An International Space Station school contact has been planned with participants at ESA Space Camp, Dublin, Ireland on 22 July. The event is scheduled to begin at approximately 17:25 UTC. The duration of the contact is approximately 9 minutes and 30 seconds. The contact will be a telebridge between NA1SS and W6SRJ. The contact should be audible over the west coast of 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 European Space Agency has locations in several European countries. The annual summer space camp is an occasion when the children of staff employed at ESA get a chance to mix with each other in an environment which allows them to be immersed in space activities and cultural events. This year the 160 ESA campers will land in a traditional "Harry Potter" style boarding school near Dublin, in a country full of mystical stories and a breath taking landscape, on 14 July 2012. St Colombas College offers the amenities where children will learn about Space Ship Earth in more detail, with emphasis on hands on activities and having fun whilst learning.

As part of their 2 week stay at the camp, the children aged 8-17 years, will take part in sporting events, field trips where they will explore more about what earth is made of, look more closely at how we explore other planets and design their own launchers and space suits. They will be visited by an ESA astronaut who will join in the activities and explain about astronaut training and human spaceflight.

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

1. How long did you take from take off until you reach the ISS?

2. How do astronauts manage to float in the station?

3. What happens if there is a hole in the space station?

4. What are the best and worst parts of weightlessness?

5. How is it like the first time without gravity?

6. What are the consequences of a long term space flight for the human body?

7. Since there is no gravity in space do you launch yourself when you

sneeze?

8. What happens when you need a surgery in space?

9. Have you been afraid when in space?

10. Do you have a chance to follow the London Olympics from the ISS?

11. What do you do in your free time in space?

12. Do you believe in aliens or life out there?

13. What kind of petrol/energy is used in launchers, in satellites and in the

station and what drives the choice?

14. Do you get to wear your own clothes or are you given special clothes?

15. Which is the most amazing spatial event that you've ever experienced?

16. How long can you survive with the food on board of the ISS and do you

like the food?

17. When did you become interested in space?

18. After being in space so long and seeing earth from so far away, so you

still see mankind in the same way?

19. Where do you sleep better: ISS or home.

20. Does it ever get really dark outside?

21. What is your favourite way to pass time on the station when you don't

have to work?

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

Next planned event(s):

1. Women in Engineering @ Rochester Institute of Technology,

Rochester, NY, direct via W2RIT

Mon 23 July 2012, 13:27 UTC

2. Virginia Air and Space, Hampton, VA, direct via KE4ZXW

Thu 26 July 2012, 14:05 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