An International Space Station school contact has been planned with participants at Luitpold-Gymnasium Muenchen, Munich, Bavaria, D-80538, Germany on 17 March. The event is scheduled to begin at approximately 14:06 UTC. The duration of the contact is approximately 9 minutes and 30 seconds. The contact will be direct between OR4ISS and DN2MQT. The contact should be audible over portions of Europe 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 Luitpold-Gymnasium is a secondary school in Munich located near by the "Englischer Garten". It was established in 1891. Famous alumni include the biochemist and Nobel Laureate Feodor Lynen, and journalist and recipient of the Buber-Rosenzweig-Medal Schalom ben Chorin.

Educational activities:

A special course "space flight" started in September 2009. 15 highly motivated students aged about 17 are learning about various aspects of aeronautics and are being introduced into the basics of scientific work.

The planning of the scheduled radio contact was initially a collective project for this course. In September 2010 a project group consisting of students from different lower grades formed to assist their preparations.

In two talks, members of the German amateur radio organization (DARC) gave a comprehensive introduction to amateur radio on the ISS.

Many elements of the examination for the highest German amateur radio license ("Technische Kenntnisse" zu den Amateurfunkzeugnissen der Klasse A) are closely related to the physics curriculum and have been addressed in the respective grades.

We are working with the ESA ISS Education Kit, e. g. with ESA Science (Newton in Space) Videos.

In August 2010 three students presented the project at the Global Hands-On Universe Conference in Garching.

A periodic newsletter called "Countdown" has been issued, with issue numbers counting backward, of course (starting with "T minus 10 months (and counting)".

In this newsletter for pupils of all grades the proceedings of the project have been reported. In addition there have been news from the ISS, the members of the current crew, instructions to see the ISS, little contests, a glossary on amateur radio and so on.

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

1. In the space station, do you dream of Earth or Space?

2. What will be the first things you'll do when you return to Earth?

3. What do you do when you get homesick?

4. Greetings to your colleagues Alexander, Oleg, and Dimitri. How do you

work together?

5. What's your favourite thing to eat on the ISS?

6. Are you scared of the return flight or of everyday life on Earth?

7. Do you think that the increasing commercialization of space travel brings

a positive or negative effect with it? If you could choose who could

come as a tourist to the ISS during your mission, who would you choose?

8. Can you have a private life?

9. Are there ever problems due to the long time spent working with the same

people and staying in such a small and tight space?

10. Is it quiet or loud in space?

11. If you were separated from the station during an EVA, what would you do?

12. What do you do when you're ill? I've heard that astronauts don't have any

beds! That they just sit.

13. What do you have to learn when you learn to fly the shuttle? Do you have

to do homework?

14. Is it warm or cold in the space station? And if it is warm, do you get

sweaty in your spacesuit?

15. Has the ISS been hit by space debris?

16. How was the lift off for you? How did you feel?

17. Are there often arguments?

18. How often can you communicate with your family?

19. What would you do if you lost contact with Earth?

20. Does Earth look big or small to you?

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

Next planned event(s):

1. SIP Cossar / Da Vinci, Gorizia, Italy, and Elena Guerra Middle

School, Rome, Italy direct via IW3QKU

Contact is a go for: Sat, 19 Mar. 2011 08:38 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