June 8, 2009

TWO ARISS CONTACTS PLANNED FOR ASTRONAUT FRANK DE WINNE ON FRIDAY 12 JUNE 2009

Two Expedition 20 ARISS school contacts have been planned for ESA astronaut Frank De Winne on Friday 12 June 2009.

At 06.52 UTC, which is 08.52 CEST, "A.Bafile" college in L'Aquila, Italy will establish direct radio contact with the ISS.

In the early morning of the 6th of April 2009 L'Aquila and its schools suffered a devastating earthquake, reaching amplitude of 6.7 on Richter's scale. Major damage to the city and manu casualties have restrained activity. The historic and artistic treasures underwent extensive, and in some cases permanent damage. The quake has killed about 300 people, with at least 70,000 left homeless. Liceo Scientifico "A. Bafile" is currently operating under a school-tent at "Colle Sapone" site, together with other secondary schools of L'Aquila. Currently more than 500 students, aged 13 to 18, are attending courses under tents provided by the Italian Ministry of Education (MIUR) and by the Civil Defense (DPC).

The ARISS contact will be between IZ6BAJ and OR4ISS. The participants are expected to conduct the conversation in English. Downlink signals will be audible all over Europe on 145.800 MHz FM.

A second ARISS school contact is planned on Friday 12 June at 11.38 UTC, which is 13.38 CEST, with Vrije Basisschool Terbank-Egenhoven, Heverlee, Belgium.

Heverlee is a suburb of the city of Leuven. Leuven is the capital of the province of Flemish Brabant and hometown of one of the oldest European universities. It has a population of 93000 and the first references to the town can be traced back as far as the 9th century.

This is primary school, including a kindergarten. There are 450 pupils, aged 3 to 12. All childs are welcome and given all the opportunities they need.

The school is located close to the science and engineering campuses of the university as well as a number of research centers, such as IMEC.

As a pilot school for the Flemish Government's TOS 21-project (technical education in school in the 21st century), the school wants to introduce children at young age to technology and science. Participating in the ARISS project fits well into this purpose.

This will be a telebridge. Radio contact will be established between groundstation ON4ISS and onboard station OR4ISS. The participants are expected to conduct the conversation in Dutch. Downlink signals will be audible all over Europe on 145.800 MHz FM.

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

1. Thomas: Hoe is het om de wereldbol vanuit de ruimte te kunnen bewonderen?

2. Jordi: Wat eten jullie, en is het lekker?

3. Julie: Hoe kan je je kleren wassen in het ISS?

4. Thomas: Hoe koud is het in de ruimte?

5. Simon: Ben je al een ander ruimteschip tegengekomen?

6. Charlotte: Zie je in de ruimte het verschil tussen dag en nacht?

7. Eline: Hoe heb je voldoende elektriciteit om al de experimenten uit te voeren?

8. Elden: Kan je zonnebloemen kweken aan boord van het ISS?

9. Emilie: Hoe slaap je in de ruimte?

10. Luna: Kan je met een astronautenhelm op aan je neus krabben?

11. Ellen: Kan je in de ruimte iets ruiken of horen?

12. Laurien: Kan je ergens tegen botsen in de ruimte?

13. Adam: Gaat het in de toekomst gemakkelijker worden om naar de ruimte te reizen?

14. Nette: Kan de zuurstof aan boord van het ISS opraken?

15. Lore: Hoe zorg je ervoor de het eten en drinken niet rondzweeft tijden de maaltijd?

16. Amber: Mag je in het ISS een bril of lenzen dragen?

17. Sanna: Waarom is er geen zuurstof in de ruimte?

18. Ben: Wat gebeurt er met je urine en stoelgang nadat je naar het toilet bent geweest?

19. Tom: Zie je de aarde draaien vanuit het ISS?

20. Mathieu: Van waar komt het eten in het ISS?

21. Karel: Wat doe je als de motor kapot is?

22. Jessa: Hoeveel keer ben je al naar de ruimte gegaan?

Expectedly, both ARISS school contacts will be distributed over EchoLink *AMSAT* and *JK1ZRW* Conference nodes.

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 Chairman