September 02, 2002

USING THE ARISS STATION, PEGGY WHITSON TALKS WITH STUDENTS IN ISRAEL

2002 has been declared "Space Year" in Israel. A space flight is scheduled for Israeli astronaut Ilan Ramon on Shuttle flight STS 117.

AMSAT Israel and "Rosh Gadol", an educational science organisation and science magazine, had filed an application for an ARISS School Contact as part of the special space events of the year. This amateur radio contact has been performed successfully.

Kids from several schools from all over the country gathered in the Givatayim observatory Monday September 02, 2002. A satellite amateur radio station had been set up in the observatory under the supervision of Shlomo Menuhin, 4X1AS, IARC Satellite Coordinator. Fifteen students put twenty questions and listened to the answers of astronaut Peggy Whitson while the International Space Station passed over the country during its 21607th orbit.

In the room, sixty people, students, VIP and media assisted to the space talk. Guest of honor was Aby Har Even, Israel Space Agency chairman.

The students (10-15 years of age) had been selected for their high scores in space related activities and study projects.