An International Space Station Expedition 13 ARISS school contact has been planned with students at Sendai Yoshinari Junior High School, Sendai, Japan on Friday, 25 Aug 2006. The event is scheduled to begin at approximately 08:12 UTC.

The contact will be direct between stations NA1SS and 8J7YJH. The contact should be audible to anyone in Japan and portions of Eastern China and far Eastern Russia. Interested parties are invited to listen in on the 145.80 MHz downlink.

The Yoshinari Junior High school was established in Yoshinari in the eastern part of Miyagi-cho, on April 1st, 1980. The original school district was comprised of Yoshinari, Iseyoshinari and Nakayamayoshinari. Miyagi-cho subsequently merged to become part of Sendai City, and so the school is now classified under Sendai City. Due to urban development, the building of another school nearby, and shifts in the local population, the school district has changed somewhat over time and now comprises Yoshinari, Kunimigaoka and Kuniminishidai. Now Yoshinari Junior High school has 314 students.

Students at Sendai Yoshinari Junior High School will ask as many of the following questions as time allows:

1. How would you like space food to be better? 2. Does heated space food have steam and can you smell it? 3. What differences are there between the pictures of the Earth you saw before you went to space and what you can see now? 4. When part of the Earth is experiencing a solar eclipse, what does it look like from the space station? 5. Can you see the aurora borealis when you pass near one of the Earth's poles? 6. What do you usually do during your free time on the space station? 7. Can you get enough exercise in space? 8. How long do you exercise every day to keep your muscles strong? 9. What problems do you have that are caused by being in space for a long time? 10. What do you check on the space station every day? 11. Is the space station sometimes hit by meteorites or dust? 12. What differences are there between the way the moon looks from the Earth and the way it looks from the space station? 13. What are some interesting and some difficult things you encounter on a space walk? 14. Can you wash your hair on the space station? 15. Why, and at what age did you become interested in space? 16. What should we do to hold on to and fulfill our dreams like you have? 17. Can you watch TV on the space station? 18. Have you made any mistakes because you forgot about zero gravity? 19. On your journey to the space station, at the first moment of zero gravity, how did you feel? 20. In total, how many space suits are there on the space station? 21. Can you get into and out of a space suit by yourself? 22. What are some interesting and some difficult things you are researching in space? 23. Can you see any satellites passing by the space station? 24. How does your body feel upon re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere? 25. What should we do to keep the Earth beautiful?

Please note, the amateur equipment on the ISS has been off due to recent SSTV testing. It will be returned to regular amateur radio operations as soon as possible. Information about the next scheduled ARISS contact can be found at http://www.rac.ca/ariss/upcoming.htm#NextContact .

Next planned event(s): Northeast Middle School, Clarksville, TN via telebridge VK4KHZ, Mon 2006-08-28 15:59 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