April 15, 2009

ARISS CONTACT PLANNED WITH SCHOOL IN ULVILA, FINLAND

An Expedition 19 ARISS school contact has been planned with participants at Ulvila Upper Secondary School, Ulvila, Satakunta, Finland on 17 April 2009. The event is scheduled to begin at approximately 07:36 UTC, which is 10:36 local time.

The contact will be a direct between OR4ISS and OH1F. 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 Ulvila Upper Secondary School is located in western Finland. In the Ulvila Upper Secondary School there are approximately 320  students. The age bracket of students is 16 to 19 years on average. The variety of educational opportunities offered at Ulvila Upper Secondary School can provide a basis for the academic and personal growth. The main academic objective is to give the students means for taking part in studies at universities and polytechnics. The school provides a large selection of courses consisting of compulsory courses, specialization courses and applied courses. For example, one can study also the basics of Astronomy and Space Physics in optional courses. .

Participants will ask as many of the following questions as time allows:
1. What was the journey to the Space Station like?
2. What does it feel like to be light as a feather?
3. Do you feel any dizziness without gravitation?
4. What does the earth look like from space?
5. What does your work consist of?
6. What do you miss the most on earth?
7. What is the best thing in your job?
8. What kind of education do you have?
9. How do you wash yourself?
10. How did you end up being an astronaut?
11. Do you have a strict diet and what does it consist of?
12. Do you believe in UFOs?
13. Do you have any free time?
14. Do you have to be in a good shape to get into space?
15. How long periods do you spend on the space station?
16. What is the most unforgettable memory of your career?
17. What's your favorite task in the space station?
18. Would you like to visit the moon?
19. Do you get to watch TV?
20. Can you see pollution?

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 onboard 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.

73

Gaston Bertels, ON4WF

ARISS-Europe Chairman