An International Space Station school contact has been planned with participants at Boundary Beach Elementary, Delta, BC, Canada on 13 Oct. The event is scheduled to begin at approximately 17:10 UTC.

The duration of the contact is approximately 9 minutes and 30 seconds.

The contact will be direct between NA1SS and VE7LHM. The contact should be audible over western Canada. Interested parties are invited to listen in on the 145.80 MHz downlink. The contact is expected to be conducted in English.

BBES was closed down at the end of June, so the 23 former students are now attending different schools. They were all very excited about studying space together during the spring and they are very excited about getting to talk to real astronauts. During their science unit in the spring they made alka seltzer rockets, submitted rocks to Rock Around the World, visited the MacMillan Planetarium and saw Dr. Thirsk's wax model hanging in the exploration hall. The Grade 2 and 3 students were able to make their own space station at school, 2 modules connected by a tube. They created spaces for living, working and exercising, recognizing how important it is to exercise while in space. Since they have all been following the mission of Dr. Bob Thirsk, all questions are addressed to Bob.

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

1. What does Bob call his remote control robot and what will the robot do on

Mars? 2. How do you weigh yourself? 3. What do you miss most (other than your loved ones)? 4. What is your favourite part of the mission so far? 5. How much fuel does it take to lift off and attain orbit? 6. What effects do you see from global warming? 7. How much sleep do you get daily? 8. Does gas cause any problems on board? 9. Where do you go when you get bored? 10. How do the planets look from the space station? 11. What is your favourite space food and what kind of treats do you get? 12. Are you all nice to each other? 13. Did you take DVD equipment with you to watch movies or do you get to

watch TV? 14. What does earth and outer space look like from there? 15. Can you see more stars than on earth? 16. What was the most amazing sight you've seen since you've been up there? 17. What have you used the Canadarm for? 18. Do you get more tired in space than you do on earth? 19. What kind of work outs do you do daily? 20. What experiments are you working on? 21. Do you really drink your urine? 22. How long did Bob have to go to school to become an astronaut?

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

Next planned event(s):

1. Glenmore Christian Academy, Calgary, AB, Canada,

Wed 14 Oct 09 16:01 UTC

2. UNICEF Hands Washing Day all schools in Gao (Mali),

Thu 15 Oct 09 16:33 UTC

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

Sat 17 Oct 09 21:56 UTC

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

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

Fri 23 Oct 09 10:28 UTC

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

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

8. 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