An International Space Station Expedition 14 ARISS school contact has been planned with students at Sherman Elementary School, Henrietta, New York on Monday 8 Jan. The event is scheduled to begin at approximately 14:33 UTC.

The contact will be a direct between stations NA1SS and W2SKY. The contact should be audible in the Northeastern United States. Interested parties are invited to listen in on the 145.80 MHz downlink. Additional listening options are listed below. The participants are expected to conduct the conversation in English.

IRLP - Connect to the IRLP reflector 9010. You may also connect via the IRLP Discovery website at http://www.discoveryreflector.ca/listen.htm.

EchoLink - The audio from this contact will be available on the EchoLink *AMSAT* (node 101 377) and the *JK1ZRW* (node 277 208) conference rooms. Please connect to the *JK1ZRW* server to keep the load light on the *AMSAT* server. This will ensure good audio quality for all listeners. _________________________________

Sherman Elementary School 5th graders are participating in science units that focus on a possible mission to Mars. The students are also study robotics and how robots are used for space exploration. To prepare for their communication with the Space Station crew, the students will research the history of the Space Station and examine the work of the astronauts while living on the Space Station. Students will also research satellite and radio communication in space.

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

1. Did you see the Northern Lights with the recent solar storm? 2. How long does it take you to get ready for a space walk? 3. What is the most intense part of your training? 4. What is your opinion about Pluto loosing its status as a planet? 5. A while back we heard on the news that while the astronauts were putting a solar panel on, a screw was accidentally dropped. Why would this be such a big deal? 6. How would you describe the feeling you get when you take off? 7. What do you do with the used water from things like showers and washing your hands? 8. The first time you were up there, what was your most exciting moment?

9. When did you first think about becoming an astronaut? 10. What things do you miss besides your family when your on the Space Station away from home? 11. What do you do if you get sick? Can you take a sick day? 12. Can you have other forms of communication besides the radio such as computers or cell phones? 13. What kinds of foods do you eat in space? 14. How many air tanks do you have at the Space Station? 15. When a space shuttle has problems, what is your back-up plan to get those astronauts home? 16. If one little thing goes wrong does everything go wrong? 17. Do you see hurricanes and other weather patterns from the Space Station? 18. How long does it take you to go from the US to the Space Station? 19. Do you see shooting stars? 20. What do you think about just before you take off?

Please note, the amateur equipment on the ISS is not functioning in the automatic modes properly and may be silent more than usual. The radios are planned to be shutdown in preparation for the upcoming shuttle mission. Information about the next scheduled ARISS contact can be found at http://www.rac.ca/ariss/upcoming.htm#NextContact .

Next planned event(s): Dilworth Elementary School, San Jose, CA, USA, direct via AA6W Mon 2007-01-08 17:34 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.rac.ca/ariss (graciously hosted by the Radio Amateurs of Canada).

Thank you & 73, Kenneth - N5VHO