An International Space Station school contact has been planned with participants at Zespól Szkól Technicznych w Kole, Kolo, Poland on 19 Sept. The event is scheduled to begin at approximately 07:15 UTC. The duration of the contact is approximately 9 minutes and 30 seconds. The contact will be direct between OR4ISS and SP3PGZ. The contact should be audible over Poland 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.

Zespol Szkol Technicznych (Complex of Technical Schools, abr. ZST) in Kolo is a modern, dynamic and constantly developing school with more than 60 years tradition, and a well-qualified staff. We are one of the largest secondary schools in our region. Currently, we teach more than 1000 students between 16 and 20 years old.

We regularly modernize our facilities with better equipment and by doing so we keep expanding our educational base to match contemporary teaching standards. The school itself is well equipped in computer hardware as we have got almost one hundred computers, majority of which are used by students and teachers during classes every day. Teachers and students have access to the library which also serves as a data bank containing information about our students' results and progress they make throughout their time at our school. The library also provides free access to a broadband internet connection for students and teachers alike.

We equip our students with practical skills in IT, Environment Protection and Car Mechanics. Students of our school take new challenges very eagerly. In our work we utilize modern teaching techniques and encourage our students to participation in various projects such as ARISS school contact. Except participating in ARISS educational program we have just completed building an ECO-ROBOT, a small submarine-like drone with various spectrographic equipment on board and changeable head. We also promote care for the environment in our local community and run a carting club.

ZST also has a tradition in the radio contact field. Our School Amateur Radio Club SP3PGZ was established in 1976 and since then it has been active on many radio bands. The main goals of the club are: promoting shortwave radio communication as a hobby for young people, cooperation in organizing local events, and taking part in competitions.

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

1. How long does the ISS member training programme last?

2. How long can the ISS remain in orbit with only solar energy at its

disposal?

3. Is it allowed to attach posters or photos of your favorite celebrities,

family or anything else to the walls?

4. What is the astronaut's maximum possible distance from the ISS during an

EVA? Is it dangerous?

5. What is the ISS protection against space debris? Have you ever collided

with tiny debris?

6. In what way is the ISS protected from solar flare radiation?

7. What can astronauts see from the Station's windows?

8. What special skills and abilities are required in order to take part in

the mission?

9. What operating system do you use in the computers for research and

controlling the station?

10. What works better in no-gravity environment - pen or pencil?

11. What is the temperature, pressure and air composition inside the station?

12. Has there ever been a case of sickness like a cold, aboard the station?

If yes, how was it dealt with?

13. What are the key resources that the ISS needs for full functionality?

14. What schools do I have to attend, what languages do I need to learn and

what should I target after school education to become an astronaut?

15. How much of free time do ISS members have during their stay on board?

16. How fast is your Internet connection and how does it work?

17. How does a cut in space look like and does it heal faster?

18. How much water do you use up weekly? Do you recycle the urine to get

water?

19. Does the ISS represent for you some sort of home or just a workplace?

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

Next planned event(s):

1. Sunset Hills Elementary, San Diego, CA, direct via KI6LZN

Thu, 20Sept2012, 17:24UTC

2. Lafayette Middle School, Lafayette, GA, direct via W4LMS

Fri, 21Sept2012, 15:03 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