested parties are invited to listen in on the 145.80 MHz downlink. The contact is expected to be conducted in English.

The children asking questions during this event are participants in Astronomy Day, sponsored each year by several astronomy clubs and the Houston Museum of Natural Science. The event is held at the George Observatory in Brazos Bend State Park. In previous years the event has had 4,000 attendees.

The amateur radio contact with the International Space Station was the highlight of last year's Astronomy Day, and was one of several hands-on astronomy-related projects for children. All activities and presentations of the day are designed for participation by attendees. At dusk the three telescopes of the observatory will be trained toward the skies, ready for viewing by participants.

Participants will ask as many of the following questions as time allows:

1. What kind of experiments are you conducting?

2. What do you do for fun in space?

3. How do you go to the bathroom in space?

4. How many times have you traveled to space?

5. Can you eat ice cream in space?

6. Do you sleep better in space than on Earth?

7. What is the best part of being an astronaut?

8. What is your favorite food in space?

9. How high can you jump in space?

10. After being weightless in space, how long does it take to get used to

Earth's gravity?

11. What are the most common in-flight repairs on the Space Station?

12. How can I send my drawing of the Space Station to you while you are in

space?

13. Does your stomach feel different when you eat in space?

14. What is it like to live in space?

15. Is it fun to be an astronaut?

16. What is it like to see stars from your window?

17. What planet are you studying?

18. How do you sleep in zero gravity?

19. How does it feel to be weightless?

20. Is sleeping in space difficult?

Information about the upcoming ARISS contacts can be found at http://www.ariss.org/upcoming.htm#NextContact.

Next planned event(s):

1. Istituto Superiore "G. Curcio", Ispica, telebridge via W6SRJ

Fri, 14 Oct 2011, 11:03 UTC

2. Amateur Radio Morioka Club, Morioka, Japan, direct via 8J7A

Sat, 15 Oct 2011, 09:47 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,

David - AA4KN