An International Space Station school contact has been planned with participants at UNICEF Hands Washing Day all schools in Gao (Mali), on 15 Oct. The event is scheduled to begin at approximately 16:33 UTC.

The duration of the contact is approximately 9 minutes. The contact will be a telebridge between NA1SS and K6DUE. The contact should be audible over the east 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 French.

The Catholic School is located in the city Gao, chief city of 7th administrative Region of Mali Republic in Western Africa. The Gao Region is in Northern Mali, like Tombouctou and Kidal. Population is mainly Sonrhaï, Peulh, Bozo, Touareg and Arabs. Predominant religion is Islam. The school was founded September 1952 by the Congregation of the Guardian Angel Sisters. Originally, the school was for girls only, with boarding-school and kindergarten. Since 1968, it is mixed. It was know under several names : Gao V Private, Djoulabougou Private and since March 1st 2003. The school is open to children from six to eighteen years old, without racial nor religious discrimination. It has a computer room, a library, a conference room, a basketball ground and a green playground. Since 2008, the school participates to the UNICEF educational programme for hygiene at school. In school year 2008-2009, there are 1088 pupils, 500 girls and 588 boys, in 18 classes tended by 24 male and 3 female teachers.

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

1. Par quel moyen avez-vous rejoint la station spatiale ? Si vous tombez en

panne comment vous depannez-vous?

How do you repair if you have trouble? With which vehicle did you travel

to space?

2. Est-ce que vous avez des bagages avec vous?

Do you have luggage with you?

3. Comment vous lavez-vous ? Est-ce qu'il y a des latrines ?

How do you wash yourself? Do you have a toilet?

4. Comment faites-vous la lessive et la vaisselle ?

How do you wash your clothes and wash up dishes?

5. Est-ce qu'il y a le jour et la nuit ? Voyez-vous le soleil ?

Is there day and night? Do you see the Sun?

6. Combien d'heures travaillez-vous ? Pour qui travaillez vous ?

How many hours do you work? For whom do you work?

7. Est-ce que vous faites du sport ?

Do you do sport?

8. Comment faites-vous la cuisine ? Comment vous vous approvisionnez ?

How do you do the cooking? How do you do shopping?

9. Est-ce que vous marchez dans l'espace ?

Do you walk in space?

10. Quelle distance vous sépare de la terre ?

How far are you from Earth?

11. Comment vous vous soignez ?

How do you take care of yourself?

12. Quelle sorte d'études fait-on pour devenir astronaute ?

Which kind of studies are needed to become an astronaut?

13. Comment communiquez-vous avec votre famille ?

How do you talk to your family?

14. Comment rejoignez-vous la terre ?

How will you go back to Earth?

15. Habitez-vous une maison là-bas ?

Do you live in a house there?

16. Comment sont faites les maisons là- bas ?

How are the houses there?

17. Comment est la porte du ciel ?

How is the door of the sky?

18. On fait combien de jours avant d'arriver dans l'espace ?

How many days does it take to go to space?

19. Y a-t-il l'école la-bas pour les enfants ?

Do children go to school there?

20. On parle quelle langue dans l'espace ?

Which language is spoken in space?

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

Next planned event(s):

1. JOTA, Boy Scouts of America HQ, Irving, Texas,

Sat 17 Oct 09 21:56 UTC

2. Istituto Comprensivo Romualdo Trifone, Montecorvino Rovella, Salerno, Italy, Tue 20 Oct 09 07:41 UTC

3. C. E. M. IV, Mbour, Senegal,

Fri 23 Oct 09 10:28 UTC

4. VTI Ieper, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium, Fri 23 Oct 09 11:11 UTC

5. Samuel Hearne Secondary School, Inuvik, Northwest Territories, Canada, Fri 23 Oct 09 16:27 UTC

6. Belayr Pathfinders, Dartmouth, NS, Canada,

Sat 24 Oct 09 15:12 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