Successful ARISS Contact for Italian Schools in Govone, Priocca and Diano d’Alba, Italy

Thursday November 8, 2012 at 12.04 UTC, which is 13.04 CEST, students from Institute Comprehensive in Govone, Nino Costa Middle school in Priocca and Institute Comprehensive in Diano d’Alba, Italy established ARISS contact with JAXA astronaut Akihiko Hoshide KE5DNI onboard the International Space Station. Astronaut Akihiko Hoshide KE5DNI operated with the ISS callsign OR4ISS. This was a direct contact performed by amateur radio station IK1SLD, installed for the event in Planetarium in Turin, Italy.

The two Junior High schools Nino Costa of Priocca and T.L. Dalmasso of Govone are integral part of the Comprehensive School of Govone in the province of Cuneo. The municipal territories of the Comprehensive School of Govone are situated on the left bank of the river Tanaro; this district, which is a hil country, is called "Roero" and it's famous for its fine wines. The inhabitants live mostly in the plein where the schools can also be found while on the top of the hill there is the old town center where is the towmhall. The students came from the small towns of Govone, Priocca, Magliano Alfieri, Castellinaldo, San Damiano. The school is attended by about 300 pupils, aged between 3 and 13 years.

Mr. Claudio Ariotti IK1SLD, radio contact coordinator for this event, decided in favor of the setup for a direct contact, with assistance from the his ARISS telebridge station (IK1SLD) installed at Casale Monferrato Airport, Piemonte, Italy and operated by Max Canepa IW1CNF. The contact took place at Planetarium in Turin, where an audience of about 200 students, visitors and Media participated to the ARISS contact. Before the link voice with ISS, Mr. Claudio Ariotti IK1SLD presented ARISS program, the operations during an contact with the ISS via Ham Radio, and the life of the astronauts in space.

At 12:04 UTC, contact with OR4ISS was established by station IK1SLD. Using the Kenwood radio in the Service Module, Akihiko Hoshide KE5DNI answered all 20 questions from the students, exchanged final greetings and closed the contact. During the pass, the signal from the ISS was loud and clear.

Live streaming video was available on: http://www.livestream.com/AMSAT_Italia

Video of the contact is available also here: http://www.livestream.com/AMSAT_Italia

ARISS contact was announced by web story on ESA Portal - National News: http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEML9F62Q8H_Italy_0.html

Congratulations to the schools staff, ARISS Team IK1SLD and ARI Casale!

73

Francesco De Paolis, IK0WGF

ARISS mentor

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