An International Space Station school contact has been planned with participants at Special John Glenn event, State Records Office of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia on 20 Feb. The event is scheduled to begin at approximately 10:23 UTC. The duration of the contact is approximately 9 minutes and 30 seconds. The contact will be a telebridge between NA1SS and AH6NM. The contact should be audible over Hawaii 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.

On February 20, this year, WA will celebrate the 50th anniversary of a very significant event. On that day in 1962, John Glenn became the first American to orbit the Earth in the Friendship 7 spacecraft. On this mission, Glenn flew over Perth and the people of Perth turned on their lights to acknowledge his mission. Glenn observed that the city was clearly visible from space and Perth became known worldwide as the 'City of Light'. This early space exploration mission set the stage for the Gemini and Apollo programs which culminated in NASA landing men on the moon.

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of Glenn's orbit, on Monday 20 February 2012 Perth will stage a public event at the Northbridge Piazza, featuring a live audio link to the International Space Station as it orbits the Earth.

The highlight of the event will be the recorded opening address by John Glenn and an opportunity for young people to speak with and ask questions of the astronauts on the International Space Station.

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

1. What is the reason for space exploration?

2. What is it like to float in space?

3. How did the engineers make the space station have enough oxygen for the

astronauts?

4. Are your dreams different in space?

5. What do I need to study at school to become an astronaut?

6. Does living in space affect your behavior or emotions?

7. Can a bird fly in zero gravity?

8. Have you always wanted to be an astronaut since you were a little boy? If

not what other jobs did you want?

9. When you get back down to Earth, do you think you would be confused which

way is which?

10. There are so many things you can do on a space station. What is your main

project at the moment and what are you planning to do after that?

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

Next planned event(s):

1. Circolo Didattico Nicola Fornelli, Bitonto, Italy, direct via IZ7RTN

Fri, 24 Feb 2012, 14:01 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