Successful ARISS Contact for 1 Circolo
Didattico G.Marconi, Casamassima, Italy
Friday November 9, 2012 at 12:53 UTC, which is 13:53 CEST,
students from 1 Circolo Didattico G.Marconi, Casamassima, 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 club
station IZ7RTN installed at "Cittadella Mediterranea della Scienza",
University of Bari, Italy.
The Didactic Center "Marconi"
in Casamassima di Bari, South Italy includes one Primary School and two Nursery
Schools. There are more than 800 students and a teaching staff of 70 teachers,
directed by headmaster Mrs. Rita Rosaria Gagliardi. The Primary School has
multimedia and scientific laboratories, while the students play an active role
in a number of projects on Science, Music, Dance, Theatre, Physical Education
and more.
Mr. Michele Mallardi IZ7EVR, radio
contact coordinator for this event, decided in favor of the setup for a direct
contact, with assistance from the ARISS telebridge station IK1SLD installed at
Casale Monferrato Airport, Piemonte, Italy.
The contact took place at
"Cittadella Mediterranea della Scienza", University of Bari, where an
audience of about 250 students, visitors and Media, including 12 Italian Air
Force officers, participated to the ARISS contact. Before the link voice with
ISS, Mr. Michele Mallardi IZ7EVR presented ARISS program, the operations during
an contact with the ISS via Ham Radio, and the life of the astronauts in space.
At 12:53 UTC, contact with OR4ISS was
established by station IZ7RTN. 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.cittadellamediterraneascienza.it/webtv.html
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 Puglia Team!
73
Francesco De Paolis, IK0WGF
ARISS mentor
