Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) Status Report March 23, 2009

1. Upcoming School Contacts

An Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact has been scheduled for Cotswold School in Christchurch, New Zealand. The contact will take place on Thursday, March 26 at 23:52 UTC via telebridge station VK5ZAI in Australia. Cotswold is a primary school which has an enrollment of 500 children, ages 5 to 11. The ARISS contact has been integrated into the school's science curriculum which covers the solar system and space exploration. Students have learned what the requirements are to become an astronaut and about life in space. The school is in the process of setting up an amateur radio station; ten children have joined the amateur radio club. These students have also learned about sound waves, the history of radio communication, and basic circuit building.

St. Joseph High School in Nepean, Ontario, Canada has been scheduled for an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact on Friday, March 27 at 13:38 UTC. This will be a telebridge contact via LU1CGB in Argentina.

An Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact has been scheduled for the Istituto Comprensivo Statale "Alessandro Volta," in Mandello Del Lario, Lecco, Italy on Friday, March 27 at 14:03 UTC. This will be a direct and telebridge contact via stations I2JRY and IZ2PBM. The ARISS contact will be integrated into the school curriculum as students are taught lessons in radio, astronautics, astronomy and English.

Parkside Community College in Parkside, Cambridge, U.K. has been scheduled for an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact on Monday, March 30 at 17:00 UTC. Station GB4FUN will handle the connection.

The Girl's Middle School (GMS) in Mountain View, California has been scheduled for an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact on Monday, March 30 at 18:22 UTC via telebridge station K6DUE in Maryland. The contact is planned with spaceflight participant Charles Simonyi, KE7KDP/HA5SIK. GMS is a small, independent school for girls in 6th - 8th grade. The school's mission is to nurture and empower girls during this pivotal time in their lives. It looks for non-traditional educational opportunities to help girls expand their horizons.

An Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact has been scheduled for Marcelino Canino Canino Middle School in Dorado, Puerto Rico. The contact will take place on Tuesday, March 31 at 15:36 UTC. The student body is made up of 577 students of which approximately 77% live under the poverty level. 100% of the students receive Title I services and over 100 students receive special education services. A Microsatellite Student Program has been implemented where students design, construct, build and launch microsatellites which are then tracked and recovered with the help of amateur radio operators. The coordinating teacher has prepared a NASA Explorer Schools proposal and other science oriented proposals in the school to help motivate its largely underprivileged population to become competitive professionals in the global economy. Two contests have been held at the school - one for an activity logo and another for an essay. Scientists, state government functionaries, Department of Education representatives, and students from other grade levels in elementary and high school have been invited to attend the event. Of major interest to the students is the fact that Joseph Acaba, the first astronaut of Puerto Rican descent, flew to the ISS on STS-119. The school is planning its own press releases and expects media coverage.

Milwee Middle School in Longwood, Florida has been scheduled for an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact on Wednesday, April 1 at 17:55 UTC via telebridge station ON4ISS in Belgium.

Carl Sandburg Elementary in the Lake Washington School district in Kirkland, Washington has been approved for an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact. The contact is slated for Thursday, April 2 at 19:35 UTC, assisted by telebridge station W6SRJ in California.

2. Article on Hampton Bays Contact

Hampton Bays Middle School students participated in an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact on Wednesday, February 25. The Southampton Press published a news story on the event. See: http://www.27east.com/story_detail.cfm?id=197658 Video is also available: http://www.27east.com/video.cfm?video=98

3. General Radio Contacts

STS-119 Mission Specialist Joseph Acaba, KE5DAR, made voice contacts over Puerto Rico on March 20. Mike Fincke, KE5AIT, made general contacts last weekend as ground stations wished him a happy birthday.

4. ARISS Team Meeting to be Held

The next ARISS International Team meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 24 at 11:15 UTC.