An International Space Station school contact has been planned with participants at Amateur Radio Morioka Club, Morioka, Japan on 15 Oct. The event is scheduled to begin at approximately 09:47 UTC. The duration of the contact is approximately 9 minutes and 30 seconds. The contact will be direct between NA1SS and 8J7A. The contact should be audible over Japan and adjacent areas. Interested parties are invited to listen in on the 145.80 MHz downlink. The contact is expected to be conducted in Japanese.

These are the questions from pupils who went through difficult times after the tsunami devastation on March 11. There are five elementary schools in Otsuchi Township, four of which are now housed in the same temporary campus since September 20. We would appreciate it if you include some words of encouragement while responding to each question. You may "pass" some difficult questions to Professor Sho Sasaki of Mizusawa Observatory who will be present at the school contact site.

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

1. Are all the stars of the same shape? Can you see the constellations from

the ISS? Do they look different from the earth?

2. Have you seen the shooting stars from the ISS? What do they look like?

3. From where do you get your food you eat on the ISS, and how?

4. Can't you use the felt tip pen? Why not? What kind of tools do you use

for writing?

5. How can you "swim" in the space?

6. Why is the universe so vast?

7. What is your most favorite planet? Besides the Earth, is there any other

place in the universe people can live in? What are the most necessary

things for people to survive?

8. Is it possible to predict earthquakes from the ISS?

9. Is it true that people don't age in the space?

10. Why don't space shuttles get burned while launching, whereas the

returning capsules get extremely hot when they come back to the

earth?

11. Have you ever quarreled with someone in the ISS?

12. What is the toughest challenge in the ISS or in the universe?

13. Why did the universe come into place?

14. What was your dream when you were a child?

15. What happens if you spill some water or drink in the ISS?

16. How you can hear the sound in the ISS or in the universe?

17. Can you have your hair cut in the ISS and how?

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

Next planned event(s):

1. Seiryo Elementary School, Seto, Aichi, Japan, direct via 8N2SETO

Tue, 18 Oct 2011, 08:33 UTC

2. Zespol Szkol Technicznych, Rybnicka 44, Poland, direct via SP9PKS

Fri, 21 Oct 2011, 16:38 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