According to tradition, Warwick was founded on the banks of the River Avon in the year 914 AD, when Ethelfleda, sister of the Mercian king Edward the Elder built defences against Danish (Viking) invaders; these were to be the basis of Warwick Castle, a f

October 28, 2008

ARISS CONTACT PLANNED WITH SCHOOL IN ROME

An International Space Station Expedition 18 ARISS school contact has been planned with participants at Santa Teresa del Bambin Gesu, Rome, Italy on 30 October 2008. The event is scheduled to begin at approximately 08:55 UTC, which is 09:55 local time.

The contact will be a direct contact between stations NA1SS and IK0USO. The contact should be audible over Europe. Interested parties are invited to listen in on the 145.800 MHz downlink. The participants are expected to conduct the conversation in English.

The school "Santa Teresa del Bambino Gesu" is a catholic primary school in Rome, established to answer to the needs and demands for catholic education of the local population. The school belongs to the Congregation of Missionary Carmelitane Sisters of Saint Therese of Jesus Child. The school is open to families that take care of the religious education and formation of their children. The preparation of the ISS radio contact is under way since a long time: educational projects on different scientific topics support the special event.

Participants will ask as many of the following questions as time allows:
1. Why do you eat liquid food?
2. What does the moon look like from the space station?
3. How long are you staying on the ISS?
4. What do the stars look like from the space station?
5. What happens if you are ill?
6. Could a child stay on the ISS?
7. How is the daily life organized on board the space station?
8. Is it difficult to be an astronaut?
9. Why did you choose to become an astronaut?
10. Are you afraid of the space outside the ISS?
11. Could an animal stay on board the space station?
12. Is it possible to see the ozone hole from the ISS?
13. Is there a bathroom on board the space station?
14. What does the earth look like from above?
15. Have you ever met an alien?
16. Have you ever seen other planets? Which ones?
17. Is there a doctor with you?
18. What do you eat and drink for breakfast, lunch and dinner?
19. How do you drive the space station?
20. How do you move without gravity on board the ISS?

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.

Gaston Bertels, ON4WF

ARISS-Europe chairman