ARISS contact planned February 8, 2013 with Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto

An International Space Station school contact has been planned February 8, 2013 with participants at the Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto. The event is scheduled to begin at approximately 20:07 UTC , which is 21:07 CEWT.

The contact will be a telebridge operated by IK1SLD, located in Northern Italy. Interested parties in Europe are invited to listen to dowlink signals on 145.800 MHz FM.

The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) is recognized as one of the world’s foremost pediatric health-care institutions and is Canada’s leading centre dedicated to advancing children’s health through the integration of patient care, research and education. Founded in 1875 and affiliated with the University of Toronto, SickKids is one of Canada’s most research-intensive hospitals and has generated discoveries that have helped children globally. Its mission is to provide the best in complex and specialized family-centred care; pioneer scientific and clinical advancements; share expertise; foster an academic environment that nurtures health-care professionals; and champion an accessible, comprehensive and sustainable child health system. SickKids is proud of its vision of Healthier Children. A Better World.™

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

1. What inspired you to become a Astronaut?

2. Is the Food in space much better than the Hospital food down here?

3. Have you seen or witnessed anything in space that could possibly indicate other life forms?

4. Describe what is it like to see such a Beautiful Site from up there?

5. Do you have something like our therapeutic clown, A. Leboo, on space station?

6. Is it true you recycle your pee in space?

7. What effect does the Sun have on Space Station?

8. What's it like sleeping in space?

9. What kind of things do you do on space station?

10. How long are you there and how long can you stay?

11. Describe what it is like up there?

12. Would like to know if and when it gets dark?

13. What kind of music do they play up there? Who gets to choose what they listen to?

14. How do you go to the washroom?

15. How do the astronauts go out into space from inside the spaceship?

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.

Gaston Bertels, ON4WF

ARISS Chairman