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

As of April 23, 2024

Centennial Campus Magnet Middle School Center for Innovation, Raleigh, NC telebridge via K6DUE (Matthew Dominick KC0TOR)
- Wed 2024-05-01 12:03:49 UTC 76 deg
- Watch for Livestream at: https://youtube.com/live/4ZU7I208cw4
WIA / Bundaberg High School Amateur Radio Club, Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia telebridge via VK6MJ (Mike Barratt KD5MIJ)
- Sat 2024-05-04 10:28:24 UTC 51 deg

ARISS News Release No. 24-26

ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Students at Thrive Home School Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA

April 20, 2024—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 Thrive Home School Academy located in Colorado Springs, CO. ARISS conducts 60-100 of these special amateur radio contacts each year between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses aboard the ISS.

Thrive Home School Academy (THSA) opened in 2009 and serves home schooled students in grades K-12, with 367 students. The school offers students a one-day-per-week full school day program that is highly interactive and experiential and engages students in hands-on activities. THSA also offers an array of extracurricular activities to further enhance students’ learning outside of the classroom. THSA has also worked with Growing Beyond Earth on the NASA Veggie Project with Dr. Goia Massa for the last six years, allowing one of their students, who has worked on this project over the last two years, to ask a question based on that work. While STEM education is a focus within the district, in the 2023-24 school year and leading up to this ARISS contact, the curriculum is focusing on space technologies and radio communication. Some of the student activities incorporate principals of the electromagnetic spectrum, orbital mechanics, electronics, and ham radio and satellite communications. THSA is being supported in the way of ham radio technical instruction and ham radio communication lesson plans by members of the Pikes Peak Radio Amateur Association (AFØS).

This will be a direct contact via Amateur Radio allowing students to ask their questions of astronaut Jeanette Epps, amateur radio call sign KF5QNU. 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 Colorado Springs, CO. Amateur radio operators using call sign AFØS, will operate the ground station to establish and maintain the ISS connection.

The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for April 22, 2024 at 11:42:36 am MDT (CO, USA) (17:42:36 UTC, 1:42 pm EDT, 12:42 pm CDT, 10:42 am PDT).
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As time allows, students will ask these questions:

1. Do things smell or taste differently in space?
2. What is your favorite meal while on the International Space Station?
3. How did it feel to walk in space?
4. How many rooms does the ISS have, and do you have your own bedroom?
5. If the ISS travels at 17000 mph, why do you float?
6. Based on the research from the Veggie Project, could you grow a fruit-bearing bonsai tree in space?
7. How do you keep up your muscle mass?
8. How much power would it take to reach the nearest neutron star?
9. How do you communicate with your family when you are in space?
10. How does it feel to take off in a rocket?
11. What inspired you to become an astronaut?
12. What is your favorite thing you have seen in space?
13. When do you come back from space and how will you get back?
14. Do you operate and sleep on Universal time or Houston time?
15. Do you feel like you’re falling all the time? If not, how long does it last until you get used to it?
16. What is one mission you’ve done onboard, and do you like doing them?
17. Can you play a musical instrument on the ISS?
18. Can you see constellations from the ISS?
19. What is one thing you will do differently because of your experience in space?
20. What movie or show inspires you about space?
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ARISS News Release No. 24-25

ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Students at Pleasant Knoll Middle School, Ft. Mill, South Carolina, USA

April 20, 2024—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 Pleasant Knoll Middle School located in Ft. Mill, SC. ARISS conducts 60-100 of these special amateur radio contacts each year between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses aboard the ISS.

Pleasant Knoll Middle School is a suburban, public school with about 950 students in grades 6-8. In eighth grade science courses, students learn the differences between digital and analog by demonstrations with amateur radio, radio science and wave propagation. Space science is also taught throughout the school’s curriculum. The school has partnered with members of the York County Amateur Radio Society (K4YTZ) who have been providing students with various STEM activities/experiments that included: Stirling Engine, Tesla Ball, Grid Map and magnetic compass, CW (Morse code) with practice oscillators, Lenz’s Law with copper tubing, Homo Polar motors, and using a multi-meter. In preparation for this ARISS contact students have also been listening to a recording of an amateur radio contact with ISS astronauts.

This will be a direct contact via Amateur Radio allowing students to ask their questions of astronaut Matthew Dominick, amateur radio call sign KCØTOR. 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 Ft. Mill, SC. Amateur radio operators using call sign K4YTZ, will operate the ground station to establish and maintain the ISS connection.

The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for April 22, 2024 at 12:10:29 pm EDT (SC) (16:10:29 UTC, 11:10 am CDT, 10:10 am MDT, 9:10 am PDT).

The public is invited to watch the live stream at: https://youtube.com/live/L-7BmSktTNg?feature=share and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CI1VxynMBmo
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As time allows, students will ask these questions:
1. What is the most interesting thing you have seen up there?
2. What made you interested in being an astronaut?
3. How long did it take you to adjust to living in no gravity?
4. What is a typical day on the ISS like for you?
5. What is the consistency of your food and how does it taste?
6. Are the vegetables you grow there as tasty as the ones we grow on Earth?
7. What happens if you get sick?
8. How do you go to the bathroom?
9. If you can’t shower, how do you keep yourself clean?
10. What is the most unexpected thing you have learned during your time in space?
11. The main purpose of the ISS is to conduct scientific research. What are the main science experiments your crew is currently performing aboard the station?
12. What advice would you give someone who wants to be where you are?
13. Is Artificial Intelligence used on the ISS as of today?
14. What games do you play?
15. What are the long-term effects of being in space?
16. What is the first thing you plan to do when you return to Earth?
17. How do you communicate and maintain contact with your loved ones on Earth?
18. Could you tell us one everyday life thing that is easier to do in space than on Earth?
19. How do you recycle your water?
20. What is your opinion on space tourism?
21. How does the perception of time and space change during a prolonged space mission?
22. What is something that surprised you that you didn’t expect about living in space?
23. Do you think we will find evidence of life beyond Earth?
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ARISS News Release No. 24-24

ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Students at American International University, Salmiya, Kuwait

April 20, 2024—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 American International University located in Salmiya, Kuwait. ARISS conducts 60-100 of these special amateur radio contacts each year between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses aboard the ISS.

American International University (AIU) is a private institution located in Saad Al Abdullah, Kuwait. AIU was founded and led by a team of American educators, with a predominantly Kuwaiti student body. AIU students in the ECE400 Communication Theory course have been preparing for the ARISS contact, learning about ham radio through study of theoretical concepts and real-world applications. AIU is also welcoming elementary and high school students from the American Baccalaureate School, K-12 institution in Kuwait, to join them in this experience.

This will be a direct contact via Amateur Radio allowing students to ask their questions of astronaut Mike Barratt, amateur radio call sign KD5MIJ. 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 Salmiya, Kuwait. Amateur radio operators using call sign 9K9AIU, will operate the ground station to establish and maintain the ISS connection.

The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for April 22, 2024 at 11:29 am AST (Kuwait) (8:29 UTC, 4:29 am EDT, 3:29 am CDT, 2:29 am MDT, 1:29 am PDT).
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As time allows, students will ask these questions:

1. Has observing Earth from space changed your perspective on life?
2. What advancements do you hope to see for future space missions?
3. Besides your family, what do you miss the most about Earth when you’re in space?
4. Regarding internal communication among astronauts, what type of communication technologies do you use?
5. Due to the distance from Earth, how do you handle signal delays in communication?
6. What is it like to live in zero gravity; does it affect your body?
7. What was your most unexpected experience living and working in space?
8. How does the lack of gravity impact communication systems compared to those on Earth?
9. How can you insure communications during all parts of your orbit?
10. If there’s no gravity in space, how do space capsules fall back to Earth?
11. What happens if the spacesuit is damaged or torn?
12. Do Solar flares affect the communication systems on the ISS?
13. Is there a risk of being hit by objects in space?
14. Does artificial intelligence support communication systems on the ISS?
15. How do you protect communication equipment from radiation or microgravity?
16. What impact do you expect electrical and computer engineering advancements to have on future space missions?
17. What electrical or computer engineering problems have you faced in space, and how did you solve them?
18. What advice would you give to aspiring space enthusiasts or those considering a career in space exploration?
19. How long is it dark and light in space? Does it change how you sleep or do your job?
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ARISS News Release No. 24-22

ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Students at Mountain View Elementary, Marietta, Georgia, USA

April 15, 2024—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 Mountain View Elementary located in Marietta, GA. ARISS conducts 60-100 of these special amateur radio contacts each year between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses aboard the ISS.

Mountain View Elementary School is a K-5 public school that serves over 830 students. Students have been involved in many cross-curricular projects and activities that included: achieved World Space Week Champions after designing a self-sustaining space settlement, designed several mission patches, worked with bluShift Aerospace on a hot/cold engine test, worked with MaxIQ Space on a Suborbital Launch Test in conjunction with the University of Kwa Zulu-Natal in South Africa. The school also has an annual schoolwide water rocket contest called Launchapalooza. Students have worked with Citizen Science on the Monarch Butterfly Migration, designed a dog prosthetic for a dog name Lyla and have designed dog park equipment for special needs dogs. This year, students have also utilized ARISS SPARKI kits, the GeoChron system, learned about aquanaut training, participated in an amateur radio directional finding (fox hunt) event on campus, and have learned how Cube Satellites work. In preparation of the ARISS contact, students have tracked the ISS during ARISS/SSTV broadcasts resulting in them decoding seven images. The school is supported by the Cherokee Amateur Radio Society, North Fulton Amateur Radio League, Cobb County Library System, bluShift Aerospace, and Cobb EMC.

The amateur radio ground station for this contact is in Marietta, Georgia. Amateur radio operators using call sign KQ4JVI, will operate the ground station to establish and maintain the ISS connection.

The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for April 18, 2024 at 1:48:40 pm EDT (GA) (17:48:40 UTC, 12:48 pm CDT, 11:48 am MDT, 10:48 am PDT).

The public is invited to watch the live stream at: https://youtube.com/live/lDjyV6P9x6I
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As time allows, students willask these questions:
1. Since things float, is there physical friction in space?
2. What is the worst emergency to have on the ISS and what do you do?
3. Does zero gravity affect how your body processes food?
4. If you broke a bone in space, would you heal the same as you would on Earth?
5. Do you feel anxious thinking about returning to your home since time creates change?
6. What is the most high-tech item on the ISS not well-known by others?
7. What’s the biggest problem about the ISS?
8. On the ISS, does the crew have full access or are there areas that are off limits?
9. Have you ever had to borrow parts from one item to fix a different item on the ISS?
10. If you were given the option to live on the ISS permanently, what would your reaction be and would you accept?
11. From your unique view in space, are there noticeable patterns that show how greenhouse gases might be impacting our planet?
12. Which is a better feeling: getting to space or living in space?
13. Are you your own doctor if you get sick?
14. When you sweat on the ISS from exercise, does the sweat fall off you like it does on Earth?
15. What kind of experiments do you choose to work on, and why?
16. How did it feel when you left the Earth s gravitational pull?
17. Do you use robots on the ISS and what do they do?
18. Have you noticed an immediate change in your body after being in space?
19. Besides exercise, eat, play, and rest, are there any other things you need to do for your body while living in space?
20. How do you get dressed in space without floating away?
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ARISS News Release No. 24-21

ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Students at Mrs Ethelston’s CE Primary Academy at Axminster Community Academy Trust, Lyme Regis, United Kingdom

April 15, 2024—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 Mrs. Ethelston’s CE Primary Academy located in Lyme Regis, UK. ARISS conducts 60-100 of these special amateur radio contacts each year between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses aboard the ISS.

Acorn Multi Academy Trust is a small trust of seven schools (Mrs Ethelstons, Axminster, Chardstock, Marshwood, Loders, Thorncombe and Membury) that are situated on the coast of the English Dorset /Devon /Somerset border. Mrs Ethelston’s CE Primary Academy is hosting this ARISS contact and is directly involved in this project, however children involved are from the 7 primary schools within this Multi-Academy Trust and range in ages from 4-11 years.

The amateur radio ground station for this contact is in Lyme Regis, UK. Amateur radio operators using call sign GB4ACA, will operate the ground station to establish and maintain the ISS connection.

The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for April 17, 2024 at 11:44:48 am BST (UK) (10:44:48 UTC, 6:44 am EDT, 5:44 am CDT, 4:44 am MDT, 3:44 am PDT).

The public is invited to watch the live stream at: https://live.ariss.org
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As time allows, students will ask these questions:
1. What was the hardest part of getting ready to go to space?
2. If you can make the water from a bottle float, then how can you swallow it without it coming up again?
3. Why do humans want to go to Mars?
4. How will we get loads of water in space without running out?
5. How long does it take to transmit data from Earth to ISS?
6. How do you not get lost in space?
7. Why doesn’t the ISS fall and hit the ground?
8. How much exercise do you need and how do you get it?
9. What temperature is it in the ISS and is that the same outside?
10. What is it like in zero gravity?
11. What is your favorite part of the ISS and why?
12. How fast can you move around in zero gravity?
13. How do you wash your hands?
14. Have you ever seen any astronomical phenomenon?
15. What is your favorite site every time you circle the Earth?
16. How big is the ISS?
17. How do you cook food in space?
18. How do you vote in space?
19. Are the space suits really heavy or light?
20. Which other planets can you see?
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ARISS News Release No. 24-20

ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Students at ARTADEMIA, Milan, Italy and Scuola Secondaria I grado, Ponte Lambro, Italy

April 8, 2024—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 schools in Milan, Italy. ARISS conducts 60-100 of these special amateur radio contacts each year between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses aboard the ISS.

ARTADEMIA, Milan

ARTADEMIA is an alternative to traditional schools with Junior (6-13 years), and Senior (14-24 years) students. Artademia offers course topics in which STEAM is well represented. A specific course is dedicated to astronautics and space. The school participates in Mission X and AstroPi challenges.

Scuola Secondaria I grado “A. Moro”, Ponte Lambro

The Ponte Lambro school is a small school at the foot of the pre-Alps. Their students are aged 11 through 14. During the year, the school offers many activities such as theater, collaboration with other schools and meetings with authors, scientists, athletes and voluntary associations.

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

The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for April 10, 2024 at 3:16:48 pm CEST (Italy) (13:16:48 UTC, 9:16 am EDT, 8:16 am CDT, 7:16 am MDT, 6:16 am PDT).

The public is invited to watch the live stream at: https://www.youtube.com/live/sJoKzK2292U?si=BxXWi41cfsJJv4c2
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As time allows, students will ask these questions:
1. What did you study to become an astronaut?
2. What is the most stimulating experiment you’re working on?
3. How difficult is it to adapt to the microgravity condition of the ISS?
4. Which planets can be seen from the ISS?
5. How does the breathing system of EVA suits and in the ISS work?
6. What system do you use to grow the plants in space?
7. What is your daily routine and how do you organize it?
8. Do you dream differently in space than when you are on Earth?
9. Does it make you feel nauseous being up there?
10. What is the temperature on board the ISS?
11. Does the food you eat in space taste the same as what you eat on Earth?
12. Are fireworks and amateur astronomers’ lasers visible from the ISS?
13. What is the best experience you have had in space?
14. How are the interactions between crew members on the ISS?
15. What do you do in your free time? Do you have books and board games?
16. Is there any particular smell inside the ISS?
17. Do you have contact with your families?
18. How does a flame behave in space?
19. Why did you decide to become an astronaut?
20. What is the most fascinating area of the Earth seen from the ISS?
21. What experience has most changed your perception of the Universe and life on Earth?
22. What cannot be brought on board the ISS?
23. What plans do you have for the future?
24. Do your ears hurt when you go up in space?
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ARISS News Release No. 24-18

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

April 7, 2024—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 Tooele County School District located in Tooele, UT. ARISS conducts 60-100 of these special amateur radio contacts each year between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses aboard the ISS.

The Tooele Community Learning Center (CLC) is a rural, public education center south of the Great Salt Lake, Tooele County, Utah. The CLC houses four separate school entities within Tooele County School District: Career & Technical Education (grades 9-12, 500 students), Alternative High School (grades 9-12, 100 students), Special Needs Adult Program (40 students), and Digital Education Center (grades K-12, 800 students). CLC is supported by members of the Bridgerland Amateur Radio Club, with seven of the participating students recently passing their amateur radio technician license tests. The West Desert Amateur Radio Club facilitates and proctors an annual Amateur Radio Technician exam at the school and conducts Elmer sessions relevant to the exam and this ARISS contact.

The amateur radio ground station for this contact is in Tooele, Utah. Amateur radio operators using call sign W7CBL, will operate the ground station to establish and maintain the ISS connection.

The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for April 8, 2024 at 11:45 am MDT (UT) (17:45 UTC, 1:45 pm EDT, 12:45 pm CDT, 10:45 am PST).

The public is invited to watch the live stream at: https://youtube.com/live/5z_zfRfwAMY?feature=share
___________________________
As time allows, students will ask these questions:
1. What was the hardest part of your training to become an astronaut?
2. What is the coolest tool or piece of technology you use on station?
3. What immediate physical effects did being in space for the first time have on you?
4. How would zero-g affect the flight of a paper airplane?
5. Which diseases or disorders are you at more risk for in space?
6. What is the strangest thing you’ve seen in space?
7. What happens when you cry in zero-g?
8. How does zero-g affect blood flow?
9. If you could design a new module for the ISS, what would its primary purpose be?
10. What challenges do you face on a daily basis that are unique to living in space?
11. What advice would you give to students aspiring to a career in space exploration?
12. How do you determine who gets to pick the movies on movie night?
13. What is the procedure if an unidentified being attempted to contact you?
14. How do you celebrate holidays on the ISS?
15. How long does it take to get used to sleeping in space?
16. How often do you get to hear from your families?
17. What is the most exciting thing that has happened for you on this expedition?
18. I run cross country, and the anticipation before the race is worse for me then the actual race. How does the anticipation of the launch differ from the actual launch?
19. What has been the biggest difference between your underwater training and space?
20. What is the plan if the ISS was to suffer a station-wide power outage?
21. How does aurora borealis look different from space?
22. How does space affect plant growth?
23. How do you protect yourself from the dangers of space?
24. Is there a protocol for the ISS if a catastrophic event happens on Earth?
25. What daily routines are crucial to maintaining physical and mental well-being?
26. Other than family and friends, what do you miss most about living on Earth?
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ARISS News Release No. 24-17

ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Students at Collège Théodore Monod, Gagny, France

April 2, 2024—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 Théodore Monod located in Gagny, France. ARISS conducts 60-100 of these special amateur radio contacts each year between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses aboard the ISS.

Theodore Monod middle school is located 10 kilometers east of Paris, in the administrative area of Seine-Saint-Denis with about 700 students enrolled (from 3rd to 6th grade, 11 to 15 years old). This ARISS radio contact will take place from the former Paris-Le Bourget airport where Charles Lindbergh landed during the first solo transatlantic aircraft crossing in 1927 and which is now the National Air and Space Museum of France.

This will be a direct contact via Amateur Radio allowing students to ask their questions of astronaut, Matthew Dominick amateur radio call sign KC0TOR. 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 north of Gagny at the National Air and Space Museum of France. Amateur radio operators using call sign TM2ISS, will operate the ground station to establish and maintain the ISS connection.

The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for April 4, 2024 at 4:51 pm CEST (France) (14:51 UTC, 10:51 am EDT, 9:51 am CDT, 8:51 am MDT, 7:51 am PDT).

The public is invited to watch the live stream at: https://www.youtube.com/user/f6kgl/live
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As time allows, student will ask these questions:
1. Could you describe your feelings when you first took off from Earth?
2. How do you feel when you see the Earth from space?
3. What aspect of your daily life do you miss the most during your stay aboard the ISS?
4. What aspects of adapting to life in space do you find particularly challenging?
5. Has the cultural diversity of the crew any effect on the life in space?
6. What is the most interesting scientific experiment you did in the ISS?
7. What experiment or observation stood out as the most memorable for you during your time aboard the ISS?
8. How much free time do you have and what do you do with it?
9. Do you feel as much hunger and thirst in space as we do on earth?
10. Do the organs stay in place or do they move?
11. Is it difficult to stay a long time in a box with the same persons?
12. Is there a growing danger in the ISS because of space junk?
13. If you could undertake a space mission to another planet, which one would you choose?
14. Does the growing power of the private industry in the space conquest have an impact on the work in the ISS?
15. Are the space tourists welcome in the ISS and is it difficult to support them?
16. Have you ever seen any aurora borealis from the ISS?
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ARISS News Release No. 24-16

ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Students at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, Florida, USA

April 1, 2024—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 Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University located in Daytona Beach, FL. ARISS conducts 60-100 of these special amateur radio contacts each year between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses aboard the ISS.

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) is a suburban, private school in Daytona Beach, Florida. ERAU provides for aviation and aerospace education, and maintains close ties with its space neighbors (Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and the Kennedy Space Center). Its College of Engineering offers an engineering undergraduate program with more than 2,000 students enrolled. In February 2024, the college’s EagleCam project also became the first university student-built payload to land on the Moon. ERAU has partnered with Volusia County Public Schools with over 300 students from Creekside Middle School, Deltona Middle School, Heritage Middle School, Ormond Beach Middle School and River Springs Middle School attending this on-campus ARISS contact event. Participating amateur radio organizations include the Daytona Beach Amateur Radio Association (DBARA) and the ERAU Amateur Radio Association (NN4ER), helping with technical operation of the amateur satellite radio station for this ARISS contact.

The amateur radio ground station for this contact is in Daytona Beach, FL. Amateur radio operators using call sign NN4ER, will operate the ground station to establish and maintain the ISS connection.

The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for April 3, 2024 at 11:22 am EDT (Florida, USA) (15:22 UTC, 10:22 am CDT, 9:22 am MDT, 8:22 am PDT).

The public is invited to watch the live stream at: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/eraudaytona/
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As time allows, students will ask these questions:
1. How do you clean the ISS when someone or something makes a mess?
2. What do astronauts study while in space for long periods of time?
3. What is your degree(s) in and how do they correlate to your research?
4. How are disagreements resolved on board?
5. What would you have to do if the ISS lost all communication connection with Earth?
6. How has your experience living on the ISS shaped your perspective on the importance of international cooperation in space exploration?
7. What inspired you to be an astronaut?
8. Do you do art in space and what kind of projects?
9. What is the most beautiful thing you have seen on Earth?
10. What are the most significant challenges astronauts face in maintaining physical and mental health during long duration space trips?
11. Did any certain person, teacher or event help inspire you to become an astronaut?
12. Is the view of the starry sky from space different from that on Earth, and how?
13. What are some of the most unexpected things you’ve seen or heard in space?
14. What is most fun experiment you have done on board the ISS?
15. What do you guys do in case of a solar storm?
16. What is one thing that is more fun to do on the ISS than on Earth?
17. What might you have done with your life if you never became an astronaut?
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ARISS News Release No. 24-15

ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Students at St. John’s School Authority, St. John’s, NL, Canada

March 25, 2024—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. John’s School Authority located in St. John’s, NL. ARISS conducts 60-100 of these special amateur radio contacts each year between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses aboard the ISS.

Newfoundland (NL) Schools is an entity of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador which teaches English-speaking students in K to 12 public schools in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Currently NL Schools includes over 63,000 students, over 250 schools, and over 10,000 employees. This ARISS contact directly links to the school’s Science 9 curriculum as students complete a full unit on space, including classes specific to the ISS. There are 4 schools (and associated Science 9 classes) involved in this ARISS contact: Leary’s Brook Junior High, St. Paul’s Junior High, Mount Pearl Intermediate, and Amalgamated Academy.

This will be a telebridge Contact via Amateur Radio allowing students to ask their questions of astronaut Loral O’Hara, amateur radio call sign KI5TOM. 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 March 27, 2024 at 1:55:27 pm NDT (Newfoundland) (16:25 UTC, 12:25 pm EDT, 11:25 am CDT, 10:25 am MDT, 9:25 am PDT).

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

1. Can you describe what Earth looks like from your view?
2. Did you learn anything in Junior High that is useful to your life as an astronaut?
3. What training do you receive to respond to a serious injury or illness while in space?
4. What kinds of experiments are being carried out on board the ISS these days?
5. How long did it take to become an astronaut? What was your path/education that led to this career?
6. Does being on the ISS give you the same feeling as pulling out of your driveway to go on a trip, or is there a different sense of homesickness?
7. Do you believe there could be life on another planet?
8. Is there anything that surprised you about space?
9. During your journey to and from space, do you prefer ascending into space or descending back to Earth?
10. How do you keep a daily routine without a single sunrise/sunset?
11. What is the travel time to the space station?
12. How does being on the ISS change your appreciation for planet Earth?
13. How do you use the bathroom in space?
14. What advice do you have for students who are interested in pursuing space science as a potential career?
15. How does the ISS protect itself from space debris?
16. Does your physical view and perspective on space change while you are on station?
17. How many people are in the space station right now? How big is the station itself?
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ARISS News Release No. 24-14

ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Students at Second Chance School of Orestiada, Orestiada, Greece

March 17, 2024—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 Second Chance School of Orestiada located in Orestiada, Greece. ARISS conducts 60-100 of these special amateur radio contacts each year between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses aboard the ISS.

The Second Chance School of Orestiada (SDE Orestiadas) is an adult (18-66 years old) education school for men and women who want to complete their (nine-year) compulsory education (equivalent to a high school diploma). The curriculum includes the following subjects: Greek, English, Mathematics and Computer Science, Physical and Social Sciences, Environmental Education and Aesthetic Education. SDE Orestiadas offers classes in Information Technology, Mathematics and Physical Sciences. In the first year of their studies, students also learn basic concepts of Astronomy, Earth’s solar system and their orbital movements, and planet creation. During a hosted astronomy event, a presentation was given by a representative from the local amateur astronomy association.

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

The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for March 20, 2024 at 19:45:54 pm EET (GREECE) (17:45:54 UTC, 1:45 pm EDT, 12:45 pm CDT, 11:45 am MDT, 10:45 am PDT).

The public is invited to watch the live stream at: https://youtube.com/@sdeorestiadas9736

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As time allows, students will ask these questions:

1. Can you grow your own food on ISS? For instance, your own vegetables in order to consume them?
2. What kind of diet do you follow on ISS and what is your favorite food?
3. What is it like to live and work in a microgravity environment?
4. Is all the hard work and sacrifice worth it to get the privilege of seeing the Earth from above?
5. What’s the most exciting experience you have ever had in space?
6. How did you feel the very first time you went to space?
7. Did you become an astronaut to earn a living or to experience something new?
8. How long is it before someone can return to the ISS?
9. How do you contact your loved ones on Earth during your mission?
10. What’s your daily routine on ISS?
11. What do ISS astronauts do in their free time?
12. Was it easy or hard to adjust on ISS?
13. Which is the most interesting scientific research conducted on ISS?
14. How many hours do you work, do you have shifts?
15. How do you face seclusion and long term stay in an enclosed area?
16. What kind of difficulties do you face on ISS?
17. How long and how do astronauts prepare to go into space?
18. What is sleeping like in space?
19. Have you seen the Aurora from the ISS? And if so, how was it?
20. How often are supplies provided?
21. After your experience on ISS, do you evaluate life in a different way?
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ARISS News Release No. 24-13

ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Students at IES Pedro Simón Abril High School, Alcaraz, Spain

March 01, 2024—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 IES Pedro Simón Abril High School located in Alcaraz, Spain. ARISS conducts 60-100 of these special amateur radio contacts each year between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses aboard the ISS.

IES Pedro Simón Abril High School provides secondary education, including a STEM curriculum, for students from 14 different towns in the area. The school established a Space Science-oriented cooperation program with Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha. Four years of hands-on activities have allowed students to learn about ARISS and prepare for this ARISS contact. Students (with help from local ham operators) have built and maintained a local FM amateur radio station (Studio21 project), allowing them to learn about radio science and radio equipment. Students have also tracked the ISS to download SSTV images during ISS SSTV events, and listen to contacts between ham operators transmitting through the ISS. Students are also setting up a school amateur radio ground 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 March 4, 2024 at 12:21 pm CET (Alcaraz, Spain) (11:21 UTC, 6:21 am EST, 5:21 am CST, 4:21 am MST, 3:21 am PST).

The public is invited to watch the live stream at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Xgk4YZT5w4
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As time allows, students will ask these questions:
1. How does a geomagnetic storm affect the ISS?
2. Can the ARISS radio be used as an emergency backup in case other communication links fail?
3. What is your opinion on space tourism?
4. How did you spend your time as your spacecraft was on its way to the ISS?
5. What did you feel when the launch vehicle stages separated?
6. Are the vegetables you grow there as tasty as the ones we grow on Earth?
7. If you went to the Moon or Mars, would you like to still be able to communicate with students from all around the world as we are doing now?
8. Is it possible to observe or photograph our village from the Cupola?
9. Do you listen to music using streaming services as we do? What genres do you and the rest of the crew like?
10. How do you adapt your sleeping patterns to the 16 sunrises and sunsets you experience each day?
11. Which is your favorite spacesuit?
12. What is the most unexpected thing you have learned during your time in space?
13. Are there any practices that you do on the ISS that you think could be applied for everyday life on Earth?
14. How do the stars and other celestial bodies appear different when viewed from the ISS compared to Earth?
15. Is underwater spacewalk training accurate?
16. Do you think Mixed Reality could be some day applied to EVA spacesuit helmets?
17. Do you believe the speed of light will limit deep space travel and communications?
18. Are helicopters such as Ingenuity the future for robotic planetary exploration?
19. Could you tell us one everyday life thing that is easier to do in space than on Earth?
20. Is Artificial Intelligence used on the ISS as of today?
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ARISS News Release No. 24-12

ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Students at Girl Scout Troop 1089, Sacramento, California, USA

February 19, 2024—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 youth members in Girl Scout Troop 1089 located in Sacramento, CA. ARISS conducts 60-100 of these special amateur radio contacts each year between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses aboard the ISS.

This Girl Scout Project with ARISS has been undertaken and implemented by Senior and Ambassador Scouts (high school) from various Troops within the greater Sacramento area. In preparation for this ARISS contact, Girl Scout Troop 1089 conducted an educational program (Space and Stem Educational Activities and Experience) of seven sessions designed for Senior and Ambassador Girl Scouts, representing ages 14-18, grades 9-12. By earning their “Space Science Master Badge” and “STEM Career Exploration Badge” and participating in this ARISS contact, the Girl Scout leaders hope this will inspire an interest in science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM) fields among the attendees. Session activities allowed girls to build/tune a small radio, learn about web software defined radio, research the experiments occurring on the ISS, and learn about careers in the space sciences. They also learned to work a ham radio station that will download Slow Scan TV images. Girl Scout Troop 1089 is actively working with members of the River City Amateur Radio Communications Society (N6NA) who have provided lessons in radio communication, amateur radio, and STEM fields as part of the seven sessions.

This will be a direct 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 relay ground station.

The amateur radio ground station for this contact is in Sacramento, CA. Amateur radio operators using call sign N6NA, will operate the ground station to establish and maintain the ISS connection.

The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for February 22, 2024 at 10:26 am PST (CA) (18:26 UTC, 1:26 pm EST, 12:26 pm CST, 11:26 am MST).

The public is invited to watch the live stream at: https://youtube.com/live/-pc-8FqHBTw – early entry 9:15 and https://fb.me/e/3xnJgypOa
_____________________________
As time allows, students will ask these questions:
1. What is the strangest thing to happen to you on the ISS?
2. What are some of the experiments you are working on? What is your favorite?
3. What are you most looking forward to when you return to Earth?
4. What are some things you will miss about space once you are back on Earth?
5. What advice would you give someone who wants to be where you are?
6. The first time you took off from Earth were you scared? What was it like?
7. Do you think we will find evidence of life beyond Earth?
8. How do you get supplies from Earth?
9. Are your experiments mostly biological or technological?
10. How do solar flares affect you and the Space Station?
11. Do you listen to music or PodCasts in space? If so, what?
12. Do you have any free time? If so, what do you do during it?
13. Do you really eat astronaut ice cream? What is your favorite flavor?
14. What happens if there is an emergency with the Station itself?
15. What is your deepest worry while on the ISS?
16. What is the hardest part of being an astronaut?
17. What is the average day on the ISS like for you?
18. Would you live on Mars if you could?
19. What is your favorite part of being an astronaut?
20. Do all astronauts perform experiments or do some focus on science while others focus on the maintenance of the space station or something else?

_______________________________

ARISS News Release No. 24-11

ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Students at B. Russell High School, Rome, Italy

February 13, 2024—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 B. Russell High School located in Rome, Italy. ARISS conducts 60-100 of these special amateur radio contacts each year between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses aboard the ISS.

The B. Russell High School curriculum is organized into Classical, Linguistic, and Scientific courses with the current school year having 59 classes with a total of 1395 students. Students study mechanics, thermodynamics, optics, algebra, Cartesian and Euclidean geometry, and probability. In higher grade levels they study classical electromagnetism, modern physics, and mathematical analysis. Throughout their course of study, students have opportunities to take advanced courses, sometimes in collaboration with universities, including cryptography, astronomy, meteorology and climatology, and electromagnetism. To prepare for this ARISS contact, students have built circuits and antennas to study electromagnetic fields (propagation and reception), and collected and analyzed data from weather sensors. Students are also learning about astronomy that include practical observational activities using telescopes. The course in astronomy covers the main topics of modern astronomy and astrophysics, from the formation of the Solar System, to theories of stellar evolution. Prior to the ARISS contact, students have also been learning about the ISS and space exploration. Members of the Italian Amateur Radio Association (ARI) section of Rome, are also providing technical training to the students, and are responsible for this direct ARISS contact event.

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

The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for February 15, 2024 at 12:32 pm CET (Italy) (11:32 UTC, 6:32 am EST, 5:32 am CST, 4:32 am MST, 3:32 am PST).

The public is invited to watch the live stream at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0YEgMvzbn8

_______________________________
As time allows, students will ask these questions:
1. What progress has been made in research on plants in space and what impact could it have on future extraterrestrial cultivation?
2. In your experiments, are you doing any research which has to do with new solutions to climate change?
3. How will artificial intelligence influence the life and research of astronauts?
4. In simple terms, can you explain what the PROMETEO II project is about?
5. What technological challenges do you think are crucial to overcome in order to make presence in space more sustainable and comfortable in the long term?
6. You are carrying out studies on the cardiovascular system. Could the results obtained be applied, for example, in the development of new aeronautical technologies?
7. If a person gets sick while being in a closed space, what can be done to avoid the passage of viruses and apply the consequent treatment?
8. How does the perception of time and space change during a prolonged space mission?
9. How do you deal whit long-term physical changes, such as loss of bone density while in space?
10. What are the physical tests that an astronaut must pass?
11. What is standard procedure in the case of fire?
12. In the event of a breakdown in the carbon dioxide disposal machinery what should the astronauts do? (Hoping it never happens)
13. How important is the collaboration between all astronauts to achieve the required objectives?
14. What is the impact experienced by the body caused by the absence of gravity?
15. Do you follow a specific diet before going into space?
16. How does physical activity play a vital role for astronauts inside the space station?
17. What is the purpose of future space exploration?
18. What kind of biological experiments do you have to carry out on board?
19. How can we keep up a hypothetical supply chain for future colonies and bases on Mars and on the moon? (Is it possible, perhaps, to develop a system for a complete self-sufficiency)
20. What studies must one complete to become an astronaut?
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ARISS News Release No. 24-10

ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Students at School of Telecommunications Engineering, ETSIT Valencia (Universitat Politecnica de Valencia), Valencia, Spain

February 6, 2024 —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 School of Telecommunications Engineering located in Valencia, Spain. ARISS conducts 60-100 of these special amateur radio contacts each year between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses aboard the ISS.

The School of Telecommunications Engineering, ETSIT Valencia, of the Universitat Politecnica de Valencia (UPV), is coordinating this ARISS contact, which will be a milestone in the two-year course “Space for Kids, How to Design and Build a Nanosatellite” for teachers from 8 secondary and high schools. About 160 students, 14-17 years old, are also involved in this space hands-on project, which has been integrated into various courses such as; Access to space and space environment, Satellite communication, Satellite mission design, and Testing our mission in Earth (how to analyze data). The Earth station that will be used for this ARISS contact is located at UPV (School of Telecommunications) and has been built specifically for this contact providing the students technical experience in ham satellite communications. Members of the University’s Radio Club and school faculty will be supporting this contact and have been helping with activities for high school students such as antenna workshops and satellite receiver workshops.

This will be a direct contact via Amateur Radio allowing students to ask their questions of astronaut Loral O’Hara, amateur radio call sign KI5TOM. 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 Valencia, Spain. Amateur radio operators using call sign EA5RKP, will operate the ground station to establish and maintain the ISS connection.

The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for February 9, 2024 at 9:12:46 am CET (Valencia, Spain) (8:12:46 UTC, 3:12 am EST, 2:12 am CST, 1:12 am MST, 12:12 am PST).

The public is invited to watch the live stream at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IMdKcM2Fw8
_____________________________
As time allows, students will ask these questions:
1. What experiment are you working on?
2. Has your perspective on life changed after being on the ISS?
3. What would you like to achieve by working as an astronaut?
4. How do you communicate and maintain contact with your loved ones on Earth?
5. If a biological virus is detected, what is the protocol to follow? Can a biological virus be detected on the spacecraft?
6. How do you maintain your fitness in space? How does the state of weightlessness mainly affect you?
7. What is your area of study and expertise? And how did you train for the space station program?
8. How did you feel when you experienced zero gravity for the first time?
9. What is the most complicated part of launching into space?
10. What are the safety measures implemented to protect the space station against possible space debris impacts?
11. Are the laws that govern the ISS like maritime laws or the laws of the country that owns the module?
12. What is day to day like on the ISS? Is there an established routine?
13. How do you manage the temperature in the space station?
14. What advice would you give to those who want to become astronauts?
15. How do you manage to navigate the ship so easily when all the modules appear uniform?
16. How does microgravity impact the effectiveness of the scientific experiments being carried out on the space station and what notable discoveries have emerged so far?
17. What are the best and worst aspects of your mission?
18. What was your motivation to be an astronaut? When was it clear?
19. What was the hardest part of your training?
20. What has been your most amazing moment in space?
___________________________

ARISS News Release No. 24-09

ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Students at Lilburn Elementary School, Lilburn, Georgia, USA

February 6, 2024—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 Lilburn Elementary School located in Lilburn, GA. ARISS conducts 60-100 of these special amateur radio contacts each year between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses aboard the ISS.

Lilburn is a K-5, Title I, public school serving nearly 1,350 students, ages 5-11 years. The school’s current curriculum includes relevant STEM and Computer Science topics across all grade levels and disciplines. In advance of this ARISS contact, students have also been learning more about Earth’s systems, robotics, and emergency communications. In STEM classes, students used the Design Thinking Process to solve real-world problems in space such as how people can one day live on the moon, designing solutions for the spidernaut experiment, as well as how to grow food in space. Computer science and STEM teachers that attended a Space Pioneers Amateur Radio Kit Initiative (SPARKI) workshop then showed students, using lessons and activities, how to communicate through radio. For example, fifth graders in STEM classes built a modified telegraph to communicate between classrooms using the telegraph key. In the electricity unit, students used circuit kits (like the ones provided by SPARKI) and Makey-Makey kits to create simple circuits. The school is working with members of the Gwinnett American Radio Society (GARS), ARRL, and the North Fulton Amateur Radio League (NFARL). Members of these local ham radio organizations (NRARL) will help with the technical aspects of ham radio operation on the campus and with conducting the ARISS contact.

The amateur radio ground station for this contact is in Lilburn, 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 February 7, 2024 at 9:24 am EST (GA, USA) (14:24 UTC, 8:24 am CST, 7:24 am MST, 6:24 am PST).

The public is invited to watch the live stream at: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuI4sKDBpERtEFs9bFrRMFA/live
________________________

As time allows, students will ask these questions:

1. Our teachers help us focus not just on academics, but on emotional health as well. I would like to know, how are YOU doing?
2. What is the grossest thing about living in space?
3. Our school has many gardens that students help take care of. What kinds of plants are you growing on the ISS?
4. Have you ever had a big emergency in Space? If so, what was the situation?
5. What’s it like working with astronauts from other countries?
6. How long and how often do you have to wear the space suit, and do you get tired of it?
7. Have you read the Dog Man Books? If not, what kinds of books do you enjoy reading most?
8. What is something that surprised you that you didn’t expect about living in space?
9. What is your favorite hobby that is not space related?
10. What is the most important thing you have to do on the ISS when you wake up?
11. What are you looking forward to the most when you return to Earth?
12. How do you entertain yourself on the ISS?
13. How did your family react to the news that you would be going to the ISS?
14. Can you plant a flower in your area, or how do you personalize your area while you are living on the ISS to bring you joy?
15. Besides astronaut training with your space agency, how did you personally prepare for your journey to the ISS?
16. Can you see weather systems on Earth from space and if so, what have you observed?
17. How would kinetic sand behave in space?
18. What character traits do you think make a great astronaut?
19. What do you get tired of while being in space?
20. What is a typical day like on the ISS?
______________________________

ARISS News Release No. 24-07

ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Students at Alabama School of Cyber Technology and Engineering (ASCTE), Huntsville, Alabama USA

January 30, 2024—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 Alabama School of Cyber Technology and Engineering (ASCTE) in Huntsville, AL. ARISS conducts 60 – 100 of these special amateur radio contacts each year between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses aboard the ISS.

The ASCTE is a statewide, residential magnet high school that began operating in 2020 in its temporary home on the campus of Oakwood University, and since 2022 is now in its permanent home in the middle of Cummings Research Park in Huntsville. For the 2023-24 school year ASCTE has 334 enrolled with 112 students living on campus. In 2023, ASCTE signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Marshall Space Flight Center, creating a partnership with NASA.

The ASCTE Amateur Radio Club (N4CTE) was formed in the fall of 2022 and has thrived with generous support from the ARRL and assistance from the Huntsville Amateur Radio Club. Student interest in the school ham radio club led to offering an elective course in RF Engineering during the 2023-24 school year. Students in this class have been learning about radio communications and gaining hands-on experience with amateur radio equipment. Several departments (from science to the humanities to cybersecurity) have also incorporated space-related lessons in preparation for this ARISS contact. Members of the Huntsville Amateur Radio Club will be assisting ASCTE in the technical aspects of this ARISS contact and have been preparing the students for this contact.

The amaeur radio ground station for this contact is in Huntsville, AL. Amateur radio operators using call sign N4CTE, will operate the ground station to establish and maintain the ISS connection.

The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for February 1, 2024 at 11:34:50 am CST (Huntsville, AL) (17:34:50 UTC, 12:34 pm EST, 10:34 am MST, 9:34 am PST).
__________________
As time allows, students will ask these questions:

1. What do you and the others up there do for fun?
2. Are you worried about cyber vulnerabilities on the space station, and if you are, what plans are in place to counteract them?
3. How is the station protected from micro debris?
4. How if at all has 3D printing been used lately on the station?
5. What sparked your interest in becoming an astronaut and how old were you when you figured it out?
6. Did you go to college and pick a major with the intention of being an astronaut?
7. Have you ever broken anything on the ISS?
8. How is the ISS actually maneuvered?
9. What was your scariest experience as an astronaut?
10. Do you face any unique physiological changes after spending a lot of time in space?
11. What software tools like Excel and Matlab do you use?
12. What mental health support do you have on the station?
13. If you were to start over would you still choose to be an astronaut and if not what would you choose instead?
14. What kind of exercise do you do in space to stay fit?
15. What experiments or research projects are you currently working on in the unique microgravity environment of the space station?
16. Is solar power the only form of energy on the station?
17. What should I do if I want to become an astronaut?
18. If there is an emergency on the station what do you do first?
19. How do you manage daily activities like eating, sleeping, and exercising in the confined space of the space station, and how does it differ from life on Earth?
20. What does the ISS smell like?
_____________________

ARISS News Release No. 24-06

ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Students at Bilingual Montessori School of Lund (Stiftelsen BMSL), Lund, Sweden

January 30, 2024—Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has received schedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact between an Axiom Mission (Ax-3) astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and students at the Stiftelsen BMSL located in Lund, Sweden. ARISS conducts 60 -100 of these special amateur radio contacts each year between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses aboard the ISS.

BMSL was established in 2003 for children aged 1 to 16, using the National Swedish Curriculum. The school employs Montessori-inspired pedagogy and language immersion teaching English and French from preschool and starting in grade 6, teaching Spanish.

This will be a telebridge Contact via Amateur Radio allowing students to ask their questions of astronaut Marcus Wandt, amateur radio call sign KJ5COO. Wandt has over 20 years of aviation experience with the Swedish Air Force as a fighter pilot, squadron commander, wing commander, and chief test pilot. He will be the second ESA astronaut of Swedish nationality to ever go to the International Space Station and will serve as a mission specialist during Axiom Space’s Ax-3 mission.

Wandt is honored to have this opportunity to not only achieve one of his greatest life’s dreams, but also to use the Ax-3 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 January 31, 2024 at 1:50:25 pm CET(Sweden) (12:50:25 UTC, 7:50 am EST, 6:50 am CST, 5:50 am MST, 4:50 am PST).

The public is invited to watch the live stream at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G72VqFDlh0g
_________________________
As time allows, students will ask these questions:
Translation (from Swedish):

1. What does a typical day look like on the ISS?
2. How do you eat in space, and does the food taste different?
3. What kind of research are you conducting?
4. Which of your experiments can improve our lives on Earth?
5. How does it feel to be weightless, can it be compared to any other sensation?
6. What does the moon look like from the ISS?
7. Would you like to be the first human landing on Mars?
8. How do you poop in space?
9. How do you shower, Marcus? The water should be flying in all directions, right?
10. How does being in space affect your body?
11. How do you manage conflicts between crew members?
12. Do you think your values will change now that you have been in space?
13. What did you feel during the rocket liftoff?
14. Can you use your Smartphone with the Starlink satellites to contact your family from the ISS?
15. How did you prepare for weightlessness?
16. How can the fire stay on the rocket in space?
17. How does the cockpit of the Dragon module look like?
18. How do you know you won’t get lost in space?
19. Does life in space have effects on your body and your mood?
20. What does the education look like to become an astronaut?

Translation (English to Swedish for questions that will be asked in English):

3*. Class 8A (14-15): Vilken typ av forskning bedriver du?
4*. Class 9A (15-16): Vilka av dina experiment kan f rb ttra v rt liv p jorden?
7*. Class 8B (14-15): Skulle du vilja vara den f rsta m nniskan som landar p Mars?
11*. Class 9B (15-16): Hur hanterar du konflikter mellan bes ttningsmedlemmar?
14*. Class 7A (13:14): Kan du anv nda din smartphone med Startlink-satelliterna f r att kontakta din familj fr n ISS?
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ARISS News Release No. 24-05

ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Students at Bandırma Şehit Güvenç Anatolian High School, Balikesir, Bandırma, Türkiye

January 30, 2024—Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has received schedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact between an Axiom Mission (Ax-3) astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and students at the Bandırma Şehit Güvenç Anatolian High School, Balikesir, Bandırma, Türkiye. ARISS conducts 60 – 100 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 Alper Gezeravci, amateur radio call sign KJ5DIY/TA5TRU. As a fighter pilot with the Turkish Air Force, Gezeravcı has 15 years of flying experience on multiple aircrafts including the T-41, SF-260, T-37, T-38, F-5, KC-135 and F-16. In addition, he served as a captain with the Turkish Airlines for seven years. Gezeravcı has also served as a flight leader, flight safety officer, and commercial airlines captain. He is now serving as a mission specialist for Axiom Space’s Ax-3 mission to the ISS on the SpaceX Dragon.

Born in Silifke, Türkiye, Gezeravci is honored to be a part of the Ax-3 mission as the first Turkish astronaut to go to space. Through the Ax-3 mission, Gezeravcı hopes to inspire the next generation of explorers and 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 January 31, 2024 at 15:12:57 pm EEST (Turkey) (12:12:57 UTC, 7:12 am EST, 6:12 am CST, 5:12 am MST, 4:12 PST).

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:

1. How does it feel to be in space?
2. Could you provide us with some information about the International Space Station? What kind of place is it?
3. Where will you land after the mission?
4. What kind of experiments are you conducting on the International Space Station?
5. What contributions have or will the experiments you conduct on the International Space Station make to us?
6. Will you share some photos with us from space? Were you able to record some videos there?
7. How does being Türkiye’s first astronaut make you feel? Do you feel privileged?
8. As an astronaut with a background with fighter pilot, what were the most challenging and comfortable aspects of being an astronaut in the microgravity when compared to being a fighter pilot?
9. What is it like to watch the Earth from space?
10. What is the first thing you want to do after returning to Earth?
11. What did you feel from the moment you were strapped into the seat during the launch process?
12. How much G-force did you experience during launch? How did it affect you?
13. Can you tell us a bit about the experiments you are conducting on the International Space Station? What are the results of these experiments, and where and how will they be used?
14. What kind of infrastructure do you use when conducting experiments?
15. During experiments, do you have the opportunity to establish contact with Earth and receive support?
16. What is it like to sleep in microgravity? Do you have a private room on the International Space Station?
17. What is the most important characteristic in an astronaut that has caught your attention? Can anyone become an astronaut?
18. What kind of foods do you eat in International Space Station?
19. Do you have any activity with other astronauts to have some fun?
20. Would you like to stay in International Space Station more than 14 days?
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ARISS News Release No. 24-04

ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Students at Ömer Cemile Güler Imam Hatip Secondary School, Selçuklu, Konya, Turkey

January 29, 2024—Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has received schedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact between an Axiom Mission (Ax-3) astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and students at Ömer Cemile Güler Imam Hatip Secondary School, Konya, Selçuklu, Türkiye. ARISS conducts 60 – 100 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 Alper Gezeravci, amateur radio call sign KJ5DIY/TA5TRU. As a fighter pilot with the Turkish Air Force, Gezeravcı has 15 years of flying experience on multiple aircrafts including the T-41, SF-260, T-37, T-38, F-5, KC-135 and F-16. In addition, he served as a captain with the Turkish Airlines for seven years. Gezeravcı has also served as a flight leader, flight safety officer, and commercial airlines captain. He is now serving as a mission specialist for Axiom Space’s Ax-3 mission to the ISS on the SpaceX Dragon.

The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for January 30, 2024 at 16:38:20 pm EEST (Turkey) (13:38:20 UTC, 8:38 am EST, 7:38 am CST, 6:38 am MST, 5:38 am PST)
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As time allows, students will ask these questions:

How does it feel to look to the International Space Station from the Dragon spacecraft while approaching to dock?
Are you going to have some adaptation period after landing to Earth since you are exposed to microgravity for 14 days in International Space Station?
Besides yourself, which countries’ astronauts are currently active on the International Space Station? Can you communicate with them?
What is the meal you miss the most while you’re there?
How is life on the International Space Station, and how do your days pass? What do you do to spend your time?
Although it hasn’t been a very long time, you are now farther from Earth than ever before. What is the thing you missed the most there?
When you look from the windows, do you see any other satellite?
Were you able to see Moon from the International Space Station?
How is the air condition in ISS? Is it cold or hot?
How was the docking process to the International Space Station? Were you excited?
Which experiment did you enjoy most?
How much time do you sleep?
Do you wish to be back to International Space Station one more time?
What kind of benefits the experiments that you made there provide us?
What kind of foods do you eat in International Space Station?
How does it feel to look Earth from Space?
Would you like to set foot in another planet on the universe as an astronaut?
What was the most challenging part of the mission until docking?
Do you feel the high orbital speed of International Space Station which is approximately 7 km/s?
Have you ever looked to the Türkiye from ISS? If yes, how does it feel?
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ARISS News Release No. 24-03

ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Students at Istituto Comprensivo “Anna Rita Sidoti”, GioiosaMarea, Italy

January 22, 2024—Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has received schedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact between an Axiom Mission (Ax-3) astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and students at the Anna Rita Sidoti Institute located in Gioiosa Marea, Italy. ARISS conducts 60 -100 of these special amateur radio contacts each year between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses aboard the ISS.

The Gioiosa Marea’s Institute “Anna Rita Sidoti”, serves about 730 students in three school levels; nursery, primary and lower secondary. The school will engage all students in preparation for this ARISS contact and is supported by local radio amateur members of the Italian Radioamateur Associaion (ARI) who will provide practical and technical support for the event.

This will be a direct contact via Amateur Radio allowing students to ask their questions of astronaut Walter Villadei, amateur radio call sign IUØRWB. Villadei is a colonel in the Italian Air Force (ItAF), and the pilot for Axiom Space’s Ax-3 mission to the ISS on the SpaceX Dragon. Villadei currently lives in Rome, Italy, and is honored to have this opportunity to not only achieve one of his greatest life’s dreams, but also to use the Ax-3 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 relay ground station.

The amateur radio ground station for this contact is in Gioiosa Marea, Italy. The amateur radio volunteer team at the ground station will use the callsign IT9DBI, to establish and maintain the ISS connection.

The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for January 24, 2024 at 3:37:22 pm CET (Italy) (14:37:22 UTC, 9:37 am EST, 8:37 am CST, 7:37 am MST, 6:37 am PST).

The public is invited to watch the live stream at: https://www.icgioiosa.edu.it/2-uncategorised/1604-axiom-social-news-eventi-comunicati
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As time allows, students will ask these questions: (English Translation)
1. At what age did your passion for space begin?
2. In space can you surf the internet and use social media?
3. Can you cook hot food in the space or do you eat cold food from the refrigerator?
4. Which of an astronaut’s five senses is most affected by microgravity?
5. How and how much do you sleep in space?
6. How did you feel before leaving on a mission?
7. Have you ever seen unidentified objects outside the spacecraft?
8. How do you take care of your daily hygiene?
9. How did you prepare before leaving for space?
10. Do you ever get bored?
11. Do you experience good or bad sensations in a state of microgravity? Is it annoying to be in a state of microgravity after a while?
12. During this mission what type of research will you carry out?
13. How do you contact family members from space?
14. How do you use the toilets in Space?
15. What is the thing you miss most about the Earth?
16. What do you do in your free time on the space station?
17. Do any of you write a logbook?
18. How is time perceived in space?
19. Even though you have chosen to go on a space mission, and even though you have been physically and psychologically prepared, do you ever feel afraid?
20. Do you astronauts always float inside the space station, or is there a room with Earth’s gravity on board?
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ARISS News Release No. 24-02

ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Students at Istituto Comprensivo di Villa Guardia, Villa Guardia, Italy

January 20, 2024—Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has received schedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact between an Axiom Mission (Ax-3) astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and students at the IC di Villa Guardia located in Villa Guardia, 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 Comprensivo di Villa Guardia consists of three primary schools (with students aged 6 to 10) and two middle schools (students aged 11 to 13) and is located in Villa Guardia, near the city of Como, in northern Italy. The school’s STEM curriculum includes two hours of science, two hours of technology every week and employs a team of teachers providing both theoretical and practical teaching with scientific and technological experiences.

This will be a telebridge Contact via Amateur Radio allowing students to ask their questions of astronaut Walter Villadei, amateur radio call sign IUØRWB. Villadei is a colonel in the Italian Air Force (ItAF), and the pilot for Axiom Space’s Ax-3 mission to the ISS on the SpaceX Dragon. Villadei currently lives in Rome, Italy, and is honored to have this opportunity to not only achieve one of his greatest life’s dreams but also to use the Ax-3 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 Paardekraal, South Africa. The amateur radio volunteer team at the ground station will use the callsign ZS6JON, to establish and maintain the ISS connection.

The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for January 22, 2024 at 10:35:49 am CET (Italy) (9:35:49 UTC, 4:35 am EST, 3:35 am CST, 2:35 am MST, 1:35 am PST).

The public is invited to watch the live stream at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMQUWMww9yE
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As time allows, students will ask these questions: (Translation)
1. How does an astronaut prepare himself to face a mission?
2. What kind of emotion did you feel at the first launch?
3. During your training, did you get new habits, that you still use in normal life?
4. Why did you choose to do this job?
5. How long have you studied to become an astronaut?
6. What do you like about this job?
7. What is your work goal?
8. What does the Earth look like from up there?
9. What’s the most fascinating thing you have ever seen in space?
10. Have you ever heard strange noises coming from Space?
11. Are there any particular images of space seen from the ISS that you want to describe us?
12. Have you ever seen a comet from the ISS?
13. How is floating in microgravity?
14. Are the 5 senses perceived in space as they are on Earth?
15. What time do you set on the watch on the ISS, not being able to rely on sunrise and sunset?
16. How will you feel when you set foot on Earth again?
17. How long does rehabilitation take (once you return to Earth)?
18. What does it mean to you to represent humanity in space?
19. Could it be good for humans to bring a pet in space?
20. When you come back to Earth, how is feeling gravity again?
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