June 29, 2010

ARISS CONTACT PLANNED WITH SUMMER CAMP ASTRONAUTI NELLA FORESTA, ITALY

Friday, 2 July 2010 at 19:52 UTC, i.e. 21:52 local time, an ARISS contact is scheduled with Summer Camp Astronauti nella Foresta, Fontespugna, Umbria, Italy. This will be a telebridge contact operated by ARISS ground station ON4ISS. Downlink signals will be audible in Europe on 145.800MHz FM. The contact will also be distributed on EchoLink AMSAT Conference station.

The summer camp “Astronauts in forest” is a Panda Avventure organisation for 11-14 years old children. It takes place in Umbria – Castel Rigone. Since 1990, this company organizes, in cooperation with WWF – Italy, outdoor holidays and school camps for youngsters aged 6 - 17 and holidays for groups of families with children.

The summer space camp “Astronauts in Forest”, devoted to space discovery, is supported by ESA - ESRIN, which cooperated to the development of the programme and provided the educational material.

The summer camp aims to let children understand that it is necessary to study and protect our environment, that space research is very important for the future of our planet and also to initiate youngsters to the use of scientific instruments.

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

1. Why is the ISS composed of many modules?

2. What is the actual size of the ISS?

3. How long have you been in Space?

4. What exactly is your role in the crew?

5. Is it fun to live without gravity?

6. What is your typical daily routine?

7. When you were a child, did you wish for becoming an astronaut?

8. What is the most beautiful thing in Space?

9. How long does the training before the mission to the ISS?

10. What kind of problems do you usually have on board the ISS?

11. Is the team spirit important for a successful space enterprise?

12. What do you learn from your space experience?

13. How many hours a day do you work?

14. What do you usually do in your free time?

15. What can you see from the ISS?

16. What happens if you fall sick?

17. How do you communicate with your family?

18. How would you describe your feelings about being away from Earth?

19. What would be the duration you can imagine to live in Space?

20. What are the steps to become an astronaut?

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