An International Space Station school contact has been planned with participants at The Academy@Shawnee, Louisville, KY on 14 Feb. The event is scheduled to begin at approximately 20:15 UTC. The duration of the contact is approximately 9 minutes and 30 seconds. The contact will be a telebridge between OR4ISS and ON4ISS. The contact should be audible over portions of Europe. Interested parties are invited to listen in on the 145.80 MHz downlink. The contact is expected to be conducted in English.

The Academy@Shawnee is an inner city high school of about 500 students. It has been designated as the Aerospace Magnet School for Jefferson County Public Schools in Louisville, Kentucky. Students who attend out school have the option to focus on one of three career paths in aerospace. If a student's desire is to become a pilot, he or she can earn a private pilots license. We have the only FAA Part 141 Private Pilots Course offered in a high school in the nation. Students wishing to study engineering can enroll in Project Lead the Way, one of the nation's premier pre-college engineering programs. This is a five course program with an aerospace focus. Students wanting to become an Aircraft Mechanic can earn 25 college hours as they work towards a FAA Airframe and Powerplant License.

Today, you are talking to students from our Science Club. Last year, the students designed an experiment that flew on the Space Shuttle Endeavour. Our goal this year is to study experiments Near Space using high altitude balloons. We are speaking to you from our Challenger Learning Center. This Center is designed to provide students with an exciting simulated space mission that includes a realistic Mission Control room and an orbiting Space Station. The center is our principal outreach to middle schools. It is designed to get students interested in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math and encourages them to choose The Academy@Shawnee as their high school.

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

1. Last year we sent an experiment on the Space Shuttle Endeavor. We were

testing the effect of microgravity on Lactobacillus GG a bacterium

that occurs naturally in the human intestinal tract and aids in

digestion, especially of dairy products. Our experiment showed

that microgravity had little to no effect on Lactobacillus GG during a 15

day mission. Are there any dairy products in your current diet and have

you or any of your crew ever experienced digestive problems that could be

contributed to them or the duration of your mission?

2. How long does it take to regain all your physical ability when you come

back to earth? Does exercise on board the ISS have any impact on recovery

time and does exercise seem more or less strenuous in microgravity?

3. What are some of the experiments currently on board the ISS? How does the

crew interact with a typical experiment?

4. What is a typical day like on the ISS, how much control do you have over

your own schedule and is there any down time? If so, how do you use this

time?

5. To what extent is the ISS self sustaining or is there a constant need for

re-supply from earth? What are some of the features of the ISS that might

be used in the construction of spacecraft designed for long duration

space flight?

6. What is the projected life expectancy for the ISS program? Is it fully

functional now and how long did it take to assemble the ISS in space?

7. We know that several companies are planning to commercialize travel to

low earth orbit in the near future. What role do you see these private

companies playing in the future of space exploration and do you foresee

tours to the ISS any time soon?

8. Can you feel the cold of space through your space suit while on

spacewalks? We have been told that an astronaut once said that space has

a burnt smell. Have you noticed anything like that?

9. When the ISS is occupied with a full crew, how many astronauts will be

allowed out on an EVA at one time? How far from the ISS can you go? How

long will a typical EVA last. What are the rescue procedures for an EVA?

10. Are the Rescue Pods used for anything other than an emergency evacuation

of the ISS? How are the pods maintained and are they reusable? Why do

they need to be changed out every few months?

11. Does NASA plan on putting artificial gravity on the ISS? If not, why and

would there be any advantages to having gravity from a medical

standpoint?

12. What do you do when you are sick? What is the level of care that can be

provided on the ISS? Would it be possible to do minor surgery on the

station. How does microgravity impact medical care?

13. What is the coolest thing you have seen or done on the ISS?

14. What led you to become an astronaut? What do you miss most (besides

family and friends) while living on the ISS?

15. Describe your diet. With an international crew on board what country

provides the meals? Does the fact that you are in space affect food

texture or how it tastes?

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

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