An International Space Station school contact has been planned with participants at Kantonsschule Zug, Zug, Switzerland on 31 Oct. The event is scheduled to begin at approximately 14:56 UTC. The duration of the contact is approximately 9 minutes and 30 seconds. The contact will be direct between OR4ISS and HB9KSZ. The contact should be audible over Switzerland 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.

The Kantonsschule Zug (KSZ) has over 1600 students and over 200 teachers. The school is located in the city of Zug in central Switzerland. The school prepares in 6 grades for university, the age of the students ranging from 13 to 19 years. Students applying to the KSZ need to have high marks at their preceding elementary school by the end of their 6th grade. Approximately 20% of the students reach these marks. In this respect the KSZ is a kind of an elite school. Students who pass the final exam (Matura, matriculation exam) at KSZ are free to enter any university throughout Europe without any further entrance examination unless a certain numerous clausus holds for certain studies at the desired university.

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

1. What is the ISS's most significant contribution to science?

2. Have astronauts achieved any scientific developments or gained any

knowledge that one couldn't achieve or gain on earth?

3. How does the ISS evade space debris that is a threat to the station?

4. How do you protect yourself against ionizing radiation?

5. How much energy does the solar panels of the ISS produce?

6. Now that the Space Shuttles are out of service, how does this affect the

transports to the ISS?

7. What was the most fascinating phenomenon you've ever seen in space?

8. Which technological advancements might make space missions easier for

astronauts in the future?

9. When you have to cook in space, how do you manage that in zero gravity?

10. What do you do in case of fire on the ISS?

11. Do you get tired slower or faster in zero gravity?

12. When do you sleep in space?

13. When you go to sleep, what do you hear? What are the most common noises?

14. Have you already any results from experiment PLANTS 2?

15. Do you have spare time? If yes, what do you do in your spare time?

16. What do you do against the development of bad smells on the ISS?

17. What would you ask yourself if you were in our position forming a

question for an astronaut?

18. Whilst staying on board the ISS, have you ever thought about the fact

that you're in a container in the middle of a vacuum with absolutely no

air to breathe outside?

19. How do you go to the toilet in space?

20. How cold is it in outer space?

21. Are there any cultural problems between the astronauts on the ISS?

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

Next planned event(s):

1. Sundance Elementary School, San Diego, California, direct via KI6ZUM

Tue, 01Nov2011 20:00 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