An International Space Station school contact has been planned with participants at VTI Ieper, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium on 23 Oct. The event is scheduled to begin at approximately 11:11 UTC. The duration of the contact is approximately 9 minutes and 30 seconds. The contact will be a telebridge between NA1SS and VK4KHZ. The contact should be audible over portions of Australia. Interested parties are invited to listen in on the 145.80 MHz downlink. The contact is expected to be conducted in English.

The elementary school de Piramide is special as it is a method school according to the vision of Carl Medaer. This means that children, parents and teachers join hands to make projects work. In an atmosphere of respect for everybody's freedom and opinion all subjects are mixed to develop a theme. All pupils asking questions are aged between 10 and 12.

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

1. Is het moeilijk om andere kleren aan te trekken ? Is it difficult to change clothes? 2. Waarom werd jij precies gekozen om naar het ISS te gaan ? Why were you selected for a space mission? 3. Wekt het ISS statische elektriciteit op door de draaiing ? Does the movement of the ISS generate static electrical charges? 4. Waarom ben je kosmonaut geworden ? Why did you become an astronaut? 5. Hoe lang was je F-16 piloot ? How long have you been F-16 pilot? 6. Zie je de sterren zoals wij ze op aarde zien ? Do you see the stars as we see them from Earth? 7. Hoe voelt het als je terug vertrekt uit het ruimtestation ? How do you feel when leaving the station? 8. Welke problemen heb je reeds ondervonden ? What kind of problems did you experience? 9. Gaat de tijd snel in de ruimte ? Is time fast in space? 10.Moet je wel eens het ruimtestation verlaten ? Do you have to get out of the station sometimes? 11.Heb je nooit zin in een zak frieten ? Do you sometimes wish you had a portion chips? 12.Wat doe je om je te ontspannen ? How do you relax? 13.Bestaat er nog een ander manier om elektriciteit te produceren in de

ruimte dan zonnepanelen ? Is there another way to produce electrical power in space than solar

panels? 14.Wat is jouw taak aan boord ? What is your task on board? 15.Wat ga je als eerste doen als je terug thuiskomt ? What will you first do when back home? 16.Wat doen jullie met jullie afval ? How do you dispose of waste? 17.Heb je soms meningverschillen met je collega's aan boord ? Do you sometimes have a difference of opinion with crew members? 18.Heeft er iemand al een gaatje in z'n tand gehad ? Did it happen, that a crew member developed tooth caries? 19.Wat is het gevolg voor het lichaam als je lang in de ruimte verblijft ? What are the effects on the human body after a long time in space? 20.Wat zal je taak zijn als boordcommandant ? What is your task as commander?

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

Next planned event(s):

1. Samuel Hearne Secondary School, Inuvik, Northwest Territories,

Canada, Fri 23 Oct 09 16:27 UTC

2. Belayr Pathfinders, Dartmouth, NS, Canada,

Sat 24 Oct 09 15:12 UTC

3. Copernicus Science Centre, Warsaw, Poland,

Tue 27 Oct 09 09:33 UTC

4. Sherbrooke Community School, Sassafras, Victoria,

Wed 28 Oct 09 07:13:34 UTC

5. David Thompson Middle School, Calgary, AB, Canada,

Fri 30 Oct 09 21:12 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