An International Space Station school contact has been planned with participants at Maani Ulujuk Ilinniarvik (MUI), Rankin Inlet, Nunavut, Canada on 14 May. The event is scheduled to begin at approximately 14:40 UTC.

The duration of the contact is approximately 9 minutes and 30 seconds. The contact will be a telebridge between NA1SS and W6SRJ. The contact should be audible over the west coast of the U.S. Interested parties are invited to listen in on the 145.80 MHz downlink. The contact is expected to be conducted in English.

Maani Ulujuk Ilinniarvik (MUI), named after an Elder who at the time was one of the oldest Elders in the community, is a grade 7 - 12 school in a community of three schools. Simon Alaittuq (Grades 5 - 6) and Leo Ussak Elementary (Grades K - 4) are the other schools in the community who make up the Rankin School system.

Our school currently has a population of 333 students. Enrolment fluctuates from semester to semester dependent of movement of families into the community for work and education since Rankin Inlet is a regional center for education, government services and transportation. There are 35 staff members in the school and the school takes pride in its ability to offer a balanced educational program leading to graduation.

Each year students at MUI are required to develop and submit a science fair project which is entered into the MUI Science Fair. Students who place in the top three at the school level science fair get an opportunity to represent the school at the Kivalliq Regional Science Fair, which has been hosted by MUI three times in the past 8 years. During those 8 years we have been represented at National Science fairs at least 6 times.

As well, we have a vibrant technology program which provides staff and students access to many online and in-house resources. Students can graduate with a compliment of technology courses which prepares them well for post-secondary and/or the world of work.

The school has a strong cultural program featuring traditional tool making, traditional sewing and other equipment needed for hunting and fishing. Inuit have a long traditional of living of the land and students are fortunate at MUI that we still have Elders and cultural experts who are available and willing to come into the school to teach traditional skills. The schools shop and home economics programs are steeped in traditional activities and classes from grades 7 - 12 integrate traditional activities into the curriculum.

We are very excited about linking up to the space station and giving our school and community an opportunity to be part of this great program. Maani Ulujuk prides itself on being innovative and having high expectations for students and staff. We look forward to the opportunity to provide our students with this great learning experience.

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

1. What made you want to become an astronaut?

2. What kind of research do you do and why?

3. What is the cost for one astronaut going to the space station?

4. Do you see a lot of changes to the Earth every 90 minutes?

5. How many space station related launches happen in a year?

6. How does it feel when you take off?

7. How do you spend your free time in space?

8. Do the stars and the moon look different from space?

9. How long does it take for the shuttle to get to the space station?

10. What kind of food do you eat and who cooks?

11. How do you know if it is day or night in space?

12. Do the Northern Lights look different from space?

13. Have you done a spacewalk?

14. How hard is it to dress in space?

15. How do you take a shower in space?

16. Does your body feel pain without gravity?

17. How often do you talk to your family?

18. Can you use the internet from space?

19. How long have you been in space?

20. How many people are on the space station right now?

21. Is the trip back home any different to the trip there?

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

Next planned event(s):

TBD

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