DOUBLE CONTACT FOR ESA ASTRONAUT PAOLO NESPOLI, IZ0JPA WITH ITALIAN UNIVERSITY
Saturday, 08
January, 2011 at 12:22 UTC and 13:57 UTC, i.e. 13:22 and 14:57
local time, University of Bari “Cittadella Mediterranea della Scienza”, Bari, Italy, established
a double contact with Italian astronaut PAOLO NESPOLI, IZ0JPA on board the
International Space Station. Astronaut NESPOLI operated with the special
Italian callsign IR0ISS that he will use during his mission. The “Cittadella
Mediterranea della Scienza” in Bari operated the contact with callsign IZ7EVR.
The “Cittadella Mediterranea della
Scienza” of Bari is a permanent structure whose main aim is to diffuse scientific
culture and its related technologies. The “Cittadella Mediterranea della Scienza
“ of Bari, inaugurated on the 18 of october 2006, has been promoted by
University of Bari, Region of Puglia, City of Bari, National Institute for
Physics of the Matter (I.N.F.M.), Puglia Regional Office for Schools,
Mediterranean Universities Partnership and Industrial Association of the
Province of Bari.
On 30 October 2010, in the prestigious
presence of Princess Elettra Marconi, the "Cittadella" has
inaugurated its new didactic laboratory for Telecommunications, Astrophysics
and Optics. The laboratory offers students of every degree the possibility to
participate to two prestigious international projects: ARISS and SETI of the
Seti League.
ARISS mentor Francesco De Paolis, IK0WGF
proposed to radio contact coordinator in Bari to set up a
direct contact with assistance from ARISS Telebridge station IK1SLD, installed
at Casale Monferrato Airport, Piemonte, Italy. Michele Mallardi IZ7EVR, contact coordinator for this ISS contact,
decided in favour of this set up. The questions were read by the students at
“Cittadella Mediterranea della Scienza”. In the University an audience of about
100 students, teachers, visitors and media assisted to the contact. Before the
contact, ARISS mentor Francesco De Paolis, IK0WGF introduced the event by
teleconference phone line.
At 12:22 UTC, contact with IR0ISS
was established by station IZ7EVR. Astronaut Paolo NESPOLI answered 14
questions. At 13:57 UTC, contact with IR0ISS was established by station IK1SLD. Paolo
NESPOLI answered 3 more questions and exchanged greetings per telebridge. The
signal from the ISS was loud and clear all the time from both sites.
Regional Television, local media and
newspapers covered the event.
Streaming video counted more than
100 connections on:
http://www.cittadellamediterraneascienza.it/webtv/
ARISS contact was announced by web story
on ESA Portal - National News:
http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMOUS0SDIG_Italy_0.html
Congratulations to both ARISS “IZ7EVR”
and “IK1SLD” teams!
73
Francesco De Paolis, IK0WGF
ARISS mentor
photo 1
photo 2
photo 3
photo 4
