ARISS
CONTACT FOR ESA ASTRONAUT PAOLO NESPOLI, IZ0JPA WITH SCHOOL IN VERANO BRIANZA
SUCCESSFUL
Wednesday,
23 March, 2011 at 12:15 UTC, i.e. 13:15 “Istituto Comprensivo di Verano Brianza”,
Verano Brianza, Monza Brianza, Italy”, established a
ARISS contact with Italian astronaut PAOLO NESPOLI, IZ0JPA onboard the
International Space Station. ESA astronaut NESPOLI operated with the special
Italian callsign IR0ISS that he will use during his mission. The “Verano
Brianza” State Comprehensive School operated the contact with callsign IZ2TBX.
Comprehensive
Institute with three different school levels: kindergarten, primary school and
middle school is attended by 700 children in 36
classrooms. Founded in late 1960’s, this school was attended by Paolo Nespoli.
Verano Brianza is a small town of about 7000 citizens, not far from Monza, in
the heart of a beautiful area called Brianza. Verano Brianza is the place where
Paolo Nespoli lived and where his relatives are living.
ARISS
mentor Francesco De Paolis, IK0WGF proposed to the radio contact coordinator in
Verano Brianza a direct contact with assistance by ARISS Telebridge station
IK1SLD installed at Casale Monferrato Airport, Piemonte, Italy. Gianpietro
Ferrario IZ2GOJ, radio contact coordinator for this ARISS event, decided in
favor of a direct with assistance by IK1SLD telebridge station. The questions
were read by the students in the school where an audience of about 200
students, teachers and about 50 visitors and media assisted to the contact.
At
12:15 UTC, contact with IR0ISS was established by station IZ2TBX. Astronaut
Paolo NESPOLI answered 15 questions. Before the closing of the contact,
greetings were exchanged via IK1SLD. The signal from the ISS was loud and clear
all the time.
Regional,
local media and newspapers covered the event.
Streaming
video counted about 70 connections on:
http://www.livestream.com/AMSAT_Italia
ARISS
contact was announced by web story on ESA Portal - National News:
http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMITF3UFLG_Italy_0.html
Congratulations
to both ARISS “IZ2TBX” and “IK1SLD” teams!
73
Francesco
De Paolis, IK0WGF
ARISS
mentor
