An International Space Station school contact has been planned with participants at Charles P. Allen High School, Bedford, NS, Canada on 5 Jan. The event is scheduled to begin at approximately 18:54 UTC.

The duration of the contact is approximately 9 minutes and 30 seconds.

The contact will be direct between NA1SS and VE1CPA. The contact should be audible over portions of Canada and the eastern 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 Charles P. Allen High School ARISS project was initiated shortly after formal acceptance of the project proposal in mid-February. The project was formally announced to the students and faculty via a specially prepared video. Students and staff launched a dedicated Web site for the project that includes links and project information. Members of the Halifax Amateur Radio Club visited the school in May to talk about ARISS and the benefits of setting up an amateur radio club in the school. They presented Principal Stephanie Bird with the school's new call sign, VE1CPA. Four students are enrolled in a Basic Radio Operators course being offered by the HARC.

Final planning and preparation for our January contact is well under way. A prominent Canadian with ties to the Canadian Space Program has accepted our invitation to appear as the guest speaker for the contact. A video profile of Chris Hadfield is currently being produced and will be shown at the contact event. Invitations have been sent to several special guests and a significant media coverage of the event is anticipated.

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

1. What is the best experience you have had while in space?

2. What type of music do you enjoy listening to or playing on the ISS?

3. Is any consideration given to an astronaut's cultural background or

culinary tastes in the preparation of the ISS dietary rations?

4. What types of emergency medical and dental procedures can you perform on

the ISS?

5. If an astronaut broke a bone and had it set during an interplanetary

space mission, would it heal correctly?

6. Can you see the effects of global warming from the ISS?

7. What will your responsibilities include when you assume command of the

ISS?

8. How does the Weightless Environment Training Facility compare to an

actual spacewalk?

9. What is involved in preparing for a spacewalk?

10. What types of conditions might necessitate a full evacuation of the ISS?

11. What is the most unusual thing you have ever seen during a space mission?

12. Are periods of increased solar activity a concern to the ISS crew?

13. What are the major psychological concerns surrounding long term space

missions?

14. How do you make up for Special and General relativity when contacting

Earth?

15. What precautions are taken to avoid meteor showers and space debris?

16. What pre-requisite educational experience do you need to become an

astronaut?

17. Do you see any practical application for upper atmospheric dives such as

the one carried out by Felix Baumgartner in October?

18. How do astronauts shave on the ISS?

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

Next planned event(s):

Ecole Les Muriers, Saint Maur Des Fosses, France, direct via F6KMX/p

Mon, 07Jan2013 10:57 UTC

Missoula Family YMCA, Missoula, MT, via W7PX

Tue, 08Jan2013 16:14 UTC

Royal Canadian Air Cadets- Newfoundland Cadet Detachment, St. John's,

Newfoundland, Canada, direct via VO1BZM

Sat, 12Jan2013 14:40 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