Upcoming Edu Contacts – ARISS | Amateur Radio on the International Space Station

As of October 2, 2023

149 Secondary School, Baku, Azerbaijan, direct via 4K6EH (Andreas Mogensen KG5GCZ)
- Fri 2023-10-06 08:29:20 UTC 32 deg
Technological University Dublin, Dublin, Ireland, direct via EI1ISS (Jasmin Moghbeli KI5WSL)
- Fri 2023-10-06 13:11:32 UTC 49 deg
- Watch for Livestream at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2E8wZd2gBoo or https://www.youtube.com/@tudublin/
Belgian Defence (KSOO), Koninklijke School voor Onderofficieren, Sint-Truiden, direct via ON4BAF AND IEPSCF Colfontaine, Colfontaine, Belgium, telebridge via ON4BAF (Jasmin Moghbeli KI5WSL)
- Tue 2023-10-10 11:39:24 UTC 78 deg
Sekolah Kebangsaan Wangsa Maju Seksyen 2, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, direct via 9M2RPN (Andreas Mogensen KG5GCZ)
- Wed 2023-10-11 11:16:18 UTC 68 deg
Covenant Christian Academy, West Peabody, MA, direct via N1DQF (Loral O’Hara KI5TOM)
- Tue 2023-10-10 14:39:25 UTC 57 deg
- Watch for Livestream at https://covenantchristianacademy.org/

ARISS News Release No. 23-49

ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Students at Colegio Educación del Talento (Talent Education College), Yerba Buena, Tucumán, Argentina

September 22, 2023—Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has received schedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact between an astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and students at the Colegio Educación del Talento in Yerba Buena, Argentina. ARISS conducts 60-80 of these special amateur radio contacts each year between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses aboard the ISS.

Talent Education College provides a backbone music instrumental curriculum based on the Suzuki philosophy. The school is a registered center of Trinity College London and offers intensive English and international certificates as well as other disciplines with extracurricular activities (Orchestra, Science Club, Singing Workshop). Members of the Radio Club Tucuman (LU5KHF) are supporting the school for this ARISS contact.

This will be a direct contact via Amateur Radio allowing students to ask their questions of Astronaut Andreas Mogensen, amateur radio call sign KG5GCZ. The downlink frequency for this contact is 145.800 MHz and may be heard by listeners that are within the ISS-footprint that also encompasses the relay ground station.

The amateur radio ground station for this contact is in Yerba Buena, Argentina. Amateur radio operators using call sign LU5KHF, will operate the ground station to establish and maintain the ISS connection.

The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for September 25, 2023 at 12:04:47 pm ART(Argentina) (15:04:47 UTC, 11:04 am EDT, 10:04 am CDT, 9:04 am MDT, 8:04 am PDT).
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As time allows, students will ask these questions:

How did you feel by the time you got to space?
How did you prepare to go to space and how long did it take?
How does it feel to see space from a spacecraft?
Is it true that time passes differently in space?
What is the most dangerous thing you have experienced in space?
What is your favorite movie about space and is it similar to reality?
What happens if a crew member becomes ill or injured in the spaceship?
What is the biggest technical challenge in spacewalking and how do you prepare for it?
What do you study to become an astronaut and how long does it take?
Why did you decide to become an astronaut and have you always wanted to be one?
How old were you when you first travelled to space?
How long does it take to fully leave the Earth?
How do you sleep in space?
How is the training for emergencies carried out?
What are the main safety precautions that must be carried out?
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ARISS News Release No. 23-48

ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Students at Escuela Preparatoria La Salle, Torreón, Mexico

September 19, 2023—Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has received schedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact between an astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and students at the Escuela Preparatoria La Salle in Torreón, Mexico. ARISS conducts 60-80 of these special amateur radio contacts each year between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses aboard the ISS.

La Salle High School is an affiliate of La Salle University and located in Torreón, Coahuila Mexico. The school has various campuses (Elementary School, Middle School, High School, University level) throughout Mexico.

This will be a telebridge Contact via Amateur Radio allowing students to ask their questions of Astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli, amateur radio call sign KI5WSL. The downlink frequency for this contact is 145.800 MHz and may be heard by listeners that are within the ISS-footprint that also encompasses the telebridge station.

The ARISS amateur radio ground station (telebridge station) for this contact is in Casale Monferrato, Italy. The amateur radio volunteer team at the station will use the callsign IK1SLD, to establish and maintain the ISS connection.

The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for September 22, 2023 at 10:19:45 am CST (Torreón, MEX) (16:19:45 UTC, 12:19 pm EDT, 11:19 am CDT, 10:19 am MDT, 9:19 am PDT).

The public is invited to watch the live stream at: www.ariotti.com .
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As time allows, students will ask these questions:

What is the daily routine of work and activities of an astronaut and how are they organized to perform scientific investigations?
How is the weather on the space station? When you return to earth, do you have a different feeling in terms of climate and environmental seasons?
What was the greatest sacrifice you have made to be able to be where you are now?
Do you believe that life exist not only in the earth, elsewhere in the universe?
What are you most passionate about in your career as an astronaut, and what would you say to people who aspire to be one?
What has been the biggest mental or physical challenge you have experienced on the space station?
As a member of a space station, what has been the most surprising moment you have experienced in space so far? How has it affected you personally and professionally?
We often hear about scientific research being conducted at the International Space Station, but could you share a personal moment that made you appreciate the beauty and wonder of space while living on the station?
Ivanna: My dream is to work at NASA. I have been in several science and technology competitions to achieve it, and I am very interested in technology, space, and undiscovered things, what else could I do to get there?
How does your perspective change as a human being, when you see deep space?
According to your experience, what are the physical and personal attributes that an astronaut needs to be prepared to go the space station and return to earth?
What is the most powerful space rocket engine in the world and why?
What sparked your interest in space and how did you become an astronaut?
How hard is it to get used to the lack of gravity? How long did it take you to get used to it?
What sensation does your body feel when you leave and return to the earth?
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ARISS News Release No. 23-46

ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Students at ESPRIT: Private Higher School of Engineering and Technology, Little Ariana, Tunisia

September 9, 2023—Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has received schedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact between an astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and students at ESPRIT in Little Ariana, Tunisia. ARISS conducts 60-80 of these special amateur radio contacts each year between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses aboard the ISS.

ESPRIT, founded in 2003, is an engineering school that provides study in various fields, notably: IT, Civil Engineering, Electromechanics and Business. The school has a curriculum focused on hands-on Problem based learning accompanied by on-going hands-on courses, which are updated yearly to the latest innovative technologies. With about 10,000 students, ESPRIT is also a member of the Honoris United Universities that has more than 61,000 students from about 10 African countries.

ESPRIT has a local aerospace and satellite organization (IEEE AEROSPACE AND ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS SOCIETY – IEEE Student Branch Chapter) that was founded in 2017 and has 628 members. As a sponsor of this ARISS contact, ESPRIT hopes to inspire students in these fields.

This will be a telebridge Contact via Amateur Radio allowing students to ask their questions of Astronaut Andreas Mogensen, amateur radio call sign KG5GCZ. The downlink frequency for this contact is 145.800 MHz and may be heard by listeners that are within the ISS-footprint that also encompasses the telebridge station.

The ARISS amateur radio ground station (telebridge station) for this contact is in Greenbelt, Maryland, U.S. The amateur radio volunteer team at the ground station will use the callsign K6DUE, to establish and maintain the ISS connection.

The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for September 12, 2023 at 10:01:58 am CET (Tunisia) (9:01:58 UTC, 5:01 am EDT, 4:01 am CDT, 3:01 am MDT, 2:01 am PDT).
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As time allows, students will ask the following questions:

What was the most surprising thing you noticed about Earth from space?
What is the most advanced technology we can find only on the ISS?
What do you do for fun in space?
How do you manage to stay connected with your loved ones while on the ISS?
Do space simulations on earth do the real thing justice?
What’s the thing that you wish you bought with the first time you’ve been to the space station?
What’s the most exciting thing that happened during one of your missions?
Is there anything in space that has surprised you since you became an astronaut?
What thoughts have you experienced in space, that you never contemplated on earth?
What does the ISS smell like?
Why do astronauts have mirrors on their gloves?
How do you handle emergencies in space?
How long did it take for you to get accustomed with life on board the ISS?
What do you like most about living in space?
What’s the thing that was the opposite of your expectations when you went there?
When there are so many galaxies in the universe, are we sure we are alone?
As we explore other habitable planets, do you think when future astronauts return to Earth they might not find it as exciting?
What did you feel when you looked down at earth for the first time?
Galaxies look stationary, so why do scientists say that they rotate?
What is the feeling when traveling at the speed of 28000 km/h?
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ARISS News Release No. 23-44

ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Students at Egemen Yildiz Secondary School, İzmir, Turkey

September 4, 2023—Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has received schedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact between an astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and students at Egemen Yildiz Secondary School in İzmir, Turkey. ARISS conducts 60-80 of these special amateur radio contacts each year between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses aboard the ISS.

Egemen Yıldız Secondary School is a K-12 school with 500 students and 35 teachers. All students ages 12 through 16 years and teachers are involved in this ARISS contact event. The school provides a STEAM curriculum and project-based programs as well as a student Space Club, and Science Club. Prior to this contact, students also learned about space in workshops using lego-robotics.

Members of the Turkish Amateur Ham Radio Association (TRAC) have partnered with the school to support this ARISS contact and by providing a seminar on how to use Ham Radio and the importance of Ham Radio during emergencies. Students participated in ham radio communications under the TRAC team guidance and their supplied equipment during after-school activities.

The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for September 6, 2023 at 1:35:27 pm TRT (Turkey) (10:35:27 UTC, 6:35 am EDT, 5:35 am CDT, 4:35 am MDT, 3:35 am PDT).
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As time allows, students will ask these questions:

How do you define the world from space?
What is the most enjoyable experience you had in space?
What do you usually miss in space?
What do you do in an emergency in space?
Aren’t you afraid of being in space?
How do you feel when you are in space?
What is space like?
Is living in space was what you expected?
What does the earth look like from space?
How did you feel leaving the atmosphere?
What would you do if you were out of your essential materials?
What experiments are you trying on ISS as your mission?
What are the differences between life in space and the life on Earth?
Does space smell?
Does space have an effect on your internal organs and what?
What is your favorite food on the space station?
How do you wash your clothes on ISS?
Which planet would you most like to visit in space?
Is it comfortable sleeping in space?
Do you have internet in space?
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ARISS News Release No. 23-43

ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Students at Augusta Preparatory Day School, Augusta, Georgia, USA

August 28, 2023—Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has received schedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact between an astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and students at the Augusta Preparatory Day School located in Augusta, Georgia. ARISS conducts 60-80 of these special amateur radio contacts each year between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses aboard the ISS.

Augusta Preparatory Day School (Augusta Prep) is a non-sectarian independent school located near the Georgia-South Carolina border for students in grades 2 through 12. Hosting this ARISS contact prompted the school to develop numerous cross-curricular classes that include numerous radio and space-related activities (e.g. Future Engineers TechRise Weather Balloon Challenge). A team of middle- and upper-school students are also developing a research proposal for the CubeSat Launch Initiative, with ongoing support from an engineer and a researcher from the Savannah River National Laboratory. The school has also hosted Family Astronomy Night events employing the school’s four telescopes and inviting families to bring their own.

Members of the Amateur Radio Club of Columbia County (ARCCC) are supporting Augusta Prep with this ARISS contact and the school’s space and radio-related classes/projects (high-altitude balloon launches, student antenna building, and hidden transmitter or “Fox hunts.”). ARCCC hosted Youth Technician Licensing Classes in 2022 and their first VE testing session with future classes planned. Students, as part of their STEM class, are building a ham radio ground station and the AMSAT CubeSat simulator.

This will be a direct contact via Amateur Radio allowing students to ask their questions of Astronaut Steve Bowen, amateur radio call sign KI5BKB. The downlink frequency for this contact is 145.800 MHz and may be heard by listeners that are within the ISS-footprint that also encompasses the relay ground station.

The amateur radio ground station for this contact is in Augusta, GA. Amateur radio operators using call sign K4RGK, will operate the ground station to establish and maintain the ISS connection.

The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for August 31, 2023 at 9:51:28 am EDT (GA) (13:51:28 UTC, 8:51 am CDT, 7:51 am MDT, 6:51 am PDT).

The public is invited to watch the live stream at: https://www.facebook.com/augustaprep
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As time allows, students will ask thee questions:

Did your training give you an accurate idea of what the real experience of being in space is like, or were there major surprises?
What do you think are some of the biggest misconceptions people have about space?
When was the last time you used calculus on the station?
What are the emotional/mental impacts of being in space for such a long period of time?
Has there ever been a moment when the ISS had a technological error or a shortage of supplies? If so, how did you and the crew solve it?
What do you think is the most beneficial project you have done as an astronaut?
What was your most prominent hesitation when coming on the International Space Station, and how did you overcome that?
How do you keep involved and stay in touch with family and friends?
What is the most amazing thing you have seen?
What personal and mission-driven goals do you hope to achieve?
Can you speak to the impact of space debris on future space missions?
How is leisure time scheduled and what are you able to do?
What do you do if someone has a medical issue on the ISS?
What is your most interesting story about space?
What personal items can you bring into space, and are there any size and weight limitations?
An essential part of your work pertains to communication and video work. What kind of audio-visual training factors into your training?
What are your thoughts about space and have you always been interested in space?
How does being in outer space affect the celebration of holidays?
How did you feel the first time you left the atmosphere?
Is there a way to have food or supplies delivered to the ISS?
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ARISS News Release No. 23-42

ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Students at Bowman Middle School, Bakersville, North Carolina USA

August 25, 2023—Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has received schedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact between an astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and students at the Bowman Middle School located in Bakersville, NC. ARISS conducts 60-80 of these special amateur radio contacts each year between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses aboard the ISS.

Bowman Middle School (BMS) is a rural, public school in Bakersville in northwestern North Carolina near the border with Tennessee and in the heart of the Blue Ridge mountains within the southern Appalachian Mountain chain. BMS has approximately 200 students in grades 5 through 8. In preparation for this ARISS contact, BMS STEM faculty have implemented ISS/Space travel/Satellite related lesson plans. Students studied topics such as wave propagation, doppler effect, gravity, speed of light, speed of sound, and participated in building a scaled lunar module. Throughout the year, students have set up an HF/VHF ham station in the classroom, built wire and directional antennas, and participated in satellite QSOs using an Arrow 2m/432 MHz antenna. Experienced local amateur radio operators are supporting the school during this contact.

This will be a direct contact via Amateur Radio allowing students to ask their questions of Astronaut Warren Hoburg, amateur radio call sign KB3HTZ. The downlink frequency for this contact is 145.800 MHz and may be heard by listeners that are within the ISS-footprint that also encompasses the relay ground station.

The amateur radio ground station for this contact is in Bakersville, NC. Amateur radio operators using call sign W4GUZ, will operate the ground station to establish and maintain the ISS connection.

The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for August 28, 2023 at 10:38 am EDT (NC) (14:38:46 UTC, 9:38 am CDT, 8:38 am MDT, 7:38 am PDT).
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As time allows, students will ask these questions:

Are you or anyone else up there doing research on any diseases that affect humans? Are you aware of any research in space that has helped to understand, treat, or cure a disease?
How are you trained to respond to a fire on the ISS? How do you get rid of the residual chemicals, materials, and smoke?
What is your favorite space-themed movie or show?
How long have you been an astronaut and how long have you been on the ISS?
Are there ever any climate or weather-related research carried out on the ISS? If so, what was the focus of the research?
How many ham radio operators are currently on board the ISS? How long have you been a ham radio operator and what do you enjoy about it?
Can minor or major surgery ever be performed, if necessary, on the ISS? What are the procedures medical-related issues among the crew?
What is your educational background and field of study? How do you use this on the mission?
What is the typical mission length in months of an ISS astronaut? How long is the pre-training before this mission and how would you describe the pre-training experience?
Being an ISS astronaut has to be the highlight of your career, what do you want to do in the future as far as space research or travel?
Who inspired you the most to be where you are today and why?
Were there any specific events that you saw that led you to become an astronaut on the ISS?
What specific advice would you give to young people today?
What activities and food do you miss the most while on this mission?
Who was your favorite teacher and what made them special to you?
What is the size of the current ISS crew and what nations are represented currently? Did you have to learn any of the languages of the other astronauts?
Can you describe the training you went through in preparing for the return trip to Earth and splashdown?
How do you maintain your health and fitness while on the ISS?
What advice would you give to a future astronaut about something they should know that the training did not prepare you for, if any?
How are the crew and mission of the ISS an instrument of peace and hope in a world full of conflict today?
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ARISS News Release No. 23-41

ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Students at Australian Air League – South Australia Group, Salisbury, South Australia, Australia

August 22, 2023—Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has received schedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact between an astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and students at the Australian Air League located in Salisbury, SA, Australia. ARISS conducts 60-80 of these special amateur radio contacts each year between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses aboard the ISS.

The Australian Air League (AAL) is a not-for-profit, civilian operated aviation youth organization in Australia. Its objective is to encourage the spirit of aviation and air-mindedness in the youth of Australia.

The first training Squadron opened at Manly, New South Wales on 17 January 1935 with 30 Cadets aged between 14 and 23 years. The first girls Squadron opened in 1944. The Correspondence Wing commenced in 1941. By 1942, 26,000 boys had been trained in aviation and 125 Squadrons operated in three states. There are around 76 active Squadrons.

This ARISS contact event will be hosted at the Australian Space Discovery Centre, where visitors can explore the latest innovations in space technologies. The AAL educational program includes a number of space related courses and activities including Space Flight and Astronomy as well as theory and practical experience in Electronics, Radio Communications and Physics. The Port Adelaide Squadron of the SA Group of the AAL has its own amateur radio call sign VK5AIR and practical activities include providing cadets with the opportunity to use this call sign and establish communications with other amateur radio hams.

This will be a telebridge Contact via Amateur Radio allowing students to ask their questions of Astronaut Warren Hoburg, amateur radio call sign KB3HTZ. The downlink frequency for this contact is 145.800 MHz and may be heard by listeners that are within the ISS-footprint that also encompasses the telebridge station.

The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for August 25, 2023 at 6:41 pm ACST (Salisbury, AUS) (9:11:46 UTC, 5:11 am EDT, 4:11 am CDT, 3:11 am MDT, 2:11 am PDT).

The public is invited to watch the live stream at: Watch for Livestream starting about 15 minutes before AOS at www.ariotti.com

An additional Livestream is available at https://www.facebook.com/AustralianAirLeague/
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As time allows, students will ask these questions:

What can you see in space from the ISS that you can’t see from earth?
How often do cargo missions launch to the ISS?
Can you have ice cream in space?
How many astronauts go in one rocket trip to the ISS?
Is it possible to light a match?
How long have you been in space so far?
How do you as an astronaut stay fit in space?
How long do you spend in space?
What do you like most in space?
What do you miss the most on Earth when you are in space?
How do you get water in space?
What is the longest time anyone has spent in space at once?
When is the next major upgrade to the ISS?
Have you got any animals on the ISS currently?
Do you still feel hungry when you travel in space?
What games do you play in your free time?
When do you go to sleep?
How long do people usually stay up in the ISS at a time?
What does the take-off feel like and does it make you feel sick?
What do you eat?
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ARISS News Release No. 23-40

ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Students at STEMforGIRLS, St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

August 21, 2023—Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has received schedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact between an astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and students in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. ARISS conducts 60-80 of these special amateur radio contacts each year between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses aboard the ISS.

The program, STEMforGIRLS, engages youth in hands-on learning experiences, provides opportunities to interact with role models, and instills the knowledge and confidence required to make informed career choices in STEM fields. Programming is offered virtually and in-person across the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada to students in junior high and high school. STEMforGIRLS is the charitable arm of Women in Resource Development Corporation (WRDC), a provincial, non-profit organization committed to increasing women’s participation in trades and technology. This ARISS contact will be the highlight of the STEMforGIRLS Summer Summit conference, the largest week-long event of the year starting August 21st. Activities and information sessions, leading up to the contact, included virtual interactive workshops with local and international female amateur radio operators and female engineering students, specializing in satellites, from Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada. Topics included the history of Amateur Radio, an Introduction to amateur radio concepts, career information, and demonstrations. Participants also have an opportunity to pursue an amateur radio license with the help of many of the conference Elmers.

This will be a telebridge Contact via Amateur Radio allowing students to ask their questions of Astronaut Steve Bowen, amateur radio call sign KI5BKB. The downlink frequency for this contact is 145.800 MHz and may be heard by listeners that are within the ISS-footprint that also encompasses the telebridge station.

The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for August 23, 2023 at 12:54 pm NDT (St John’s, CAN) (15:24:59 UTC, 11:24 am EDT, 10:24 am CDT, 9:24 am MDT, 8:24 am PDT).
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As time allows, students will ask these questions:

What was the hardest thing you had to adjust to in space?
Have you seen the Aurora Borealis from space? If so, what does it look like?
What’s your favorite part about being in the Space Station?
What kind of music do you listen to?
Did you get to try “space meals” on earth and then when you ate the same prepared space meal in orbit, it was not the same?
What is the best memory you will take away from your experience on the ISS?
What’s something you’ll miss about the ISS when you get home?
As an astronaut aboard the International Space Station, what is the most awe-inspiring or breathtaking moment you’ve experienced so far, and how did it make you feel?
What should I focus on in high school if I wanted to become an astronaut?
What are your favorite foods to eat while in space?
What is your favourite pastime on the International Space Station?
What are your thoughts on opening up space travel to civilians?
What education and training is required to be selected for this role?
Do you ever see light from the sun, or is it all artificial light in the space station?
What kind of damage can your time in space do to your body?
What does it feel like to be in Zero Gravity, is it very different from the training simulation?
Can you bring your own things to the space station? If so, was there anything specific you brought?
How does the international space station stay powered?
_____________________

ARISS News Release No. 23-39

ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Students at Karasuyama Residents Center, Setagaya, Japan

August 31, 2023—Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has received schedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact between an astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and students at the Karasuyama Residents Center located in Setagaya, Japan. ARISS conducts 60-80 of these special amateur radio contacts each year between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses aboard the ISS.

The Karasuyama Residents Center (KRC) is a public facility that hosts various social, educational and cultural events. The KRC is hosting this ARISS event for students (kindergarten, elementary school and junior high school) interested in space exploration, the ISS and its mission. Twenty-five students are directly involved in this project. The local amateur radio club (JA1ZSH) is also supporting this ARISS contact. Prior to this contact, students have been using an astronomical telescope with access to a planetarium and have been learning about orbital mechanics of artificial satellites (ISS), and how amateur radio is used to communicate with the ISS.

This will be a direct contact via Amateur Radio allowing students to ask their questions of Astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi, amateur radio call sign KI5VTV. The downlink frequency for this contact is 145.800 MHz and may be heard by listeners that are within the ISS-footprint that also encompasses the relay ground station.

The amateur radio ground station for this contact is in Setagaya, Japan. Amateur radio operators using call sign JA1ZSH, will operate the ground station to establish and maintain the ISS connection.

The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for August 3, 2023 at 6:26 pm JST (Japan) (9:26 UTC, 5:26 am EDT, 4:26 am CDT, 3:26 am MDT, 2:26 am PDT).
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As time allows, students will ask these questions:

How long do you exercise per day?
Why is the rocket shaped like a cylinder?
What did you consider when learning a non-native language like English?
What is the most challenging thing about going to space?
How did you feel when you went to space?
Which planet do you want to go to?
Please tell me. What are some convenient and inconvenient things in space?
Does the earth really look the same as it does in pictures?
Please tell us the secret to making friends with astronauts from other countries.
What happens if you crack an egg in space?
Will water freeze or evaporate ?if I release water into space?
How does toilet system work in ISS?
What is your favorite space food?
How do you feel when you see the earth from space?
Which star is beautiful to you?
What kind of experiments do you do in ISS?
What is the hardest training you had to do to become an astronaut?
What was the most difficult part of experiments in space?
_____________________________

ARISS News Release No. 23-38

ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Students at Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), Dubai, United Arab Emirates

July 27, 2023—Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has received schedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact between an astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and students at the MBRSC located in Dubai, UAE. ARISS conducts 60-80 of these special amateur radio contacts each year between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses aboard the ISS.

The MBRSC is a Dubai government organization working on the UAE space program, which includes various space satellite projects, the Emirates Mars Mission, the Emirates Lunar Mission, and the UAE astronaut program. The MBRSC actively works to promote space science and research in the region with educational programs designed to promote a culture based on discovery and exploration in future generations at all education levels. MBRSC is hosting this ARISS contact for high school students who will be asking questions in Arabic and/or English.

The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for July 31, 2023 at 12:16:45 pm GST (Dubai, UAE) (8:16:45 UTC, 4:16 am EDT, 3:16 am CDT, 2:16 am MDT, 1:16 am PDT).
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As time allows, students will ask these questions:

What happens to your body when you return to Earth after spending a long time in space?
How does the lack of gravity affect the growth of plants and crops on the ISS?
How do you take care of the ISS and keep it clean?
How do you deal with waste disposal on the ISS?
How do you manage the temperature inside the ISS?
Can you see the Northern Lights from the ISS? And how do they happen?
Can you describe the process of docking and undocking with other spacecraft or modules?
How does the ISS stay in its orbit when there is no gravity? Why doesn’t it fall or fly away in space?
How did it feel to be in a Spacesuit and how did you handle the heavy weight of it?
How does space weather, such as solar flares and geomagnetic storms and radiation, affect the safety and operations of the ISS?
When the 6 months mission ends, when do you start preparing to go back to earth and how do you prepare?
What new technologies are you using on ISS and how are you having benefit from it?
Where does the ISS get power from?
How do you wash your clothes on ISS?
Did your blood pressure change in Space and what effects does space have on it?
How do you feel after spending more than 4 months on the ISS while your return date to Earth is approaching?
What did you think of when the rocket started taking off to space?
_________________________

ARISS News Release No. 23-37

ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Students at Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), Dubai, United Arab Emirates

July 24, 2023—Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has received schedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact between an astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and students at the MBRSC located in Dubai, UAE. ARISS conducts 60-80 of these special amateur radio contacts each year between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses aboard the ISS.

This will be a direct contact via Amateur Radio allowing students to ask their questions of Astronaut Sultan AlNeyadi, amateur radio call sign KI5VTV. The downlink frequency for this contact is 145.800 MHz and may be heard by listeners that are within the ISS-footprint that also encompasses the relay ground station.

The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for July 27, 2023 at 1:57:42 pm GST (Dubai, UAE) (9:57:42 UTC, 5:57 am EDT, 4:57 am CDT, 3:57 am MDT, 2:57 am PDT).
___________________
As time allows, students will ask these questions:

What training have you had before going to Space you find now the most important while on ISS?
How did you prepare for your spacewalk on ISS?
Were you able to hear any sounds in space (during the spacewalk)?
How does it feel to be weightless? How would it affect you when you are back to earth after a long time of weightlessness?
What is your most enjoyable experience you had in space?
Can you see stars and planets clearly from the ISS?
How do you recycle resources on ISS, such as water and oxygen?
Can you explain the process of growing plants or food in space and why do you do it?
Is the ISS protected from Space Debris and how?
When studying the human body in space, do you do experiments on each other or just yourself and why?
Do you use 3D printing on ISS, how and what do you use it for?
Are there any Artificial Intelligence equipment on ISS and do you think they are useful in space exploration and studies?
How many robotic arms are there on ISS and what do you use them for? Are they hard to operate?
Do you run out of supplies on ISS and how do you manage the amount you have? Is there a specific amount of food that you are allowed to use daily?
When you are back from ISS, how long do you need to adapt to earth gravity and what treatments do you go through?
Does ISS need fuel to operate and if yes, how do you fill it with fuel?
Does space have an effect on your internal organs and what?
_________________________

ARISS News Release No. 23-36

ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Scouts at Camp William B. Snyder, Haymarket, Virginia, USA

July 19, 2023—Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has received schedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact between an astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and young campers at Camp William B. Snyder located in Haymarket, VA. ARISS conducts 60-80 of these special amateur radio contacts each year between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses aboard the ISS.

Camp William B. Snyder encompasses 350-acres, including a managed wetland, about 50 miles West of downtown Washington DC, in Haymarket, Prince William County, Virginia. The Camp hosts nearly 5,000 youth and adults each year that include resident and day camps for Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts (Boy Scouts of America). The breadth of activities at Camp include; aquatics, shooting sports, handicrafts, hiking on nature trails, simulated rock climbing, model rocketry, woodworking and STEM learning. During the week of July 17-21, scouts have also been honing their skills and mastering tasks to earn multiple merit badges. In preparation for this ARISS contact, scouts have been learning about operating an amateur radio satellite station that is installed at the camp.

This will be a telebridge Contact via Amateur Radio allowing students to ask their questions of Astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi, amateur radio call sign KI5VTV. The downlink frequency for this contact is 145.800 MHz and may be heard by listeners that are within the ISS-footprint that also encompasses the telebridge station.

The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for July 21, 2023 at 1:54 pm EDT (VA) (17:54:29 UTC, 12:54 pm CDT, 11:54 am MDT, 10:54 am PDT).

The public is invited to watch the live stream at: https://www.facebook.com/NCACSTEM/

IK1SLD will begin its live stream about 15 minutes before AOS at http://www.ariotti.com/
______________________________
As time allows, students will ask these questions:

Have the skillsets desired by the astronaut selection committee changed overtime?
Did you have to learn all the languages spoken by the individual crew members on the ISS?
What would you like to do when you retire from being an astronaut?
Have you seen any objects like debris in space – if so, what was that like?
Have you or your colleagues ever gotten sick while in space? How do you take care of yourself or get better?
Do you have time to pursue any hobbies while at ISS?
We raced blastcars in STEM Scouts this year. These are basically pinewood derby cars, with a CO2 cartridge (engine) attached to them. How would that work aboard the ISS?
How do you stay in touch with your family and friends while on missions?
Do you see more stars from the space station, than looking at them from Earth?
What is the long term impacts to your health by living on the ISS?
What does a day in the life of an astronaut look like?
What are some of the science experiments you have worked on while at the ISS?
Do you get regular time off while aboard the ISS, and what do you do during your time off?
Do you have any advice for young people who may be interested in becoming an astronaut?
Will the mission to the moon open the door for different science experiments? How so?
____________________________

ARISS News Release No. 23-34

ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Participants at Youth on The Air (YOTA) 2023 Summer Camp, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

July 15, 2023—Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has received schedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact between an astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and participants at the YOTA 2023 located in ON, Canada. ARISS conducts 60-80 of these special amateur radio contacts each year between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses aboard the ISS.

Youth on the Air (YOTA) Summer Camp is a week-long event for young amateur radio operators ages 15 to 25 from North, Central, and South America. This is their third year of operations, with YOTA activities designed to demonstrate how these young participants can connect with each other through amateur radio communications and STEM activities. YOTA is also about fostering a worldwide community though amateur radio. Throughout the week YOTA participants have learned to build antennas and telegraph machine kits, talked to hams around the world on high frequencies (HF) from both permanent and portable ham radio stations, and learned how to operate using Morse Code. Camp participants have also launched and tracked a high-altitude balloon, and communicated through low-earth orbit amateur radio satellites. This will be the first ARISS contact opportunity for many of these students, demonstrating how amateur radio can connect with the ISS. After this experience, students will come away with a better understanding of the life of an astronaut on the ISS, and perhaps motivate them to pursue STEM-related fields.

This will be a telebridge Contact via Amateur Radio allowing YOTA participants to ask their questions of Astronaut Steve Bowen, amateur radio call sign KI5BKB. The downlink frequency for this contact is 145.800 MHz and may be heard by listeners that are within the ISS-footprint that also encompasses the telebridge station.

The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for July 18, 2023 at 2:42:54 pm EDT (ON, CAN) (18:42:54 UTC, 1:42 pm CDT, 12:42 pm MDT, 11:42 am PDT).

The public is invited to watch the live stream at: https://youtube.com/live/A5bXZUGifYY?feature=share
IK1SLD will start about 15 minutes before AOS at http://www.ariotti.com/
_______________________
As time allows, students will ask these questions:

What is your favorite view from the cupola?
How does amateur radio factor into life and science on the ISS?
What radios and antennas are used for the ARISS program?
How does your training in the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory compare to extravehicular spacewalks?
What is your favorite food to eat on the station and is it the same as here on earth?
Does the ISS have an HF setup and have you ever used it?
Does the ISS provide weather data from visual observations to ground stations?
What advice do you have for someone wanting to become an astronaut?
What sorts of creative outlets do you get while on the ISS?
What types of experiments are being done on the ISS?
Once we have interstellar travel figured out, which celestial object would you like to visit first?
What current experiments are you conducting that will help benefit life on earth?
What is the coolest space station repeater contact you have made?
How has learning multiple languages affected your daily life on the station?
How are QSOs logged and sent to ground stations from the ISS?
Do you have a favorite DSLR camera and lens combination for taking pictures from the ISS?
Are there property taxes for the ISS and if so, what district would they go to?
Do you have any go-to life advice?
________________________

ARISS News Release No. 23-32

ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Students at Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), Dubai, United Arab Emirates

June 19, 2023—Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has received schedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact between an astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and students at the MBRSC located in Dubai, UAE. ARISS conducts 60-80 of these special amateur radio contacts each year between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses aboard the ISS.

This will be a direct contact via Amateur Radio allowing students to ask their questions of Astronaut Sultan AlNeyadi, amateur radio call sign KI5VTV. The downlink frequency for this contact is 145.800 MHz and may be heard by listeners that are within the ISS-footprint that also encompasses the relay ground station.

The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for June 22, 2023 at 12:38:52 pm GST (Dubai, UAE) (8:38:52 UTC, 4:38 am EDT, 3:38 am CDT, 2:38 am MDT, 1:38 am PDT).
________________________
As time allows, students will ask these questions:

What made you want to be an astronaut?
How does it feel to be in space and see the Earth from up there?
What is the hardest part about living on the International Space Station?
How do you stay healthy and fit in space?
Can you tell us about a typical day on the ISS?
Does time feel different in space?
What kind of experiments are you doing on the ISS right now?
Have you seen anything really cool or amazing in space?
How do you cope with being away from your family and friends for so long?
What advice do you have for kids who want to be astronauts?
Can you share a story about the spacewalk you’ve done?
What are some dangers or risks of going to space, and how do you stay safe?
How do you handle emergencies or if someone gets sick on the ISS?
What happens to your bones and muscles when you’re in space?
Do you sleep differently in space, and does it feel weird without gravity?
Have you noticed any changes in how you think or feel in space?
__________________________

ARISS News Release No. 23-31

ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Educators at SPACE (Space Port Area Conference for Educators), Kennedy Space Center, Florida, USA

June 18, 2023—Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has received schedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact between an astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and educators at the Space Port Area Conference for Educators located at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. ARISS conducts 60-80 of these special amateur radio contacts each year between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses aboard the ISS.

The Annual Space Port Area Conference for Educators (SPACE) aims to serve teachers from across the nation by providing professional development opportunities, and high-quality STEM instructional resources. Attending educators spend three days at The Center for Space Education developing curriculum and forming relationships. Educators are given a once in a lifetime opportunity to be immersed in the operations of Kennedy Space Center – including keynote sessions with astronauts, launch directors, and other space icons, as well as behind the scene tours of Space Port Operations. This year’s conference is highlighted with an ARISS contact that will also help educators better understand the ARISS STEM/STEAM experience.

This will be a telebridge Contact via Amateur Radio and participants will ask their questions of Astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi, amateur radio call sign KI5VTV. The downlink frequency for this contact is 145.800 MHz and may be heard by listeners that are within the ISS-footprint that also encompasses the telebridge station.

The ARISS amateur radio ground station (telebridge station) for this contact is in Glenden, Queensland, Australia. The amateur radio volunteer team at the ground station will use the callsign VK4KHZ, to establish and maintain the ISS connection.

The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for June 21, 2023 at 10:52:25 am EDT (FL) (14:52:25 UTC, 9:52 am CDT, 8:52 am MDT, 7:52 am PDT).

The public is invited to watch the live stream at: https://youtube.com/live/pcguZFKKPCI
__________________________
As time allows, participants will ask these questions:

How much noise is there on the ISS compared to your work space on the ground and how do you adapt?
What are skills that you had to learn/practice to complete your work on the ISS?
Do you play any music on instruments or your personal devices while on the ISS? If so, what do you play?
If a student is interested in becoming an astronaut, what nutrition and exercise advice would you provide them for training on Earth versus training on the ISS?
What is one trait that you think is absolutely necessary to become an astronaut?
If you have been on an EVA or near an astronaut that has been on one, is there any detectable smell? What does space smell like?
What do you do to handle the monotony of long term confinement to a small controlled environment?
Do you have any hobbies that helped prepare you for your work aboard the ISS?
Are your dreams different in zero g?
How is your impression when you see from another perspective the earth, the geography, the ocean?
What would surprise us that you are unable to do in space that we take for granted here on Earth?
What type of activities are taking place onboard the ISS that are part of NASA’s Moon to Mars efforts?
Commitment to the ISS has been shown through 2030 for several countries. After that, what’s next? What do our students have to look forward to?
What does your exercise routine consist of to maintain your health and strength, while living in space?
What was your application to become an astronaut like? Did it take you numerous times? Did you do anything in between applications to improve your chances?
___________________________

ARISS News Release No. 23-30

ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Students at Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), Dubai, United Arab Emirates

June 17, 2023—Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has received schedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact between an astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and students at the MBRSC located in Dubai, UAE. ARISS conducts 60-80 of these special amateur radio contacts each year between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses aboard the ISS.

This will be a direct contact via Amateur Radio allowing students to ask their questions of Astronaut Sultan AlNeyadi, amateur radio call sign KI5VTV. The downlink frequency for this contact is 145.800 MHz and may be heard by listeners that are within the ISS-footprint that also encompasses the relay ground station.

The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for June 20, 2023 at 2:16 pm GST (Dubai, UAE) (10:16 UTC, 6:16 am EDT, 5:16 am CDT, 4:16 am MDT, 3:16 am PDT).
__________________________
As time allows, students will ask these questions:

Why is it important for different countries to work together in space exploration?
How do you stay in touch with your family while you’re on the ISS?
What kind of training do you do to get ready for a space mission?
How does going to space change the way you see things?
How does the UAE contribute in space exploration?
Can you tell us about the UAE’s space program and what it wants to do in the future?
How does the UAE’s culture influence your work on the ISS?
Are there any projects or experiments you’re working on that have to do with the UAE’s interests?
What advice do you have for kids in the UAE who want to be astronauts?
How do you celebrate holidays or special days when you’re on the ISS?
How does the UAE’s focus on taking care of the environment match with its space exploration goals?
What are your future plans/Missions once you reach Earth?
How do you deal with missing home when you’re in space for a long time?
Can you tell us about any experiments or research you’ve done that can help people on Earth?
How does seeing Earth from space change how you think about it?
What kind of experiments are you doing on the ISS right now?
Have you seen anything really cool or amazing in space?
_____________________

ARISS News Release No. 23-28

ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Students at Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), Dubai, United Arab Emirates

May 30, 2023—Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has received schedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact between an astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and students at the MBRSC located in Dubai, UAE. ARISS conducts 60-80 of these special amateur radio contacts each year between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses aboard the ISS.

The MBRSC is a Dubai government organization working on the UAE space program, which includes various space satellite projects, the Emirates Mars Mission, the Emirates Lunar Mission, and the UAE astronaut program. The MBRSC actively works to promote space science and research in the region with educational programs designed to promote a culture based on discovery and exploration in future generations of all education levels. MBRSC is hosting this ARISS contact for high school students who will be asking questions in Arabic and/or English.

This will be a direct contact via Amateur Radio allowing students to ask their questions of Astronaut Sultan AlNeyadi, amateur radio call sign KI5VTV. The downlink frequency for this contact is 145.800 MHz and may be heard by listeners that are within the ISS-footprint that also encompasses the relay ground station.

The amateur radio ground station for this contact is at MBRSC, Dubai, UAE. Amateur radio operators using call sign A68MBR, will operate the ground station to establish and maintain the ISS connection. The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for June 1, 2023 at 11:53:35 pm GST (Dubai, UAE) (7:53:35 UTC, 3:53 am EDT, 2:53 am CDT, 1:53 am MDT, 12:53 am PDT).
____________________________
As time allows, students will ask these questions:

What inspired you to become an astronaut?
What have you learned so far from living in Space and ISS?
How do you prepare for emergencies while in space?
What is the most important lesson you’ve learned while being in space?
How do you handle waste disposal in space?
What do you do to pass the time when you are free on ISS?
What is one new thing that you have learned from being in space?
How does your experience in space affect your perspective on life on Earth?
What is the most beautiful thing you’ve seen through the window of the ISS?
Can you imagine living in space with your family in space and how do you feel about it?
How do you manage to eat and drink in zero gravity?
What kind of research are you conducting to support future space exploration?
How does your work in space support the study of climate change on Earth?
What is the most memorable experience you’ve had so far?
What is the most important piece of advice you would give to future space explorers?
How do astronauts cope with the psychological effects of being isolated from Earth for long periods of time?
Do you enjoy posting pictures and videos on social media while in space and why do you do it?
___________________________

News Release No. 23-27

ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Students at Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), Dubai, United Arab Emirates

May 29, 2023—Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has received schedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact between an astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and students at the MBRSC located in Dubai, UAE. ARISS conducts 60-80 of these special amateur radio contacts each year between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses aboard the ISS.

The MBRSC is a Dubai government organization working on the UAE space program, which includes various space satellite projects, the Emirates Mars Mission, the Emirates Lunar Mission, and the UAE astronaut program. The MBRSC actively works to promote space science and research in the region with educational programs designed to promote a culture based on discovery and exploration in future generations of all education levels. MBRSC is hosting this ARISS contact for high school students who will be asking questions in Arabic and/or English.

This will be a direct contact via Amateur Radio allowing students to ask their questions of Astronaut Sultan AlNeyadi, amateur radio call sign KI5VTV. The downlink frequency for this contact is 145.800 MHz and may be heard by listeners that are within the ISS-footprint that also encompasses the relay ground station.

The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for May 31, 2023 at 12:42:20 pm GST (Dubai, UAE) (8:42:20 UTC, 4:42 am EDT, 3:42 am CDT, 2:42 am MDT, 1:42 am PDT).
__________________________
As time allows, students will ask these questions:

How do you feel like living in zero gravity?
How do you communicate with family and friends from space?
What are the experiments you are conducting on ISS now?
How do you keep track of time in space?
What are the challenges you face while living in space?
What do you miss most about life on Earth?
How do you stay physically fit and healthy in space?
What does the view of Earth look like from space?
How does space travel affect the human body?
How do you sleep in zero gravity?
What kinds of food do you eat in space?
How does your work in space benefit humanity?
What advice would you give to someone who wants to become an astronaut?
What kind of training do you receive to prepare for a spacewalk?
How did you feel when you first walked out of ISS?
What is the most difficult part of spacewalks?
How did you feel when you finished your spacewalk and went back inside the ISS?
______________________

News Release No. 23-26

ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Students at St. Francis Xavier High School, Gloucester, Ontario, Canada

May 24, 2023—Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has received schedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact between an astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and students at the St. Francis Xavier High School located in Gloucester, CA. ARISS conducts 60-80 of these special amateur radio contacts each year between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses aboard the ISS.

St Francis Xavier High School is a school of 2,150 students in grades 7 through 12. In anticipation of this ARISS contact, Grade 9 students will participate in specially designed lessons about the ISS, the astronauts, and radio communication. This contact will form a key part of the “Study of the Universe and Space Exploration” science curriculum for the 9^th grade class.

The ARISS amateur radio ground station (telebridge station) for this contact is in Andergrove, Mackay, Queensland, Australia. The amateur radio volunteer team at the ground station will use the callsign VK4ISS, to establish and maintain the ISS connection.

The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for May 26, 2023 at 12:32:49 pm EDT (ON, CA) (16:32:49 UTC, 11:32 am CDT, 10:32 am MDT, 9:32 am PDT).
_________________________
As time allows, students will ask these questions:

What do you have to do to become an astronaut?
What does it feel like in microgravity?
Have you ever come across a situation you didn’t train for?
Do you have to clean surfaces of dust and debris like on Earth?
What if you get sick in space? How do you get treated?
How do you live in space? (Food, water, hygiene)
Do you have to wear those blue jumpsuits on the ISS or can you wear what you want?
What’s one of your favourite activities to do in space?
What was the most memorable moment you have had while in space?
Can astronauts lose their spaceship?
Do you think we will make it to Mars one day?
Is there a smell in space?
Can you bring your own food to the ISS?
How do you stay in shape while on the ISS?
Have you ever lost something during a spacewalk or lost any repairing part in space?
What are the human-made things you can see from space?
______________________

News Release No. 23-25

ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Children at The Children’s Inn at NIH (National Institutes of Health), Bethesda, Maryland, USA

May 23, 2023—Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has received schedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact between an Axiom Mission (Ax-2) astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and children at the Children’s Inn at NIH located in Bethesda, MD. ARISS conducts 60-80 of these special amateur radio contacts each year between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses aboard the ISS.

This will be a telebridge Contact via Amateur Radio allowing students to ask their questions of Astronaut John Shoffner, amateur radio call sign KO4MJC. Shoffner is a STEM advocate, business pioneer, and life-long space enthusiast, John Shoffner will serve as pilot for Axiom Space’s Ax-2 mission to the International Space Station (ISS) on the SpaceX Dragon. Shoffner currently lives in Knoxville, Tennessee, and is honored to have this opportunity to not only achieve one of his greatest life’s dreams but also to use the Ax-2 mission to ignite a passion for STEM education in teachers and students worldwide to each pursue their ambitions.

The downlink frequency for this contact is 145.800 MHZ and may be heard by listeners that are within the ISS-footprint that also encompasses the telebridge station.

The ARISS amateur radio ground station (telebridge station) for this contact is in Aartselaar, Belgium. The amateur radio volunteer team at the ground station will use the callsign ON4ISS, to establish and maintain the ISS connection.

The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for May 26, 2023 at 1:31:38 pm EDT (MD) (17:31:38 UTC, 12:31 pm CDT, 11:31 am MDT, 10:31 am PDT).
________________________
As time allows, students will ask these questions:

What do you do to keep the food that you eat from going bad?
Before our solar system consisted of 9 planets. Why are we now discounting Pluto as a planet in our solar system?
What type of materials have you used while experimenting during your mission?
Has ISS discovered anything about life, vegetation, or water in its studies throughout the years?
What would happen if the magnetosphere that protects Earth stopped working?
What is your favorite part about being an astronaut?
How much training do you need to have in order to prepare for a space launch?
How does time feel in space? Does it affect you in any way?
How long have you been out in space?
What made you want to go into space? What are some risk factors you take into consideration?
Can you describe what liftoff is like? Do you get nervous?
What kind of things do you experiment with? Plants? Seeds? Other things?
What is the most interesting or beautiful thing that you have experienced in space?
How do you go to the bathroom in space?
How do you feel physically in space? Will it be hard readjusting when you come back from space?
What kind of food do you miss from home that you don’t have in space?
What is your day-to-day routine in space?
Is it comfortable sleeping in space?
What made you want to become an astronaut?
What is the most important skill to have as an astronaut?
What kind of activities do you do in space? Or when you’re on earth?
________________

News Release No. 23-24

ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Students at Middlesboro School System, Middlesboro, Kentucky, USA

May 23, 2023—Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has received schedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact between an Axiom Mission (Ax-2) astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and students at the Middlesboro School System located in Middlesboro, KY. ARISS conducts 60-80 of these special amateur radio contacts each year between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses aboard the ISS.

This will be a telebridge Contact via Amateur Radio allowing students to ask their questions of Astronaut John Shoffner, amateur radio call sign KO4MJC. STEM advocate, business pioneer, and life-long space enthusiast, John Shoffner will serve as pilot for Axiom Space’s Ax-2 mission to the International Space Station (ISS) on the SpaceX Dragon. Shoffner currently lives in Knoxville, Tennessee, and is honored to have this opportunity to not only achieve one of his greatest life’s dreams but also to use the Ax-2 mission to ignite a passion for STEM education in teachers and students worldwide to each pursue their ambitions.

The downlink frequency for this contact is 145.800 MHZ and may be heard by listeners that are within the ISS-footprint that also encompasses the telebridge station.

The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for May 25, 2023 at 11:07 am EDT (KY) (15:07:12 UTC,10:07 am CDT, 9:07 am MDT, 8:07 am PDT).
________________________
As time allows, students will ask these questions:

Can you describe your initial emotions during your entry into space and docking to the station?
How does your body adapt to microgravity and what will it be like readjusting to Earth’s gravity?
What types of experiments have you been a part of while on board the space station?
Will you have any leisure time aboard the space station and if so, what types of things can you do?
Can you describe the suits you have to wear on the mission and how they help you during your mission?
What is your personal “why” for taking part in this mission?
What has it felt like being able to come from a small town and live out your dream of traveling to space?
What has it been like to sleep in space and how do you do it?
Can you describe the food and how you eat while in space?
What is your daily schedule and routine like?
What has been the most impactful thing you’ve seen or done so far?
How will your time aboard the space station help astronauts on future missions?
Can you describe the launch experience?
Do you have the ability to communicate with your family back on Earth? If so, how?
What advice would you give a student like me who is interested in becoming an astronaut and traveling to space?
______________________

News Release No. 23-23

ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Students at Saudi Space Commission (SSC), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

May 23, 2023—Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has received schedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact between Axiom Mission 2 (Ax-2) astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and students at the Saudi Space Commission located in Riyadh, SA. ARISS conducts 60-80 of these special amateur radio contacts each year between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses aboard the ISS.

This will be a direct contact via Amateur Radio allowing students to take turns asking their questions of Astronauts Alqarni and Barnawi, amateur radio call signs 7Z1AJ and 7Z1RB, respectively. The downlink frequency for this contact is 145.800 MHz and may be heard by listeners that are within the ISS-footprint that also encompasses the relay ground station.

The amateur radio ground station for this contact is in Riyadh, SA. Amateur radio operators using call sign HZ1SAR, will operate the ground station to establish and maintain the ISS connection.

The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for May 24, 2023 at 2:08:38 pm AST (Riyadh) (11:08:38 UTC, 7:08 am EDT, 6:08 am CDT, 5:08 am MDT, 4:08 am PDT).
__________________________
As time allows, students will ask these questions:

How did it feel during lift off?
Is there gravity in space?
How many astronauts on the ISS now? And what is the maximum number?
How far are you from Earth?
How long does it take to travel to the Space Station from Earth?
Do you have internet in space?
How do you spend your time?
What is your food in ISS?
How do you shower and use the bathroom?
Do you see the sun from the ISS? All the time?
How do you sleep in space?
What made you become an astronaut?
Do you play games in your free time? What kind of games?
Did you see the kingdom from space? How does it look like?
_______________________

ARISS News Release No. 23-22

ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Students at Fairview Elementary, Olathe, Kansas, USA

May 16, 2023—Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has received schedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact between an astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and students at Fairview Elementary located in Olathe, KS. ARISS conducts 60-80 of these special amateur radio contacts each year between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses aboard the ISS.

Fairview Elementary is a Title 1 public elementary school with an enrollment of 250 students in grades Pre-K through 5th in Olathe, Kansas. Olathe is a city of 140,000 just outside Kansas City. Fairview Elementary has partnered with the Astronomical Society of Kansas City (ASKC) to provide an annual Astronomy Night for 3rd – 5th grade students and their families. Students and their families observed the night sky through 6-8 telescopes, experienced a STARLAB guided tour of the night sky, and were given a small piece of asteroid to take home. During the first year, approximately 100 people attended this event. Approximately 150 attended the second year, and for the 3rd annual Astronomy Night all students and their families will be invited. Some members of ASKC also hold active amateur radio licenses and are members of local HAM clubs (Santa Fe Trail Amateur Radio Club-KS0KS and Johnson County Radio Amateurs Club-W0ERH). These members, as well as the organization AMSAT (Amateur Radio in Space) have provided support for this ARISS contact. Ham radio operators have also demonstrated radio technology and communications to students in the school’s Science Club. Students have also participated in demonstrations of digital and voice communications through satellites provided by members of the Johnson County Radio Amateurs Club. Through these STEM-related lessons, activities, and events that have led up to and that will follow this ARISS contact, the school hopes to show students how exciting, engaging, challenging, and most importantly, attainable a STEM career can be.

This will be a telebridge Contact via Amateur Radio allowing students to ask their questions of Astronaut Warren Hoburg, amateur radio call sign KB3HTZ. The downlink frequency for this contact is 145.800 MHZ and may be heard by listeners that are within the ISS-footprint that also encompasses the telebridge station.

The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for May 19, 2023 at 1:58 pm CDT (Olathe) (18:58 UTC, 2:58 pm EDT, 12:58 pm MDT, 11:58 am PDT).

The public is invited to watch the live stream at: https://youtube.com/live/7eSFpxe0Fro?feature=share
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As time allows, students will ask these questions:

What is the most difficult thing about being an astronaut?
Has the ISS ever gotten close to a meteor and have you gotten any pictures of it?
How many languages are there on the ISS and are the controls only in English?
Is it easy to go to the bathroom in space?
Why do astronauts go to outer space?
What do the stars look like from the space station?
What would happen if you fell off the space station?
How much did it cost to build the SpaceX rocket ship and how much gas did you need to get to the ISS?
Have you seen an exoplanet like Kepler 22b?
What does the horizon look like from the space station?
What do you eat in space and where does it come from?
Have you ever done a backflip in space?
How can I be an astronaut?
How do you grow plants on the space station?
Has anything gone wrong after you went up to space?
What do you think of your job because sometimes you miss things like birthdays, funerals, and other important stuff?
In case of emergency and you have to abandon the space station, how will you be able to escape to earth safe and sound?
What do you do for fun on the space station?
How long does it take to get to the space station?
How do you know what time it is in space? Can you tell if it’s day or night?
What is your favorite thing to do on the ISS and when you get home?
What is the longest amount of time you have spent in space?
What does it feel like to sit on top of a rocket when it blasts off?
How do you adjust from gravity on earth to no gravity in space?
How long do you stay on the space station?
What happens if you get sick on the space station?
Do you float while you sleep?
Do you exercise in space and do you shower?
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ARISS News Release No. 23-21

ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Students at Webb Bridge Middle School, Alpharetta, Georgia, USA

May 16, 2023—Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has received schedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact between an astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and students at the Webb Bridge Middle School located in Alpharetta, GA. ARISS conducts 60-80 of these special amateur radio contacts each year between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses aboard the ISS.

Webb Bridge Middle School (WBMS) is a public school (with a total enrollment of 1188 in grades 6 through 8) in Alpharetta, Georgia, a far northern suburb of Atlanta. The primary audience for the ARISS contact is their 6th grade students (11 – 12 years old), who also study Geology and Space sciences during the year. In support of this contact, WBMS has partnered with the local amateur radio organization, the North Fulton Amateur Radio League (NFARL). During the day of the contact, planned activities will center around amateur radio and space education such as a morse code station, a get on the air station, and poster presentations on satellites, orbits, and Earth’s atmosphere.

This will be a telebridge contact via Amateur Radio and students will take turns asking their questions of Astronaut Warren Hoburg, amateur radio call sign KB3HTZ. The downlink frequency for this contact is 145.800 MHZ and may be heard by listeners that are within the ISS-footprint that also encompasses the telebridge station.

The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for May 19, 2023 at 2:20:31 pm EDT (GA) (18:20:31 UTC, 1:20 pm CDT, 12:20 pm MDT, 11:20 am PDT).

The public is invited to watch the live stream at: http://www.ariotti.com/
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As time allows, students will ask these questions:

What was your first mission and how did it make you feel?
What was the hardest and easiest part and challenges of becoming an astronaut?
What is the weirdest thing you have encountered in space?
What is the most profound lesson you learned from your experience in space, and how has it changed your perspective on life?
How major is the difference between daily life in space and earth? Would things in space like gravity change your daily routines?
If space does not have the same gravitational pull as the earth, then how does your body stay healthy and stable?
If I were to become an astronaut, what would you tell me you wish that you knew when you started your career?
What is training like? Do a lot of people quit?
When you’ve just left the atmosphere, and you can see earth and all the other planets from afar, what do you feel? Do you have a sense of love for the universe and how amazing it is?
Does it hurt when you go back into the Earth’s atmosphere after you’ve gotten used to little to no gravity?
I have a friend that told me that astronauts faint a lot after they come back to Earth, is this true?
What do you do when you get bored in the spacecraft?
Has there ever been a moment where there was a challenging situation and you and your other astronaut friends aboard the ISS has to work together to solve the problem?
What would you do if your spaceship was suddenly going down and you weren’t able to control it?
What happens if someone drifts out to space? Are there emergency protocols or anything to do to save them?
If your nose is itchy on a spacewalk, what do you do?
As you are blasting off, what does it feel like, is it nerve racking?
Can you communicate with your family while you are in space? If so, how?
How do you set your sleep schedule?
How do you plan to take out the trash in space?
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ARISS News Release No. 23-19

ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Students at Council Rock High School South, Holland, Pennsylvania, USA

April 28, 2023—Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has received schedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact between an astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and students at the Council Rock High School South located in Holland, PA. ARISS conducts 60-80 of these special amateur radio contacts each year between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses aboard the ISS.

Council Rock High School South (with about 2,000 students) is located in Lower Bucks County, PA. The school has extensive STEM-based clubs and activities that are preparing students for careers in Science and Mathematics. Two of these clubs will be heavily involved in this ARISS contact, the Council Rock South Radio Club (KC3JND) and HUNCH. HUNCH (High schools United with NASA to Create Hardware) is an effort to bring students new educational experiences by having them design products for NASA. The amateur radio club allows students to study for their ham license, and participate in club events including radio contacts with other high schools, Morse code battleship, foxhunting, and small electronic soldering projects.

The school’s Technology Club (of which HUNCH is a division) will help promote this ARISS contact by providing audio/video equipment for live streaming and recording the event as well as providing knowledge of the engineering aspect of the ISS and its communications systems. Many STEM-related activities prior to this contact will be a collaboration between Tech Club and Amateur Radio Club such as receiving data from a NOAA weather satellite. For this ARISS contact, students in the school’s amateur radio club are working with HAM radio engineers, (and members of the Warminster Amateur Radio Club, K3DN) who are helping students to prepare for this radio contact.

The amateur radio ground station for this contact is in Holland, PA. Amateur radio operators using call sign KC3JND, will operate the ground station to establish and maintain the ISS connection.

The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for May 1, 2023 at 8:43 am EDT (PA) (12:43 UTC, 7:43 am CDT, 6:43 am MDT, 5:43 am PDT).

The public is invited to watch the live stream at: http://www.crsarc.org/live
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As time allows, students will ask these questions:

How does your companionship and cooperation on the ISS serve as a lesson for how to solve problems in society?
Are there skills that you have learned from acquiring your amateur radio license that have helped you as an astronaut?
Do you think that living in space has given you a unique perspective on life on this planet and our role as stewards of it?
How has your education helped you become the astronaut that you are today and what advice would you give to someone looking to pursue that career?
How hard was it for you to adjust to experiencing night and day every 45 minutes?
In your experience in space, what stood out the most as being different compared to your training?
What experiments will you be conducting that you believe could have significant scientific impact?
What challenges if any did you encounter during this mission and how did you handle them?
Have language barriers presented any obstacles during your time on the ISS?
How does traveling in the Space X vehicle compare to the Soyuz spacecraft?
How has your wilderness training benefitted you during your tenure in space?
Has being an astronaut always been a dream of yours, or is it something that you learned you wanted to pursue along the way.
Who was most influential in helping you become an astronaut?
What is the best and worst experiences related to being in microgravity?
Working alongside astronauts from many countries, why do you think it is important for the advancement of science and space exploration to be an international effort.
How does the duration of exercise in microgravity compare to that on Earth in order to get the same results?
Are there any values or views that you’ve developed that you don’t think you would have without your experiences?
What is your favorite thing to do during your free time on the ISS?
Do you think living away from civilization has changed your outlook on life or relationships?
How has microgravity affected your sense of smell and taste?
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ARISS News Release No. 23-18

ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Students at Agrupamento de Escolas João de Barros, Corroios, Portugal, AND Escola Secundária da Baixa da Banheira, Moita, Portugal

April 20, 2023—Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has received schedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact between an astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and students at two educational facilities located in Corroios and Moita, Portugal. ARISS conducts 60-80 of these special amateur radio contacts each year between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses aboard the ISS.

Agrupamento de Escolas João de Barros (AEJB), established in 2013, is located in Corroios, Seixal and consists of five schools from pre-school to secondary education with an enrollment of 2,458. AEJB offers courses in the areas of: Science and Technology, Socioeconomic Sciences, Visual Arts/Arts Workshop, Languages and Humanities. AEFJ also offers two professional courses in the field of computer technologies.

Secondary School of Baixa da Banheira is a public, Vocational Education and Training school (VET) (with about 1600 enrolled) located in Moita, near the capital city of Lisbon. Their VET curriculum includes: IT, Sports, Cooking and Catering, Logistics, Tourism and Pharmacy Technician courses. The school offers a “Centro Qualifica” for adults who also have multinational backgrounds.

Ham radio operator members of the Amateur Radio Association in Portugal (REP) are supporting this ARISS contact with the necessary radio equipment, radio operation and ISS tracking.

The amateur radio ground station for this contact is in Moita, Portugal. Amateur radio operators using call sign CS5SS, will operate the ground station to establish and maintain the ISS connection.

The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for April 22, 2023 at 1:06:44 pm WEST (Portugal) (12:06:44 UTC, 8:06 am EDT, 7:06 am CDT, 6:06 am MDT, 5:06 am PDT).
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As time allows, students will ask these questions:

Why did you decide to become an astronaut?
What does it take to be an astronaut.?
What is your daily routine like? /How do you share tasks?
Is your digestion affected by the absence of gravity?
How do you communicate with your families?
What are the effects that happen to an astronaut who has been in space for a long period of time when they arrive back to Earth?
How long does each mission take?
Is your blood circulation affected by the change in gravity?
What does the inside of the ISS look like?
Was it difficult to get used to living there?
Do you recycle your waste?
How does the space station keep orbiting the Earth?
What projects are you currently developing?
If one of you gets ill, what do you do?
What was the most amazing thing you have ever seen in space?
How do you spend your free time?
What are the changes that you can see happening due to climate changes?
What do you fear the most up there?
Do you consider yourselves as heroes?
If you get emotional and cry what happens to your tears?
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ARISS News Release No. 23-17

ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Students at Montross Middle School, Montross, Virginia, USA

April 19, 2023 —Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has received schedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact between an astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and students at the Montross Middle School located in Montross, VA. ARISS conducts 60-80 of these special amateur radio contacts each year between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses aboard the ISS.

Montross Middle School is a rural, public school for 6th, 7th and 8th grades with about 300 students in Westmoreland County, Montross VA. The School’s STEM curriculum includes courses on the solar system, space exploration and specifically included assignments on tracking and spotting the ISS. Courses have also emphasized communication using ham radio, and the properties of radio waves. In preparation for the ARISS contact, the school participated in the School Club Roundup with the Westmoreland Amateur Radio Club in the previous Fall and Spring. Members of the Westmoreland Amateur Radio Club have also been sharing their expertise on radio communication and communicating with the ISS using ham radio and will be supporting the school during this ARISS contact.

This will be a Multipoint Telebridge Contact via Amateur Radio allowing students to ask their questions of Astronaut Steve Bowen, amateur radio call sign KI5BKB. The downlink frequency for this contact is 145.800 MHz and may be heard by listeners that are within the ISS-footprint that also encompasses the telebridge station.

The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for April 21, 2023 at 1:34:31 pm EDT (VA) (17:34:31 UTC, 12:34 pm CDT, 11:34 am MDT, 10:34 am PDT).

The public is invited to watch the live stream at: https://division.wmlcps.org (with the stream linked under Upcoming Events) and at https://www.youtube.com/live/sFFmf9e0pZs?feature=share
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As time allows, students will ask these questions:

Have you ever thought that you couldn’t make it and almost gave up trying. What encouraged you to keep going?
As a member of the International Space Station, I assume you work for NASA? Could you tell us your path of working for NASA?
How do you cope with the mental and emotional challenges of long-term space travel?
What is the training process for becoming an astronaut?
Why do you want to be an astronaut?
How do you sleep since there is no gravity?
How do you eat?
How do you take a shower in space?
How do you brush your teeth?
What happens if you get sick in space?
What does it feel like coming back into the earth’s atmosphere?
What type of stuff do you do in space?
How old were you when you first realized that you wanted to be an astronaut?
How long does it take to become an astronaut?
How long will you be on the International Space Station and can you return later?
What are the hardships of being an astronaut?
Have you gone to the back of the moon?
How long did it take to get used to no gravity especially when sleeping?
How do you get back to earth?
What is the bathroom like?
Are you able to see the other planets as you orbit the earth?
Does the International Space Station have a heater?
Is it hot when you’re coming back into the earth’s atmosphere?
Is time different in space?
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ARISS News Release No. 23-16

ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Students at West Michigan Aviation Academy, High School, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA

April 18, 2023—Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has received schedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact between an astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and students at the West Michigan Aviation Academy, High School located in Grand Rapids, MI. ARISS conducts 60-80 of these special amateur radio contacts each year between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses aboard the ISS.

West Michigan Aviation Academy (WMAA) is a tuition-free public charter high school that is STEM-focused specializing in aviation and engineering programs for grades 9 through 12. WMAA opened in 2010 and is located on the campus of the Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Grand Rapids, MI. Part of WMAA’s curriculum includes a pathway to earn a private pilot license, as well as qualifying to take the FAA Licensing Test after completing their Unmanned Aerial Systems (“drone”) courses. Other classes include studies in space exploration and principles of radio communication and include their year-long Aerospace Engineering course. Members of the Lowell Amateur Radio Club are supporting this ARISS contact by helping with radio equipment setup, Amateur satellite practice contacts, and a ham licensing event.

This will be a direct contact via Amateur Radio allowing students to ask their questions of Astronaut Sultan AlNeyadi, amateur radio call sign KI5VTV. The downlink frequency for this contact is 145.800 MHz and may be heard by listeners that are within the ISS-footprint that also encompasses the relay ground station.

The amateur radio ground station for this contact is in Grand Rapids, MI. Amateur radio operators using call sign W8ISS, will operate the ground station to establish and maintain the ISS connection. The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for April 20, 2023 at 2:20:54 pm EDT (Grand Rapids) (18:20:54 UTC, 1:20 pm CDT, 12:20 pm MDT, 11:20 am PDT).
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As time allows, students will ask these questions:

How did you build and maintain the motivation to become an astronaut?
What type of clothes and personal belongings do you bring to space and why?
What kind of training do you get as an astronaut to mentally prepare you for the challenges of missions in space?
What are the hardest adjustments to living in space for long periods of time?
How has travelling to space affected your perspective on life and of the planet?
Is it possible to get stuck in an open area of the space station where you cannot grab or push against anything to generate a force? If so, how do you get unstuck?
Does electricity behave differently in orbit on the space station and does it require any special precautions?
How do you deal with human waste and garbage on the space station?
What kinds of plant or animal research is being done on the space station?
How does the lack of sunlight and gravity affect plant growth on the space station?
How do you prevent or respond to serious injuries in space?
What personality or leadership traits is the space program looking for in astronaut candidates to be best prepared to go on space missions?
How is the mental health of the space station crew monitored?
What subjects or lessons from your high school or college education do you apply most often on the space station?
What are some things I can do now, as a high school student, to prepare to become an astronaut?
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ARISS News Release No. 23-15

ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Students at Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), Dubai, United Arab Emirates

April 15, 2023—Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has received schedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact between an astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and students at the MBRSC located in Dubai, UAE. ARISS conducts 60-80 of these special amateur radio contacts each year between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses aboard the ISS.

The Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) is a Dubai government organization working on the UAE space program, which includes various space satellite projects, the Emirates Mars Mission, the Emirates Lunar Mission, and the UAE astronaut program. The MBRSC actively works to promote space science and research in the region with educational programs designed to promote a culture based on discovery and exploration in future generations of all education levels. MBRSC is hosting this ARISS contact for high school students who will be asking questions in Arabic and/or English.

This will be a direct contact via Amateur Radio allowing students to ask their questions of Astronaut Sultan AlNeyadi, amateur radio call sign KI5VTV. The downlink frequency for this contact is 145.800 MHz and may be heard by listeners that are within the ISS-footprint that also encompasses the relay ground station.

The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for April 18, 2023 at 2:43 pm GST (Dubai, UAE) (10:43:28 UTC, 6:43 am EDT, 5:43 am CDT, 4:43 am MDT, 3:43 am PDT).
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As time allows, students will ask these questions (translation):

What inspired you to become an astronaut?
How did the UAE support your journey to become an astronaut?
Can you describe the process of launching into space and how did you feel during it?
What do you miss most about earth while being in space?
What is the most beautiful view you have seen from space?
Can you see any visible changes in the Earth’s climate or environment from your point of view?
What is the most important lesson you have learned during this space mission so far?
How do you deal with the physical and psychological effects of being in space for an extended period of time?
How does your experience as an astronaut affect your perspective on life and the world?
What kind of experiments or research projects have you conducted so far aboard the International Space Station?
What is your favorite space-related activity to do while on the International Space Station?
How do you communicate with your fellow astronauts on the International Space Station?
What impact do you hope to have as an astronaut and as a representative of the United Arab Emirates?
Can you share any memorable experiences or moments you had while in space?
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ARISS News Release No. 23-14

ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Students at Collège Saint-Anatoile, Salins-Les-Bains, France

April 4, 2023—Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has received schedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact between an astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and students at the Collège Saint-Anatoile, located in Salins-Les-Bains, France. ARISS conducts 60-80 of these special amateur radio contacts each year between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses aboard the ISS.

Saint Anatoile secondary school is a French private catholic school located in a rural area in the department of Jura (258,000 population), Burgundy, Franche Comté region. In conjunction with hosting this ARISS contact, the school has developed a 2-year “ARISS contact” project to provide students a real opportunity to discover and understand an environment that is unknown to most of them. The objectives of the project are to deepen the scientific and linguistic knowledge of the students through workshops, and various STEM projects incorporated in their curriculum. All students participated in the project (about 100 pupils aged 11 to 14). Supporting this contact are members of the amateur radio club (F6KSD) and radio amateurs of the Assocition Réseau des Emetteurs Français (R.E.F.25) who held workshops for students in grades 6 and 9. These workshops covered topics that included: an introduction to amateur radio, Morse code, Q code, radio directional-finding, rules of communicating on amateur satellites (using satellite QO-100), orbital mechanics, wave propagation, and much more.

This will be a telebridge Contact via Amateur Radio allowing students to ask their questions of Astronaut Steve Bowen, amateur radio call sign KI5BKB. The downlink frequency for this contact is 145.800 MHZ and may be heard by listeners that are within the ISS-footprint that also encompasses the telebridge station.

The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for April 7, 2023 at 4:27 pm CEST (France) (14:27:26 UTC, 10:27 am EDT, 9:27 am CDT, 8:27 am MST, 7:27 am PDT).

The public is invited to watch the live stream at: https://www.youtube.com/embed/live_stream?channel=UCy6st8UemV-88B0PbRlT5sw or the school Youtube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@technofg/streams
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As time allows, students will ask these questions:

Can the effects of global warming be seen from the Space Station?
Does weightlessness change the way you breathe?
Do you plant seeds in order to have vegetables and eat them?
Do you still have the notion of time inside the ISS?
What did you like the most when you first entered the ISS?
Why did you want to become an astronaut?
How is it possible to sleep in the space station with weightlessness?
Have you discovered anything unusual or strange during your last missions?
How can the Space Station supply itself with electricity?
How do you feel to be one of the few people to go into space?
What do you do with your waste?
What do you do if someone gets hurt?
What is the interest of weightlessness in your research?
What constraints do you encounter when you return to Earth in order to regain a normal life?
How long is the air reserve of the spacesuits?
How do you cook in space?
How did you feel during the take-off of the shuttle?
Is it hard to walk when you come back on Earth?
What is the best activity you have done in space so far?
How do you feel weightlessness now, as you are talking to us?
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ARISS News Release No. 23-13

ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Students at Stone Magnet Middle School, Melbourne, Florida, USA

March 28, 2023—Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has received schedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact between an astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and students at the Stone Magnet Middle School located in Melbourne, FL. ARISS conducts 60-80 of these special amateur radio contacts each year between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses aboard the ISS.

Stone Magnet Middle School (Stone), founded in 1954, has 649 students (ages 12 to 15) in the seventh and eighth grades. Stone’s educational foundation provides STEAM-based programs that show the interdisciplinary connections among the sciences, technologies, engineering, arts, and mathematics for students across all classrooms. Prior to this ARISS contact, students have been learning about the ISS, NASA research on the ISS (by conducting their own ISS-based experiments) and radio science (radio waves). Members of the Platinum Coast Amateur Radio Society (PCARS) are supporting the school during this ARISS contact.

This will be a direct contact via Amateur Radio allowing students to ask their questions of Astronaut Steve Bowen, amateur radio call sign KI5BKB. The downlink frequency for this contact is 145.800 MHZ and may be heard by listeners that are within the ISS-footprint that also encompasses the relay ground station.

The amateur radio ground station for this contact is in Melbourne, FL. Amateur radio operators using call sign AJ9N, will operate the ground station to establish and maintain the ISS connection.

The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for March 31, 2023 at 2:07:55 pm EDT (Melbourne) (18:07:55 UTC, 1:07 pm CDT, 12:07 pm MDT, 11:07 am PDT).

The public is invited to watch the live stream at: https://youtube.com/channel/UCuO96ZDAoLWVlko5CyATxzw
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As time allows, students will ask these questions:

How does returning to Earth affect your physical and mental health?
What food and drinks do you consume, and does it taste the same as it does on Earth?
Do you see any objects speeding by the space station?
What plants are currently growing on the ISS, and what is the purpose for them?
Did you have special training before you traveled to the ISS, if so, what did it entail?
I play the cello, what instruments have been brought to space, and does it sound different?
What was one of the biggest surprises/adaptations you had to make that you were not prepared for?
How do you sleep in space, and do you have trouble sleeping?
What exercises do you do and how long and often do you have to do them for?
What is the process to become an astronaut?
How do you contact family and friends?
What type of work and research do you do?
Are there any factors that could delay travel back to Earth?
How much free time do you get and what do you do for entertainment?
What happens if you get sick or bleed in space?
What kinds of supplies get delivered to the ISS and how often?
Do you get homesick? If so, how do you deal with it?
What is the process of converting urine into clean drinking water?
What is the most mentally challenging thing about the transition from Earth to Space?
What inspired you to become an astronaut?
How do you use the bathroom in space?
What does a typical day look like for you?
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ARISS News Release No. 23-12

ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Students at “Valle de Camargo” High School, Revilla de Camargo, Spain

March 25, 2023—Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has received schedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact between an astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and students at the Valle de Camargo High School located in Revilla de Camargo, Spain. ARISS conducts 60-80 of these special amateur radio contacts each year between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses aboard the ISS.

The Valle de Camargo school is a public school with about 1000 students enrolled, ages 12 to 18 years. The school is hosting this ARISS contact with a goal to encourage the students in their course studies: math, physics, sciences, and technology. Related to this contact, students are also taking part in studies that include electronic communication, our Solar system, and amateur radio. For this contact, the school is being supported by the Santander Amateur Radio Association, whose members have also been demonstrating (over the past 5-years) short wave radio operation for the students during the school’s annual Cultural Week event.

This will be a direct contact via Amateur Radio and students will take turns asking their questions of Astronaut Steve Bowen, amateur radio call sign KI5BKB. The downlink frequency for this contact is 145.800 MHZ and may be heard by listeners that are within the ISS-footprint that also encompasses the relay ground station.

The amateur radio ground station for this contact is in Revilla de Camargo, Spain. Amateur radio operators using call sign EG1RVC, will operate the ground station to establish and maintain the ISS connection.

The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for March 27, 2023 at 5:09 pm CEST (Madrid, Spain) (15:09 UTC, 11:09 am EDT, 10:09 am CDT, 9:09 am MDT, 8:09 am PDT).

The public is invited to watch the live stream at: http://www.iesvalledecamargo.org
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As time allows, students will ask these questions:

Did you want to be an astronaut when you were a child?
Did you have to perform very demanding physical tests to be an astronaut?
What studies have you done to become an astronaut?
Can you communicate with your family frequently?
How long do you usually stay on the ISS?
Is it possible to dance in space?
How do you spend your free time on the ISS?
What are the effects on health of living in space?
What are the best aspects of cooperating among so many nations?
How often do you receive supplies from Earth?
What are your greatest fears living on the ISS?
Is it easy to lose track of time living through continuous sunrises and sunsets?
What do you do if a crew member becomes ill?
What are the main problems of living together on the ISS?
What is the most interesting experiment you are working on?
What is the most impressive atmospheric phenomenon you have seen?
How do you feel when you remember that there is nothing around the ISS?
Do you frequently do spacewalks outside the ISS? What does it feel like?
Would it be possible for a disabled person to travel to space?
Could you explain the feeling of living without gravity?
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ARISS News Release No. 23-11

ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Students at Lana’i High and Elementary School, Lana’i City, Hawaii, USA

March 20, 2023—Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has received schedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact between an astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and students at the Lana’i High and Elementary School located in Lana’i City, Hawaii. ARISS conducts 60-80 of these special amateur radio contacts each year between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses aboard the ISS.

Lāna’i High and Elementary School is the main school on the small island of Lāna’i, west of Maui. Lāna’i is the sixth largest Hawaiian island with an area of 140 square miles and a population of around 3,200 residents. The school (with 572 students in Pre-K to 12th grade) engages students in STEM/ PBL (project-based-learning) curriculum. In preparation for this ARISS contact, their curriculum is supplemented with studies that include amateur radio equipment, Earth and space science, radio astronomy, and amateur radio licensing. The school has enlisted community support from Everest Innovation Lab (in Hawaii), Emergency Amateur Radio Club Hawaii, Ohana Kilo Hoku, Kekulamamo, the Canada-France-Hawaii-Telescope Corporation, the Hawaii Dept of Education, and the Manele Koele Charitable Fund. Amateur radio operators are providing support for this event as well as presentations on the ARISS program.

This will be a telebridge Contact via Amateur Radio allowing students to ask their questions of Astronaut Warren Hoburg, amateur radio call sign KB3HTZ. The downlink frequency for this contact is 145.800 MHZ and may be heard by listeners that are within the ISS-footprint that also encompasses the telebridge station.

The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for March 23, 2023 at 8:22:52 am HST (HI) (18:22:52UTC, 2:22 pm EDT, 1:22 pm CDT, 12:22 pm MDT, 11:22 am PDT). The public is invited to watch the live stream at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxm5Ca2y0HD_NxXlZWXv11A
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As time allows, students will ask these questions:

How do astronauts celebrate their birthdays?
How long does it take to repair stuff in space?
What is your suit made out of?
What is one of the most exciting discoveries you have made?
What type of work is the ISS currently doing?
How do the suits produce air?
Are all the disadvantages such as working out so much, missing your family, and eating that crazy food worth being up in space that long?
What are the ISS walls made out of?
What kind of experiments do you perform on the outside platform?
What are some of the effects that happen to your body once you arrive on Earth from space?
How do you store air in the ISS?
Do you miss anyone?
Do you notice the days/time passing by?
How long does it take to get to space?
How long do astronauts usually stay in space?
What was one major event that caused difficulty in space?
What would happen if an asteroid hit the space station?
What is the most difficult part of putting on your suit?
How does earth look from the ISS?
What have you learned from being in space?
___________________________

ARISS News Release No. 23-10

ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Students at Jumeirah College Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

March 04, 2023—Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has received schedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact between an astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and students at the Jumeirah College Dubai located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. ARISS conducts 60-80 of these special amateur radio contacts each year between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses aboard the ISS.

Jumeirah College Dubai is a GEMS education establishment founded in 1999, and has 1136 students enrolled (from 65 nationalities), ages 11-18. This British school provides the National Curriculum for England from years 7 to 13, is registered with the Department for Education and Skills in London, and is an examination center for the appropriate UK examination boards. The College has integrated this ARISS contact event into their STEM-based curriculum by holding a college-wide Science Week to observe the culmination of human achievement and explore space sciences. The College has also developed partnerships with external agencies in order to expand the educational horizons of their students and introduce them to the wider opportunities of STEM topics at higher levels. These agencies include, the Al Thuraya Astronomy Center, MBRSC and the UAE Space Agency.

This will be a telebridge Contact via Amateur Radio and students will take turns asking their questions of Astronaut Sultan AlNeyadi, amateur radio call sign KI5VTV. The downlink frequency for this contact is 145.800 MHZ and may be heard by listeners that are within the ISS-footprint that also encompasses the telebridge station.

The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for March 7, 2023 at 12:45 pm GST (Dubai) (8:45UTC, 3:45 am EST, 2:45 am CST, 1:45 am MST, 12:45 am PST).
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As time allows, students will ask these questions:

What inspired you to become an astronaut?
How did you prepare yourself mentally and physically for the journey to the Space Station?
How did you feel during the launch of the spacecraft?
At which point did you feel a change in gravity during your journey to space?
What are some of the differences between the simulation training and experiencing real-life space travel?
What was the most surprising aspect when you arrived at the Space Station?
Do you ever get homesick while in space? If so, how do you deal with it?
What does it feel like when you are wearing a spacesuit?
How is a build-up of waste managed on the Space Station to stay sustainable?
What type of work and research do you do on the Space Station?
Do you feel cold while living on the Space Station?
What sounds can you hear around the Space Station and do they distract you?
What is the scariest thing that has happened to you in space?
How do you clean the inside and the outside of the Space Station?
Do you find it difficult to sleep on the Space Station?
How do you entertain yourself when you’re on the Space Station?
What personal items did you bring with you to the Space Station and why did you bring them?
What is your favourite food to eat on the Space Station?
What does the future of space exploration hold for humanity?
What physical changes happen to your body when living on the Space Station for a long duration mission?
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ARISS News Release No. 23-09

ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Students at Istituto Statale di Istruzione Superiore “Il Pontormo”, Empoli, Italy

February 21, 2023—Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has received schedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact between an astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and students at the Istituto Statale di Istruzione Superiore located in Empoli, Italy. ARISS conducts 60-80 of these special amateur radio contacts each year between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses aboard the ISS.

Istituto Statale di Istruzione Superiore “Il Pontormo” (Institute) is located in the municipality of Empoli, in the heart of Tuscany, and is attended by about 740 students aged between 14 and 19. The Institute includes the Liceo Scientifico with a 5-year curriculum in the STEM disciplines: mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, and Earth sciences. The institute also provides courses (and instruction in laboratory practice in their lab facilities) in applied sciences, which allows students to gain advanced skills (and their applications) in mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, Earth sciences, and computer science. The Institute has partnered with the Italian Radioamateur Association of Empoli (Sezione A.R.I. Empoli), club call sign IQ5EM, whose members/operators will operate the ground station for this ARISS contact. Members of Sezione A.R.I. Empoli have been collaborating for years with schools in the territory in order to interest youth in the world of amateur radio.

This will be a direct contact via Amateur Radio allowing students to ask their questions of Astronaut Koichi Wakata, amateur radio call sign KI5TMN. The downlink frequency for this contact is 145.800 MHZ and may be heard by listeners that are within the ISS-footprint that also encompasses the relay ground station.

The amateur radio ground station for this contact is in Empoli, Italy. Amateur radio operators using call sign IQ5EM, will operate the ground station to establish and maintain the ISS connection.

The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for February 23, 2023 at 10:32:56 am CET (Italy) (9:32:56 UTC, 4:32 am EST, 3:32 am CST, 2:32 am MST, 1:32 am PST).

The public is invited to watch the live stream at: https://www.ilpontormoempoli.edu.it/notizie/la-vita-della-scuola/eventi-e-attivita/1468-spazio-al-pontormo.html
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As time allows, students will ask these questions:

What are your thoughts and feelings before liftoff?
On the ISS, what is the prevailing feeling since you are flying kilometers away from the Earth in a limited livable space?
Which experiences on the ISS have excited you the most and which ones were unexpected?
How does the perception of time and space change from staying on Earth and flying on the ISS?
What is the relationship among crew on ISS with so many different nationalities represented?
Does living in microgravity affect your sleep-wake mechanism and how do your dreams change when you are in Space?
Has there ever been a significant emergency since you arrived on the ISS? If so, how did you sort it out?
Are there any aspects of your training which have turned out to be useful in your everyday life and are there any habits you have taken up in Space that you maintain after you get back to the Earth?
A few years ago, the ISS was proposed for the Nobel Peace Prize. Where do you see the future of international collaborative space efforts going forward?
How do you get used to terrestrial gravity when you get back to the Earth?
What are the main challenges you daily overcome during your stay on the Space Station?
What are the aims of the scientific research you conduct on the ISS? What limits are there for space research?
Excluding ground control, who are you in touch with on Earth and how do you maintain this contact?
What leads you to explore and study Space? Is it irrepressible curiosity, thirst for knowledge or the will of being the first to make new discoveries?
How did your passion for exploring Space come about and what suggestions would you give to a teenager eager to become an astronaut?
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ARISS News Release No. 23-07

ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Students at Stella Maris College, Gzira, Malta

February 13, 2023—Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has received schedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact between an astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and students at the Stella Maris College located in Gzira, Malta. ARISS conducts 60-80 of these special amateur radio contacts each year between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses aboard the ISS.

Stella Maris College is part of a network (La Salle Malta) of Lasallian Colleges that include De La Salle College and the Mellieha Retreat Centre. La Salle Malta was founded as a single school in 1903 by the Brothers of the Christian Schools and is now the La Salle Malta’s Lasallian Colleges, run by the Malta Trust of the Brothers of the Christian Schools. Stella Maris College is hosting this ARISS contact for participating students in grades 5 through 10 (ages 9-15 years). Stella Maris College has partnered with members of the Malta Amateur Radio League (MARL) (9H1MRL) who will provide support during the ARISS contact. Members of MARL have also made presentations to students about amateur radio, and demonstrated satellite tracking and talking to other hams through amateur radio satellites. As a member of MARL, Stella Maris College has previously operated their own amateur radio station. Members of other organizations that are also part of educational activities surrounding this ARISS contact include; the University of Malta, the Malta College for Science and Technology, Malta Council for Science and Technology and Malta College for Arts, Science and Technology.

This will be a direct contact via Amateur Radio allowing students to ask their questions of Astronaut Josh Cassada, amateur radio call sign KI5CRH. The downlink frequency for this contact is 145.800 MHZ and may be heard by listeners that are within the ISS-footprint that also encompasses the relay ground station.

The amateur radio ground station for this contact is in Gzira, Malta. Amateur radio operators using call sign 9H1MRL, will operate the ground station to establish and maintain the ISS connection.

The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for February 15, 2023 at 1:48 pm CET (Malta) (12:48UTC, 7:48 am EST, 6:48 am CST, 5:48 am MST, 4:48 am PST).

The public is invited to watch the live stream at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fk-Onkbr6PY
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As time allows, students will ask these questions:

What do astronauts normally eat or drink on the space station?
How do you sleep in space? Is it comfortable?
What do you do in your free time?
How long is the training to actually go in space?
Why do astronauts wear space suits?
Is there a maximum time limit for staying in space?
How do you stay healthy (physically and mentally): in space?
When you are going up in space, crossing the ozone layer does it hurt?
What side effects do you get when returning from space?
Can kids go to space?
Did you discover something new from another galaxy?
What does space food taste like?
How does it feel like living in low gravity?
What inspired you to work in space and the International Space Station?
What are your emotions during lift-off?
Do astronauts need to go to the hospital or get checked out when they return to Earth?
What do you miss most from Earth when you are in space?
How is one chosen to go on the ISS? What inspired you to become an astronaut?
What does the training to go to space consist of?
Why is there no gravity in space? How does it feel?
At what speed does the ISS travel and how many times do you circle the Earth in a day
How is air generated inside the ISS?
What is the best thing to do when you are in a rocket?
How would you describe the spacewalk in a few words?
What is the hardest part when living in space?
What is the most beautiful thing you have ever seen in space?
__________________________

ARISS News Release No. 23-06

ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Students at Gymnasium Christian-Ernestinum, Bayreuth, Germany

February 12, 2023—Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has received schedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact between astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and students at the Gymnasium Christian-Ernestinum located in Bayreuth, Germany. ARISS conducts 60-80 of these special amateur radio contacts each year between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses aboard the ISS.

Christian-Ernestinum (GCE) Gymnasium is one of five high schools in the city of Bayreuth, and was founded in 1664 by the sovereign Margrave of Brandenburg, Christian Ernst. GCE teaches Latin and English languages to all students, but also offers French, and Spanish. GCE’s STEM program offers studies in the fields of physics, chemistry and computer science, and maintains a student exchange program with Italy, France and Greece. They also include elective courses on research and advances in the natural sciences, astronomy, electronics and robotics.

GCE, as the host to this ARISS contact, recognizes that direct radio contact with an astronaut in space is a unique and extraordinary experience for students. Therefore, GCE has partnered with local radio club: DARC Ortsverband Bayreuth, whose members have provided technical support by setup/operation of the amateur radio station as well as technical instruction to students during workshops. DARC members also enabled students/teachers to participate in the world-wide, Ham Field Day event, with support for Ham licensing. Students also participated in a special supporting program that included presentations/workshops on astronomy/physics.

The amateur radio ground station for this contact is at the school in Bayreuth, Germany. Amateur radio operators using call sign DK0BT, will operate the ground station to establish and maintain the ISS connection.

The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for February 14, 2023 at 11:20 am CET (GER) (10:20:12 UTC, 5:20 am EST, 4:20 am CST, 3:20 am MST, 2:20 am PST).
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As time allows, students will ask these questions:

How long does it take to prepare for a space flight? What content is part of the training and what did you enjoy the most?
How long will you be on the ISS? And will you fly to the ISS a second time?
How does a rocket launch feel and how difficult is it to move in zero gravity?
Is the ISS decorated for birthdays or carnival?
What’s the first thing you’ll do when you get back to earth?
How does weightlessness and the changed day-night rhythm affect the psyche and how do you deal with it personally? Have you been homesick too?
Do you have free time on board and how can you use it?
What have you personally learned from this mission that you would like to pass on to everyone?
How often can you contact friends and family and how is this technically implemented (smartphone, internet, radio)?
What do you like best about living on the ISS?
Is there privacy on the ISS, e.g. a separate little corner or something similar?
How is the air in the ISS?
Friends and family aside, is there anything that’s only on earth that you miss?
With the photos from the ISS you only ever see the earth, what does the view of the starry sky look like?
Can you hear or feel impacts from so called space debris on the ISS?
How does the food taste on the ISS and which earthly food do you miss the most?
Have you already been involved in an external mission and how is contact with the “spacewalker” maintained?
What do you think of space tourism?
What happens to all the equipment after the mission?
What do you do during the flight to the ISS and what are the biggest challenges involved?
What happens in case of extreme health emergencies?
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ARISS News Release No. 23-05

ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Students at Colegio Diocesano Santa María Nuestra Señora, Écija, Spain

February 6, 2023—Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has received schedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact between an astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and students at the Santa María Nuestra Señora Diocesan School located in Écija, Spain. ARISS conducts 60-80 of these special amateur radio contacts each year between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses aboard the ISS.

Founded in 1935, Santa María Nuestra Señora Diocesan School is located in the city of Écija (40.000 inhabitants), in the province of Seville (SPAIN) and offers pre-school, primary and secondary education with a student body ages 3 to 16 years. The school provides educational innovation in, STEAM, PBL (Project-based learning), programming and robotics. During the three years leading up to this ARISS contact, students learned about space exploration through hands-on activities that included constructing models of planets in our solar system, radio communications with members of the URE Seville (Union of Spanish Radio Amateurs) and completed projects from the European Space Education Resource Office-Spain (ESERO). These activities also showed students what it is like to live and work in the ISS, and included visits to the science and technology park to discover how this helps us in our daily live.

This will be a telebridge contact via Amateur Radio allowing students to ask their questions of Astronaut Josh Cassada, amateur radio call sign KI5CRH. The downlink frequency for this contact is 145.800 MHZ and may be heard by listeners that are within the ISS-footprint that also encompasses the telebridge station.

The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for February 8, 2023 at 11:13:59 am CET (Spain) (10:13:59UTC, 5:13 am EST, 4:13 am CST, 3:13 am MST, 2:13 am PST).

The public is invited to watch the live stream at: http://www.ariotti.com/. They are also streaming at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nYFP7qzUtk.
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As time allows, students will ask these questions:

Is it cold in space?
How do astronauts sleep in space?
How can data be transmitted from space to Earth in real time?
What do you spend your time on? Are you always working on experiments?
What happens if you get injured, hurt or sick in the space? Are there doctors on board?
How do astronauts eat and drink without gravity?
How do astronauts take a shower and go to the wc?
How can you breathe at the international station if there is no atmosphere/oxygen in space?
What is your main mission on the International Space Station?
How do you protect from orbital debris, or “space junk”?
What do astronauts like most about living in space?
Do you feel anything special as you go past the atmosphere and you stop feeling the Earth’s gravity?
How do you want or expect your mission to affect society?
What is the maximum time to stay on a space station?
Do your legs get numb being weightless?
Can plants and trees be grown on the space station?
How many astronauts can be on the space station?
Are unexplained UFO phenomena studied from the ISS?
What do you like most about being in space?
What kind of training is required to work on the ISS?
_________________

ARISS News Release No. 23-04

ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Students at Cache County School District, Millville, Utah, USA

February 5, 2023—Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has received schedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact between an astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and students at Ridgeline High School located in Millville, UT. ARISS conducts 60-80 of these special amateur radio contacts each year between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses aboard the ISS.

Cache County School District (District) is sponsoring this ARISS contact, which will take place at Ridgeline H.S. in the suburban community of Millville, UT. The District offers 12-week-long astronomy courses; about 150 astronomy students in grades 9-12 (ages 14-18 years) from both Ridgeline HS and nearby Sky View HS will be at Ridgeline HS for the contact. The District’s main organizational partner for this contact is the Bridgerland Amateur Radio Club (BARC), club call sign W7IVM. Members of BARC have provided technical expertise for the radio equipment setup and will be operating the ground station during the contact. Students have also been learning about amateur radio from BARC members during Ham radio license classes, and participating in hands-on activities during the club’s HF field contests and other ham classes. BARC members also provided Ham radio exam sessions for the students and the community. Other activities BARC members provided the astronomy students included participation in amateur radio satellite contacts, and a hidden transmitter hunt.

The amateur radio ground station for this contact is in Millville, UT, USA. Amateur radio operators using call sign W7IVM, will operate the ground station to establish and maintain the ISS connection.

The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for February 7, 2023 at 11:45:54 am MST(Utah) (18:45:54UTC, 1:45 pm EST, 12:45 pm CST, 10:45 am PST).

The public is invited to watch the live stream at: Astronomy students prepare to talk live with an astronaut on the International Space Station or at

The PodCACHE: Making Contact with the International Space Station
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As time allows, students will ask these questions:

What is your biggest, personal goal in relation to space?
What keeps you pushing your limits when you are struggling to find motivation?
Was there a specific book, movie, or show that inspired you to become an astronaut?
How excited do you feel about the Artemis program and its upcoming missions?
How fast are you able to spin in a weightless environment?
Despite all your training and preparation for space, what is something about living in space you didn’t expect?
What is your favorite part about the ARISS program?
What are you currently researching?
What is the part of your job you look most forward to?
What is the most fun or interesting experiment you have conducted in space?
Does sleeping in the sleeping bag trigger insomnia?
Do you ever get claustrophobic?
Which NASA project do you feel is the most important to us as human beings?
When did or what made you first realize you wanted to be an astronaut?
What’s the most beautiful view you’ve seen from space?
How many repairs do you usually do to/on the space station daily?
If able to access music in space, what types do you usually listen to?
Is there a food you think is better in space than Earth?
Are plants grown aboard the ISS similar in size as the same plant grown on Earth?
What is your favorite ‘trick’ to do in a weightless environment?
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ARISS News Release No. 23-03

ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Students at Norwich Free Academy, Norwich, Connecticut, USA

January 27, 2023—Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has received schedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact between an astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and students at the Norwich Free Academy located in Norwich, CT. ARISS conducts 60-80 of these special amateur radio contacts each year between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses aboard the ISS.

Founded in 1854, Norwich Free Academy (NFA) is a secondary school in eastern Connecticut, with a student population of more than 2,100, and serving local communities as well as international students from China, Canada, and Finland.

Leading up to this ARISS contact, NFA integrated an array of topics into the science curriculums for all grades. Students investigated Newtonian gravitational laws and Kepler’s Laws of Planetary Motion using a hands-on lab, a PhET interactive simulation, and video lessons. Students learned about the systems in place to help keep astronauts alive while living and working on the ISS; one student used NASA resources for a research project to discover how basic human needs (air, water, sleep, exercise, etc.) are met on the ISS. The NFA Amateur Radio & Engineering Club (ham radio call sign W1HLO) members and advisors installed an amateur radio satellite ground station on campus last year, thanks to a generous ARDC grant. Students in the club now get hands-on learning at the ham station for how to communicate using amateur radio satellites and how to receive weather satellite images.

Students will ask their questions of Astronaut Josh Cassada, amateur radio call sign KI5CRH, who will use ARISS’s ISS call sign NA1SS. The downlink frequency for this contact is 145.800 MHZ and audio may be heard by listeners within the ISS footprint that also encompasses the ground radio station at NFA. NFA club advisors and members, using the call sign W1HLO, will establish and maintain the amateur radio operations for this ARISS connection.

The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for January 30, 2023 at 1:55 pm EST (CT) (18:55:20 UTC, 12:55 pm CST, 11:55 am MST, 10:55 am PST).

The public is invited to watch the live stream at: https://youtu.be/pTkaCtam8m0 .
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As time allows, students will ask these questions:

What was the journey like for you to become an astronaut and is there anything you would recommend to someone aspiring to become one?
Can you tell us about how the ISS is resupplied and what kinds of things get delivered to you?
What experiments are going on in the ISS?
Are you concerned about disuse osteoporosis and what do you do in space prevent it?
If you get sick in space, what would you do?
How do you use the bathroom in space?
What does your routine look like on the space station from when you wake up to when you go to sleep?
What does the food you eat taste like?
How do you keep in contact with friends and family?
What were the hardest things to get used to while in space?
How do you stay clean in space?
What was the most dangerous thing you’ve experienced in space?
Have you gotten taller in space and if so, has it caused any pain?
Is it possible for things to collide with the ISS and what would you do if that happened?
What do you do on your free time?
What does it feel like entering and leaving space?
Has being an astronaut changed your views about society and our planet?
How do you sleep?
What is your favorite and least favorite part about being on board the ISS?
Why did you decide to be an astronaut after hearing all the dangers that come with it?
What is the grossest thing in space?
What is it like to go on a spacewalk?
Will you bring back any souvenirs from space?
___________________________

ARISS News Release No. 23-02

ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Students at Brentwood Elementary School of Engineering, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA

January 24, 2023—Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has received schedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact between astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and students at the Brentwood Elementary School of Engineering located in Raleigh, NC. ARISS conducts 60-80 of these special amateur radio contacts each year between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses aboard the ISS.

Brentwood Magnet Elementary School of Engineering is located near downtown Raleigh and is part of the Wake County Public School System’s Magnet Programs. The school tries to inspire students’ interest in STEM, especially for those groups underrepresented in the STEM field. The school provides special engineering classes so that students are able to learn about engineering every day. The engineering challenges that students participate in are also related to their classes in language arts, math, science, and social studies. For instance, when pre-Kindergarten students are reading the story of the three little pigs, students work through a cycle of the engineering/design process to engineer a house that will withstand the huffing and puffing of the big bad wolf. In preparation for this ARISS contact, students have completed hands-on activities in the school’s MakerSpaces Labs that included coding space-related robots, and engineering rockets and parachutes that would meet certain NASA recommendations. Students have also met with a ham radio operator, guest speaker, and member of the Raleigh Amateur Radio Society.

This will be a telebridge Contact via Amateur Radio allowing students to ask their questions of Astronaut Koichi Wakata, amateur radio call sign KI5TMN. The downlink frequency for this contact is 145.800 MHZ and may be heard by listeners that are within the ISS-footprint that also encompasses the telebridge station.

The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for January 26, 2023 at 12:31 pm EST (NC) (17:31:24UTC, 11:31 am CST, 10:31 am MST, 9:31 am PST).
The public is invited to watch the live stream at:

https://twitter.com/wcpssmagnets?s=20&t=wGpUbhsBiVLYDLbr88eM8g
_____________________
As time allows, students will ask these questions:

Have you met any of the astronauts from the Mercury, Gemini, or Apollo Missions?
What made you decide to become an astronaut
What does space look like from the ISS?
What types of jobs did you have before becoming an astronaut?
Is it scary to travel or live in space?
What do you do for fun while you are in space?
What type of plants are currently grown on the ISS? Are any of them food for astronauts?
How long will you stay on the ISS?
How do you get electricity in space?
When you are not training for a trip to the ISS what else do you do as an astronaut?
What kind of exercise do you do on the ISS and how often do you do it?
Have you been in space before? If so, how does your body react when you return to earth?
What is the most fun experiment you’ve worked on while in space?
What was your favorite class when you were in elementary school? Do you think it helped you become an astronaut?
What is the toughest and the best thing about being in space?
What activities require you to put on a spacesuit? How long does it take to put it on?
What is a problem you have had while in space? How did you solve it?
What kinds of experiments are you doing on the ISS?
Besides snow, are there any weather phenomena you can see from space?
What is the first thing you want to do when you get back to Earth?
__________________

ARISS News Release No. 23-01

ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Students at Escola Secundária de Lagoa, Lagoa, Azores-Portugal

January 17, 2023—Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has received schedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact between an astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and students at the Escola Secundária de Lagoa located in Lagoa, Azores. ARISS conducts 60-80 of these special amateur radio contacts each year between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses aboard the ISS.

Escola Secundária de Lagoa (Lagoa Secondary School), S. Miguel island at Azores – Portugal has more than 900 students, 120 teachers and about 30 employees and serves students in 7th through 12th grades. Lagoa Secondary School’s Astronomy and Geocaching Club is hosting this ARISS contact involving a core group of 11^th and 12^th grade students studying the Science Curriculum (Mathematics and Physics) and other students in the 10th, 11th and 12th grades. In addition to the school’s STEM curriculum, students are engaged in astrophysics activities as members of the Astronomy and Geocaching Club. To further a deeper scientific engagement and literacy in the community, the school created the Project ISU (in search of the uncertain) that has the main purpose of putting forward space knowledge and know-how. Partnering organizations include the national authority for communications in Portugal (ANACOM), providing facilities and expertise for the contact, the Science Center EXPOLAB supporting students’ activities related to space and rockets, the Astronomical Observatory of Santana Açores providing a mobile planetarium and telescopes for solar observation, and City Hall of Lagoa for logistical facilitation.

This will be a telebridge Contact via Amateur Radio and students will take turns asking their questions of Astronaut Josh Cassada, amateur radio call sign KI5CRH. The downlink frequency for this contact is 145.800 MHZ and may be heard by listeners that are within the ISS-footprint that also encompasses the telebridge station.

The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for January 19, 2023 at 5:20 pm AZOT (Azores) (18:20:34UTC, 1:20 pm EST, 12:20 pm CST, 11:20 am MST, 10:20 am PST).

The public is invited to watch the live stream at: http://www.ariotti.com/ and at https://youtu.be/R2Rd5Eku5lA .
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As time allows, students will ask these questions:

Are your bones, muscles and organs affected by microgravity?
How does it feel to have achieved your life goal of being an astronaut?
If an astronaut becomes very ill in space and needs urgent medical care, what happens? Do doctors travel with you?
What would happen if planet Earth had Mars’ low gravity?
What do you do while you’re on board of the International Space Station? (ISS)?
If you could change anything about your work, what would it be?
During their stay in space, do astronauts have any working schedule to keep?
While they are in the Space Station, do astronauts play video games during their free time?
What sensations or effects occur during re-entry into Earth’s orbit?
Since there is no atmosphere in space, have you ever been woken up by the sun photons while you were sleeping?
Do astronauts have to follow any specific rules or laws when in space?
Let’s imagine that humans have, in some way, my planet Earth a place impossible to live in. would it be possible for humans to live in an exoplanet?
What should we study if we want to become an astronaut?
What do you like to do when you are bored in space?
Do you think your life dream of being an astronaut has, in some way, affected your social life?
During take-off, how do astronauts feel both physically and psychologically?
How do astronauts entertain themselves during their free time in space?
What experiments, in the field of biology, are currently taking place on board the ISS?
How long does it take to prepare yourself for space?
In space, do astronauts have to have a special diet?
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