An International Space Station school contact has been planned with participants at Dixon Elementary School, Holly Ridge, NC on 21 April. The event is scheduled to begin at approximately 18:05 UTC. The duration of the contact is approximately 9 minutes and 30 seconds. The contact will be direct between NA1SS and NC4OC. The contact should be audible over the eastern U.S. Interested parties are invited to listen in on the 145.80 MHz downlink. The contact is expected to be conducted in English.

Dixon Elementary School is located in a rural setting, with its feeder communities North Topsail Beach, Sneads Ferry, Holly Ridge and Surf City. Our community has seen sharp rises in the population of retirees and young families both military and civilian. With the deployment of large numbers of military personnel to Camp Lejeune, New River Air Station, and MARSOC (Marine Special Operations Center) at Stone Bay, the Dixon area continues to grow. Our school population as of February 2014 is over 900 students. Dixon Elementary is a Title 1 School with 38% of our students receiving free or reduced meal benefits. Our student population consists of 81% white students, .09% American Indian, .06% Hispanic, 9% Black, 2% Asian and .007% Pacific Islander.

Dixon Elementary was initially accredited by AdvancEd in 1978. Students are served by highly qualified teachers in 38 regular classrooms, three self-contained exceptional childrenÕs classrooms and two pre-kindergarten classrooms. There are six highly qualified resource teachers who also offer support to our large population of exceptional children. Dixon Elementary is a charter member of the National Elementary Honor Society and the Global Schools Network.

In the fall of 2012 Dixon Elementary implemented a STEM classroom for instruction in science, technology, engineering and mathematics for students in grades K-5. Students rotate through the STEM classroom every 7 days. The STEM classroom teacher, a veteran science and math teacher, provides hands-on science and math instruction and project-based learning, including a variety of engineering projects. Each year Dixon Elementary hosts a SPACE DAY for students in Pre-K through 5th grade, with our community joining us in this spectacular event.

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

1. How do you shower in space?

2. What time zone do you live by in space?

3. What are some of the things that are harder to do in space than on earth?

4. Who inspired you to become an astronaut?

5. How do you keep in touch with your family when you are in space?

6. What do you do with your trash on the space station?

7. Can you cry in space?

8. How can you live in space for months without running out of oxygen?

9. What kind of medical testing does an astronaut have to go through to be

physically and mentally fit?

10. What is your favorite experiment that you are working with on the space

station?

11. How do you pack for the three or six months you will be on the space

station?

12. How long does it take to become a fully trained astronaut?

13. How do you celebrate the holidays when you are in space?

14. Does anyone ever get sick with the flu or cold when you are in space?

15. When you aren't working do you have a favorite way to spend your free

time?

16. How does micro-gravity affect your vision?

17. Will your blood clot faster in microgravity?

18. When you do an EVA, what is the longest time you could be out in space?

19. Will a compass work in space?

20. Do you have to be a certain age before you can apply to be an astronaut?

PLEASE CHECK THE FOLLOWING FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ARISS UPDATES:

Sign up for the SAREX maillist at

http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/sarex

Visit ARISS on Facebook. We can be found at Amateur Radio on the

International Space Station (ARISS).

To receive our Twitter updates, follow @ARISS_status

Next planned event(s):

TBD

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

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