An International Space Station school contact has been planned with participants University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada on 20 July. The event is scheduled to begin at approximately 15:27 UTC. The duration of the contact is approximately 9 minutes and 30 seconds.

The contact will be direct between NA1SS and VE6SSC. The contact should be audible over portions of Canada and the U.S. Interested parties are invited to listen in on the 145.80 MHz downlink. The contact is expected to be conducted in English.

The ISSET Space Academy is a summer outreach program organized and run by The Institute for Space Science, Exploration and Technology at the University of Alberta with the support of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC), Edmonton Chapter. ISSET's Space Academy is designed for kids in grades 7-9 interested in space exploration as a hands-on five day camp. Trainees build and launch model rockets, and experience real challenges faced by astronauts in space, like performing complex tasks at the direction of mission control on Earth, their only connection a walkie-talkie. Space camp trainees handle real meteorites, rocks from deep space that reveal secrets of how Earth and the Universe were formed. Trainees also get access to the AMMI Lab, the U of A's virtual reality environment. With the help of virtual reality glasses campers will 'enter' a 3-D magnetic storm in outer space. The camp also includes building interactive robots and an afternoon at the Telus World of Science. The candidates will also use amateur radio when they will launch and track high altitude balloons using the APRS system.

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

1. Do the G:force simulators back on earth truly prepare an astronaut for

the lift off?

2. How do you personally deal with stressful situations in space?

3. How does astronaut's pen work in zero gravity?

4. What is your daily lifestyle in space like?

5. How does living on the International Space Station influence the way you

act or think about Earth and humanity?

6. What is a black hole?

7. How do you simulate gravity on the Space Station?

8. How do you feel living in zero gravity for a long time make you feel, not

eating or sleeping as normal?

9. When did you decide you wanted to be an astronaut?

10. What kind of schooling did you need to do your job?

11. How does it make you feel to see Earth from space?

12. How are you returning to Earth from the Space Station?

13. Does NASA have more plans to send additional astronauts to the Space

Station?

14. I am worried about a future in the space industry. Do think there will be

good careers as an astronaut in the future?

15. What is your opinion of the private space industry and what role will it

play?

16. Does NASA have plans to send astronauts to Mars?

17. Does everyone get along all the time on the Space Station?

18. Is it really that complicated to turn a screw in zero gravity?

19. I saw on the Discovery Channel that liquid water was found on one of

Jupiter's moons, I think it was called Europa, what does this mean?

20. Have you met a Russian in space? What are cosmonauts like?

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

Next planned event(s):

1. European Space Agency for ESA Space Camp 2011, San Rossore (Pisa),

Tuscany, Italy, direct via IQ5VR

Sat, 23 July 2011, 09:42 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