An International Space Station school contact has been planned with participants at Istituto Comprensivo Statale "E. Fermi - A. Oggioni", Villasanta, Italy on 16 Sept. The event is scheduled to begin at approximately 08:04 UTC. The duration of the contact is approximately 9 minutes and 30 seconds. The contact will be direct between IR0ISS and IZ2GOJ. The contact should be audible over Italy. Interested parties are invited to listen in on the 145.80 MHz downlink. The contact is expected to be conducted in Italian.

The Fermi Middle School is located in the centre of Villasanta near Monza (Milano). There are 403 students and 43 teachers while there are one class (25 students) that will be involved in the project. These students are thirteen years old and they will be attending the third and final year of middle school.

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

1. How did you feel when you found out that you were going to the ISS?

2. Was the training very difficult and complicated?

3. What part of your job do you like most? And least?

4. How long did you train before going to the ISS?

5. How did you feel when you left the Earth?

6. How did you imagine space before having firsthand experience and what do

you like most?

7. What made you want to become an astronaut? Was it your dream as a child?

Did your parents immediately support your choice?

8. We know your food in space is dehydrated, but does it taste good?

9. Have you ever seen something strange in space that made you wonder that

there might be other forms of life in the universe?

10. How do you wash, it seems impossible as water floats without gravity?

11. How does it feel to move around in the absence of gravity? Have you ever

felt like comparing yourself to a disabled person, in those conditions?

12. Was your training on Earth sufficient to face your mission or do you have to improvise to deal with unforeseen problems?

13. Is there always something to do on the ISS or are there moments when you

are bored?

14. How is your daily routine on the space station?

15. What's it like to sleep with no gravity in space?

16. If possible what planet would you like to explore?

17. You are Captain in the Italian Air Force and have flown more than 20

types of aircraft: which is the most complex to pilot?

18. Can you tell us a curious episode about your trip to the ISS?

19. Do you ever get homesick?

20. Once back on Earth, is it difficult going back to everyday life, do you

have to do rehabilitation and how long does it take?

PLEASE CHECK THE FOLLOWING FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ARISS UPDATES:

Sign up for the SAREX maillist at

http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/sarex

Visit ARISS on Facebook. We can be found at Amateur Radio on the

International Space Station (ARISS).

To receive our Twitter updates, follow @ARISS_status

Next planned event(s):

1. Sarnelli De Donato Middle School, Polignano a Mare, Bari, Italy,

telebridge via W6SRJ

Sat, 21Sept2013, 10:03 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