ARISS News Release                                                                     No.   21-22 
Dave Jordan, AA4KN
ARISS PR
aa4kn@amsat.org
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
ARISS Contact Scheduled for Students at Winmalee Public School
                                    Blue Mountains, New South Wales, Australia
 
April 17, 2021—Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has received schedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact with astronauts. ARISS is the group that puts together special amateur radio contacts between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses on the International Space Station (ISS).
 
This will be a telebridge contact via amateur radio and students will take turns asking their questions of Astronaut Victor Glover, amateur radio call sign KI5BKC. English is the language that will be used for this contact. Both onsite and remote access will be provided to the student body at the time of the contact per Covid-19 guidelines. 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.
 
ARISS team member Jan Poppeliers, in Aartselaar, Belgium using radio call sign ON4ISS, will serve as the ARISS relay amateur radio station.
 
The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for April 20, 2021 at 6:28 pm [AEST] (Winmalee, Australia), (8:28 UTC, 4:28 am EDT, 3:28 am CDT, 2:28 am MDT and 1:28 am PDT).
 
Winmalee Public School (360 students, Kindergarten-Year 6) is one of five local primary schools in the town of Winmalee within the Blue Mountains, 80 km west of Sydney, Australia. Winmalee Public School’s STEM program curriculum includes a weekly STEM Lab for Kindergarten through Year 6 taught by a specialist primary science educator. Space-based studies also include lessons about the Solar system, space travel, space missions, and the future of space exploration. In preparation for the ARISS contact class lessons have focused on the ISS; how to track its position in orbit (using applied mathematics), as well as learning about the ISS astronauts and their roles. Other student activities included ISS model-building, designing promotional posters, and sharing their knowledge of the ISS with the local high school students. Students also participated in a space trivia competition. 
 ________________
 
As time allows, students will ask these questions:
 
1. What is the best way to describe the feeling of microgravity?
2. How long does it take to travel to the Space Station from Earth?
3. Have you ever seen a meteor pass through Earth’s atmosphere from the ISS?
4. What experiments do you do at the International Space Station?
5. Has anything ever gone wrong or required you to take emergency action while you have been on board the International Space Station?
6. What happens if space junk hits the International Space Station?
7. What personal items would you take into space if allowed…and why?
8. How many times a year do you get supplies delivered to the ISS?
9. What is the most difficult thing about being in space?
10. What do you do for fun up there?
11. As the ISS orbits the earth, can you see weather patterns like cyclones?
12. Do you grow plants in the space station? If so, how?
13. What is your daily routine on the ISS?
14. How are crew members chosen to go out on a space walk?
15. Which animal species are currently on board the ISS and what is their purpose?
16. Does seeing Earth from a distance give you and your crew a different perspective on life?
17. What do you enjoy most about linking up with students from across the world as part of this amazing ARISS program?
18. Many of my students have talked about their dream to become astronauts. What would be your greatest advice for them?
 
ARISS – Celebrating 20 Years of Amateur Radio Continuous Operations on the ISS

ARISS News Release                                                                             No.   21-20  
Dave Jordan, AA4KN
ARISS PR
aa4kn@amsat.org
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
ARISS Contact for Students at The School of Information Technology & Mathematical Sciences, Southern Hemisphere Space Studies Program 2021, Mawson Lakes, SA, Australia
 
April 4, 2021—Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has received schedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact with astronauts. ARISS is the group that puts together special amateur radio contacts between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses on the International Space Station (ISS).
 
This will be a telebridge contact via amateur radio and students will take turns asking their questions of Astronaut Shannon Walker, amateur radio call sign KD5DXB. English is the language that will be used for this contact. The downlink frequency for this contact is 145.800 MHz.
 
The ARISS team in Casale Monferrato, Italy will use call sign IK1SLD to serve as the ARISS relay amateur radio ground station.
 
The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for April 6, 2021 at 8:57 pm ACST (Salisbury), (11:27 UTC, 7:27 am EDT, 6:27 am CDT, 5:27 am MDT and, 4:27 am PDT).
 
The School of Information Technology & Mathematical Sciences, Southern Hemisphere Space Studies Program is a large (765 students) R-7 primary school located in a Mawson Lakes suburb in the City of Salisbury. The school’s Space Studies Program is jointly organized by the International Space University  and the University of South Australia. It is a unique, five-week live-in experience focusing on an international, intercultural and interdisciplinary educational philosophy. In addition, the school’s STEM program (including the Advanced Technology Program) incorporates space-related studies that include their ISS-astronaut project, offering students a chance to understand how the ISS functions, how astronauts live and work in space, and student activities that investigate small satellites using the CubeSat classroom kit through HEPTA (Hands-on Education Program for Technical Advancement). HEPTA is a hands-on study with intensive practical lessons of small satellite design and engineering. The hands-on activity focuses on establishing the knowledge of systems engineering by going through the whole process of system integration.    
The public is invited to watch the live stream https://tinyurl.com/6APR-isslinkup2021
 
 
As time allows, students will ask these questions:
 
1. What do you do to entertain yourself in such a small space for a long time with so few people?
2. Do you have travel sickness or feel suffocated while you are in there?
3. How do you protect against radiation on the ISS?
4. Have you seen any suspicious activity (like extraterrestrial creatures)?
5. Are there any health risks when you are in outer space?
6. How long do you think that it would take to discover another universe?
7. Does space debris affect the ISS?
8. When Is space radiation more harmful to astronauts?
9. Is the possibility of a fire on the ISS more terrifying when you are on the ISS or when you are training and preparing to be on the ISS.
10. How long can the present International Space Station (ISS) be used for?
11. What are the benefits of exercising in space?
12. What is your workout routine?
13. How does it smell in there?
14. What does it feel like in microgravity, especially when brushing teeth or hair or even having a shower?
15. What inspired you to be an astronaut?
16. Can you tell us some more information about the ISS?
17. Does warp speed exist?
18. What simple tasks on Earth requires the most work in space – and what, other than floating, can be done easily in space but is difficult on Earth.
19.  While in the ISS if someone gets sick, will normal earth medicine work in micro gravity?
20. Have you done any Covid-19 related research on ISS?
21.  Can we see the far side of the Moon from ISS? Or will we be able to see it from the new planned station orbiting near the moon?
22. How do you get rid of the smell in the space station
23. How serious is the problem of space debris and what is being done about it?

ARISS News Release                                                                No.21-19
Dave Jordan, AA4KN
ARISS PR
aa4kn@amsat.org

 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Students at Oakwood School, Morgan Hill, California, USA
 
March 20, 2021—Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has received schedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact with astronauts. ARISS is the group that puts together special amateur radio contacts between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses on the International Space Station (ISS).
 
This will be a Multipoint Telebridge Contact via Amateur Radio between the ISS and students from Oakwood School, Morgan Hill, CA. Students will take turns asking their questions of ISS Astronaut Shannon Walker, amateur radio call sign KD5DXB, during the ARISS radio contact. English is the language that will be used during the contact. The downlink frequency for this contact is 145.800 MHz.  
 
The ARISS team in Casale Monferrato, Italy will use call sign IK1SLD to serve as the ARISS relay amateur radio ground station. Each student asking a question on the ARISS radio will be conferenced in from home or social-distanced at school.
 
The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for March 22, 2021 at 11:27 am PDT (Morgan Hill, CA) (18:27 UTC, 2:27 pm EDT, 1:27 pm CDT, 12:27 pm MDT).
 
Oakwood School is a nonprofit, private, rural/suburban school (about 500 students, preschool – 12th grade) serving the community of Morgan Hill. The school’s STEM curriculum includes lab science in kindergarten and college prep courses for middle and high school students and extracurricular activities in STEM-related subjects (robotics and astronomy). During the past school year, in preparation for the ARISS contact, the school instituted a Year in Space Program for all grades. The class curriculum included new STEM courses that focused on space-related studies as well as enhancements to the existing STEM courses. This year-long program benefited from a number of volunteers from the space industry who provided class presentations and student activities in the fields of: radio communication (amateur radio and radio astronomy), astronomy, computer science, engineering, and robotics. High school students from the Astronomy Club will assist amateur radio operator volunteers in integration and testing of the ARISS contact’s backup radio station, and will help in setup of the ground station. In addition to incorporating amateur-related ideas into after-school STEM programs, the school’s amateur radio volunteer, who advises the school amateur radio and astronomy clubs, hosted ham radio testing for middle and elementary grade students.   
 
View the live stream of this ARISS radio contact at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vg8ni7Gq6Z0.
_______________________________
 
As time allows, students will ask these questions:
 
1.  What is your favorite place on the ISS?
2. Are you currently conducting any experiments yourself?
3. What was your favorite part of Astronaut training?
4.  What advice do you have for a 6-year-old that wants to be an astronaut?
5.  What is the hardest thing you have had to do in space?
6.  Is the coronavirus on the ISS and do you need to wear masks?
7.  Do you and your crew mates play games in space?
8. Can you still do your favorite Earth hobbies on the ISS?
9. Are your astronaut outfits customizable (like can you make them different colors)?
10. What happens if there is a medical emergency on the ISS?
11. Who was your role model growing up and how have they helped you succeed in becoming an astronaut?
12. How do you communicate with all the astronauts that come from different countries?
13.  Who is your favorite Avenger/superhero and why?
14. What is the object you miss the most that is on planet Earth?
15. What was the hardest part of the training, and did you think you were going to pass?
16. Do the constellations from the space station look different from how they do on Earth?
17. We've noticed you use a lot of towels-- what if you run out of towels?
18. Although zero-gravity sounds fun at first, does it get “old” after a while?
19. If you were given the chance, would you like to be the first person to mars?
20. How do you stay connected with your family on Earth while in space and how long do you get to talk or see them?
 
ARISS – Celebrating 20 Years of Amateur Radio Continuous Operations on the ISS
 
About ARISS:
Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) is a cooperative venture of international amateur radio societies and the space agencies that support the International Space Station (ISS).  In the United States, sponsors are the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT), the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), the ISS National Lab-Space Station Explorers, and NASA’s Space Communications and Navigation program. The primary goal of ARISS is to promote exploration of science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics topics by organizing scheduled contacts via amateur radio between crew members aboard the ISS and students. Before and during these radio contacts, students, educators, parents, and communities learn about space, space technologies, and amateur radio. For more information, see www.ariss.org.
 
Media Contact:
Dave Jordan, AA4KN
ARISS PR
                                                                              
Like us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter. Search on Amateur Radio on the ISS and @ARISS_status.

ARISS News Release                                                                            No.   21-18  
Dave Jordan, AA4KN
ARISS PR
aa4kn@amsat.org
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
ARISS Contact Scheduled for Students at Goodwood Primary School
in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
 
March 15, 2021—Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has received schedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact with astronauts. ARISS is the group that puts together special amateur radio contacts between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses on the International Space Station (ISS).
 
This will be a telebridge contact via amateur radio and students will take turns asking their questions of Astronaut Victor Glover, amateur radio call sign KI5BKC. English is the language that will be used for this contact. The downlink frequency for this contact is 145.800 MHZ.
 
ARISS team member David Payne, using call sign NA7V in Portland, OR will serve as the relay amateur radio station.
 
The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for March 17, 2021 at 7:02 pm ACDT (Adelaide), (08:32 UTC, 4:32 am EDT, 3:32 am CDT, 2:32 am MDT and 1:32 am PDT).
 
Goodwood Primary School has a student population of 490 students in the main school (Preschool through Year 7). Teachers used the ARISS contact event as a focus in the development of a curriculum and learning activities. The key themes were: Science and Technology in space (including the use of telecommunication equipment on the ISS, such as ham radio) and Human Cohabitation in Space (with specific focus on the ISS). Another theme was Earth and Space Sciences (including modeling Earth’s solar system and studying the country’s aboriginal understanding of the night sky and its use for timekeeping through their oral cultural records, petroglyphs, paintings and stone arrangements).
_____________________________
 
As time allows, students will ask these questions:
 
1. What inspired you to become an astronaut?
2. How do you stay fit and exercise in space because it is easier to do things up there?
3. What was one of your favourite experiences that you had going into space?
4. What are some of the tasks astronauts have to complete in space and on the International Space Station?
5. What is the biggest thing you have to conquer when in space and why is it so challenging?
6. What was the most unexpected thing you felt in your body when you traveled into space?
7. Do you think there is another planet that humans can live on besides Earth?
8. When a supply ship is dropping off supplies, how do they align and slow down the ship for docking?
9. If you could take only one thing to the space station what would it be?
10. What research are you doing up there and how does it benefit mankind?
11. How long do you get to stay in the space station each time?
12. What diets are you on and what can you eat?
13. Do you have any quotes or messages to give our generation today?
14. After returning back to Earth, how would an astronaut physically and mentally feel?
15. What does an average day in the space station look like and what do you enjoy about it?
16. What do you think you’ll miss the most about space when you leave the International Space Station?
17. Is there an exercise program you have to follow in order to help you recover when returning to Earth?
18. How exactly do air locks stop all the air from escaping?
19. What is your favourite thing to do in zero gravity on the space station?
20. What is the future of the International Space Station and are you going to build anything?
 
ARISS – Celebrating 20 Years of Amateur Radio Continuous Operations on the ISS
 
About ARISS:
Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) is a cooperative venture of international amateur radio societies and the space agencies that support the International Space Station (ISS).  In the United States, sponsors are the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT), the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), the ISS National Lab-Space Station Explorers, and NASA’s Space Communications and Navigation program. The primary goal of ARISS is to promote exploration of science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics topics by organizing scheduled contacts via amateur radio between crew members aboard the ISS and students. Before and during these radio contacts, students, educators, parents, and communities learn about space, space technologies, and amateur radio. For more information, see www.ariss.org.
 
Media Contact:
Dave Jordan, AA4KN
ARISS PR
                                                                              
Like us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter. Search on Amateur Radio on the ISS and @ARISS_status.

ARISS Columbus Radio System Once Again Operational!

March 14, 2021—The ARISS Columbus Radio is back on-the-air!  This, after it was rendered non-operational following a January 27 EVA (spacewalk) which was conducted to install a cable for the Bartolomeo commercial platform.  During the January 27 spacewalk, the Bartolomeo HMU-601 cable, described in the March 10 ARISS Press conference (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hm4h4rBE9k&t=2214s), was installed in series with the ARISS antenna cable (HMU-895). 

As part of a spacewalk conducted yesterday, March 13, Astronaut Michael Hopkins successfully completed the installation of three PAPOS connectors for the new Bartolomeo platform on the Columbus Module. After this task, Hopkins started the ARISS task.  He moved to the opposite side of Columbus, where he removed the HMU-601 cable from the APCU J02 connector and reinstalled the ARISS antenna cable (HMU-895) connector back into the APCU J02 connector.  This returned the ARISS system back to its pre-January 27 configuration. 

At around 1200 UTC today, the astronauts turned on the ARISS radio system in Columbus.  It was placed in PM3, or Packet Mode.  PM3 employs a downlink frequency of 145.825 MHz.  Shortly after radio startup, APRS signals were heard in California, Utah, and Idaho as the ISS passed along the USA West Coast.  ARISS Team member, Christy Hunter, KB6LTY, confirmed she digipeated through the ARISS radio system, NA1SS, during this pass.  With confirmation from additional stations in South America and the Middle East, the ARISS team has declared the radio system again operational.

On behalf of the ARISS International Team, our heartfelt thanks to all that helped ARISS work through the cable anomaly investigation, troubleshooting and ultimate repair.  Special shout-outs go to the ISS crew, the operations and engineering teams at NASA, ESA and Airbus, and ARISS-Russia leader Sergey Samburov, RV3DR, whose quick actions allowed ARISS to maintain our school contact operations via the ARISS Service Module radio system. Our deepest appreciation also goes out to the ARISS International hardware and operations teams that worked so diligently to analyze, troubleshoot, develop operations procedures, move school contact operations, and inform the team and the public.
   
The ARISS team would also like to congratulate the ESA/Airbus Bartolomeo team!  With the successful installation of 3 of the PAPOS connectors, as part of yesterday’s spacewalk, Bartolomeo is now operational! 

Yesterday was a great day for all!
 
Ad Astra!

Frank Bauer, KA3HDO
ARISS International Chair
Executive Director, ARISS-USA

ARISS News Release                                                                               No.   21-16   
Dave Jordan, AA4KN
ARISS PR
aa4kn@amsat.org
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
ARISS Contact is Scheduled for
Students at Avoca State School, Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia
 
March 9, 2021—Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has received schedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact with astronauts. ARISS is the group that puts together special amateur radio contacts between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses on the International Space Station (ISS).
 
This will be a direct contact via amateur radio between students at Avoca State School, Bundaberg, Australia, and Astronaut Mike Hopkins, amateur radio call sign KF5LJG. Students will take turns asking their questions. English is the language expected to be used during the contact. The downlink frequency for this contact is 145.800 MHZ.
 
Amateur radio operators, using the Bundaberg Amateur Radio Club (BARC) call sign, VK4BW and the club’s equipment, will operate the ham radio ground station for this contact.
 
The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for March 11, 2021 at 5:56 pm AEST (Bundaberg, Australia), (07:56 UTC, 2:56 am EST, 1:56 am CST, 12:56 am MST and March 10, 11:56 pm PST).
 
Avoca State School (about 300 students) is a member of the West Bundaberg Cluster of schools serving communities in nearby Avoca, Millbank, Branyan and the surrounding rural/residential areas. Prior to this ARISS contact, students’ science curriculum contained a course of study on rocket propulsion. Student activities included model rocket construction and launching of these models using a pneumatic energy source. The school has partnered with members of BARC who will be key in assisting the students with this ARISS contact. In recent years, the BARC invited young people to participate in a high-altitude balloon launch carrying an amateur radio repeater enabling contacts between hams throughout Queensland and Northern New South Wales.
 

As time allows, students will ask these questions:
 
1. Have any experiments in the ISS produced evidence of other life forms in space?
2. How long is a typical mission on the ISS?
3. How long did you have to train to become an astronaut?
4. When people built the ISS, how did they send it up into space?
5. Why don’t meteors hit the space station?
6. What is your favourite thing about being an astronaut?
7. If you could make a time capsule to represent your stay on the ISS, what would you put in it?
8. Would walking on the moon be the same as space walking outside of the ISS?
9. Once you return to Earth, what process do you have to follow?
10. How do you get oxygen to breathe in the Space Station?
11. Why is the Space Station split into different sections for different nations?
12. What do you struggle with most on the Space Station?
13. What do you do for recreation in your spare time on the ISS?
14. What types of experiments are you currently running and how does zero gravity affect them?
15. What kind of food do you eat in space?
16. How many people can be in the Space Station at the one time?
17. What is your main job on the International Space Station?
18. What job would you have if you weren’t an astronaut?
19. Do astronauts play pranks on each other and what’s the best prank you’ve seen or done?
20. What is your favourite thing to look at on Earth from the International Space Station?
21. How long from take-off does it take to reach the International Space Station?
22. Do you need more sleep-in space than you do on Earth?
23. The space station is exposed to extreme heat and cold. How is the temperature regulated?
24. How have Science experiments on the space station affected life back on Earth?
 
ARISS – Celebrating 20 Years of Continuous Amateur Radio Operations on the ISS
 
About ARISS:
Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) is a cooperative venture of international amateur radio societies and the space agencies that support the International Space Station (ISS).  In the United States, sponsors are the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT), the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), the ISS National Lab-Space Station Explorers, and NASA’s Space Communications and Navigation program. The primary goal of ARISS is to promote exploration of science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics topics by organizing scheduled contacts via amateur radio between crew members aboard the ISS and students. Before and during these radio contacts, students, educators, parents, and communities learn about space, space technologies, and amateur radio. For more information, see www.ariss.org.
 
Media Contact:
Dave Jordan, AA4KN
ARISS PR
                                                                               
Like us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter. Search on Amateur Radio on the ISS and @ARISS_status.

ARISS News Release                                                               No.   21-15  
Dave Jordan, AA4KN
ARISS PR
aa4kn@amsat.org
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
ARISS Contact Scheduled for Students Sponsored by Peace Corps Moldova and a Consortium of Educational Institutions, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova
 
February 28, 2021—Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has received schedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact with astronauts. ARISS is the group that puts together special amateur radio contacts between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses on the International Space Station (ISS).
 
This will be a multipoint telebridge contact via amateur radio and students from various schools in the Republic of Moldova. Students will take turns asking their questions of Astronaut Mike Hopkins, amateur radio call sign KF5LJG. English is the language that will be used for this contact. The downlink frequency for this contact is 145.800 MHz.
 
ARISS team member David Payne, using call sign NA7V in Portland, OR will serve as the relay amateur radio station.
 
The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for March 3, 2021 at 3:09 pm EET (Chisinau, Republic of Moldova), (13:09 UTC, 8:09 am EST, 7:09 am CST, 6:09 am MST and 5:09 am PST).
 
The public is invited to watch the livestream at: https://m.facebook.com/PeaceCorpsMoldova/ and  https://m.facebook.com/UTMoldova/
 
The Moldova Peace Corps (MPC) will be the host organization for the ARISS contact. Ninety students (ages 10-18 years old) from a consortium of educational institutions, rural schools, and libraries from nine Moldovan villages throughout the Republic of Moldova (Molovata, Salcuta, Bacioi, Singerei, Gura Bicului, Stefanesti, Cociulia, Cirpesti and Cobani) will participate in this contact. Peace Corps is an educational organization in Moldova, promoting economic and civic development with a particular focus on developing local resources in rural and suburban communities. Another focus of MPC is to provide youth in Moldovan villages with access to STEM opportunities and build capacity among local teachers/librarians to implement STEM activities in their curricula. In support of this contact the MPC partnered with the staff at the Centre of Excellence for Space Sciences and Technologies within the Technical University of Moldova, the United States Peace Corps Volunteer Coordinator, and the participating schools/libraries. In preparation of the ARISS contact, STEM studies for all grades have incorporated class topics/activities that include: temperature extremes in space, organisms living in space, water chemistry on off-world environments, effects on human biology in space, and effects on electronics in the space environment (microsatellites).
_____________________________
 
As time allows, students will ask these questions:
 
1. Why did you choose this job?
2. What is the daily routine of an international space station spaceman?
3. What happens in space if someone catches a cold?
4. How is it to live and work in space?
5. How do you feel about the fact that the last mission to the moon was in 1972?
6. What type of experiments do you manage to conduct on board?
7. What can an astronaut bring with him on board and what is not allowed?
8. How do you deal with a major medical emergency on board of a space craft? Is a doctor part of the crew?
9. Are the ISS modules separated by country/agency or you all are in permanent collaboration with other groups?
10. What is the most difficult thing to get used to in lack of gravity?
11. How did you find out this was the perfect job for you?
12. What is the hardest part of being an astronaut?
13. How much time does it take to prepare for an event like this call?
14. How long does it take to recover from a trip to the International Space Station? Physically and mentally?
15. What is the main purpose of the station?
16. What is your favorite food to eat in space?
17. Do you ever call your family from space?
18. How does the Earth look from space?
19. What advice do you have for students who want to be astronauts?
20. Do you have a favorite space joke?
 
ARISS – Celebrating 20 Years of Amateur Radio Continuous Operations on the ISS
 
About ARISS:
Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) is a cooperative venture of international amateur radio societies and the space agencies that support the International Space Station (ISS).  In the United States, sponsors are the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT), the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), the ISS National Lab-Space Station Explorers, and NASA’s Space Communications and Navigation program. The primary goal of ARISS is to promote exploration of science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics topics by organizing scheduled contacts via amateur radio between crew members aboard the ISS and students. Before and during these radio contacts, students, educators, parents, and communities learn about space, space technologies, and amateur radio. For more information, see www.ariss.org.
 
Media Contact:
Dave Jordan, AA4KN
ARISS PR
                                                                               
Like us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter. Search on Amateur Radio on the ISS and @ARISS_status.

ARISS News Release                                                                                  No. 21-14
Dave Jordan, AA4KN
ARISS PR
aa4kn@amsat.org
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Students at
Newcastle High School, Newcastle, Wyoming, USA
 
February 27, 2021—Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has received schedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact with astronauts. ARISS is the group that puts together special amateur radio contacts between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses on the International Space Station (ISS).
 
This will be a Multipoint Telebridge Contact via Amateur Radio between the ISS and students from Newcastle High School. Students will take turns asking their questions of ISS astronaut Mike Hopkins, amateur radio call sign KF5LJG, during the ARISS radio contact. The downlink frequency for this contact is 145.800 MHz. Since the first ARISS contact on December 21, 2000, this will be the first ARISS-sponsored contact to a Wyoming school.
 
ARISS team member David Payne, using call sign NA7V in Portland, OR will serve as the relay amateur radio station. Each student asking a question will be conferenced in from home or social-distanced at school.
 
The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for March 1, 2021 at 9:20 am MST (Newcastle, WY) (16:20 UTC, 11:20 pm EST, 10:20 am CST, 8:20 am PST).
 
Newcastle High School (grades 9 – 12) is a rural, public school, and part of the Weston County Public School District, which serves students (grades K-12, ages 5-18) in communities in the county in northeastern Wyoming. Newcastle HS offers college preparatory courses, a concurrent/dual enrollment college class program as well as a vocational-technical training program. Newcastle HS’s amateur radio club includes activities that allow students to learn how to operate ham radios and build antennas with curriculum tie-in to the school’s mathematics and science classes. Student activities (involving students in grades K-12) prior to the ARISS contact were designed to increase awareness and interest in amateur radio, and STEM education, and to foster an appreciation for STEM in a student’s future career choices. The school has partnered with members of the North East Wyoming Amateur Radio Association (NE7WY) who will provide technical support during this contact.
 
ARISS invites the public to view the live stream of the upcoming ARISS radio contact at https://youtu.be/qdQlKQK5mT4 .
_______________________________
 
As time allows, students will ask these questions:
 
1. How long did it take you to fully adjust to being on the ISS?
2. What effects have you experienced from zero gravity?
3. What do you folks do for fun? Boardgames?  Play catch in space?
4. What is the most interesting thing you have seen on a spacewalk?
5. What happens when you fly into the South Atlantic Anomaly?
6. What is the most important lesson you’ve learned from your time in space?
7. What types of organisms do you grow or use in space?
8. I am asking a question for our 2nd grade class. How big is the International Space Station and what is inside? Are there bedrooms, gym, kitchen?
9. Is it weird not being able to experience night and day the same as you would on earth?
10. What research is currently being conducted? Is it biological?
11. Have you ever lost something on a spacewalk?
12. Since Spaceflight-Associated Neuro-ocular Syndrome can affect mission success, does the research currently being conducted on the retina of mice take priority over other experiments?
13. What is the weirdest solution to a problem that you have tried that actually worked?
14. What is the most dangerous aspect about living and working in space?
15. What is the most exciting thing you have experienced so far?
 
ARISS – Celebrating 20 Years of Amateur Radio Continuous Operations on the ISS
 
About ARISS:
Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) is a cooperative venture of international amateur radio societies and the space agencies that support the International Space Station (ISS).  In the United States, sponsors are the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT), the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), the ISS National Lab-Space Station Explorers, and NASA’s Space Communications and Navigation program. The primary goal of ARISS is to promote exploration of science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics topics by organizing scheduled contacts via amateur radio between crew members aboard the ISS and students. Before and during these radio contacts, students, educators, parents, and communities learn about space, space technologies, and amateur radio. For more information, see www.ariss.org.
 
Media Contact:
Dave Jordan, AA4KN
ARISS PR
                                                                              
Like us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter. Search on Amateur Radio on the ISS and @ARISS_status.

 ARISS News Release                                                                                  No.   21-13  
Dave Jordan, AA4KN
ARISS PR
aa4kn@amsat.org
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
ARISS Contact is Scheduled for
Students at Estes Park Elementary School, Estes Park, Colorado, USA
 
February 23, 2021—Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has received schedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact with astronauts. ARISS is the group that puts together special amateur radio contacts between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses on the International Space Station (ISS).
 
This will be a multipoint telebridge contact via amateur radio between students from the Estes Park Elementary School following Covid guidelines and Astronaut Shannon Walker, amateur radio call sign KD5DXB. Students will take turns asking their questions.  The downlink frequency for this contact is 145.800 MHz.
 
Amateur radio operators, using the call sign N0FH in Estes Park, CO, will serve as the relay amateur radio station. English is the language expected to be used during the contact.
 
The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for February 26, 2021 at 10:09 am MST (Estes Park, CO), 17:09 UTC, 12:09 pm EST, 11:09 am CST and 9:09 am PST).
 
The public is invited to watch the live stream at: https://youtu.be/AnPkH2eJM-A
 
Estes Park Elementary School (EPES) (about 480 students, grades pre-K – 5) is a rural, public school located at the base of the Rocky Mountain National Park. In preparation for the ARISS contact, the school’s 5th grade students (about 80 students) have participated in a year-long Space Exploration unit of study. However, the opportunity to view the ARISS contact will be a district-wide and community event, including all 1,140 students in the public school district. The school partners with the Estes Park Memorial Observatory (EPMO), which is also part of the school’s campus. EPMO provides facilities for their volunteers to conduct lectures regarding the basics of astronomy and features of planets, nebula and galaxies that the students or visitors will be observing online and when they can move to the dome for hands-on viewing. EPES implemented a variety of STEM-based cross-curricular topics/activities that included Introduction to Amateur Radio. Members of the Estes Valley Amateur Radio Club (N0FH) and retired Astronaut Loren Shriver have been an integral part of these activities; allowing the students to follow SpaceX Expedition 64, the ISS crew members, as well as the mission progress of the Mars Rover, Perseverance. The amateur radio club members will partner with the observatory and the elementary school to assist with the ARISS contact.
_____________________________
 
As time allows, students will ask these questions:
 
1. What happens when it's your birthday in Space?
2. After using VR goggles to explore the ISS here in school, we wonder if you have VR goggles up there to "visit" Earth, for example if you were homesick?
3. Why don't they let kids in space?
4. How do capsules, satellites, or cargo "attach" to the ISS so people and supplies can come aboard and leave?
5. What kind of data is the ISS collecting on the sun?
6. How has COVID-19 affected you/your trip to space?
7. Have you ever had any unexplained sightings or communication while on the ISS?
8. What are your personal goals for your time in space?
9. What made you want to go to space?
10. What is your favorite research experiment that is currently being conducted on the ISS, and what data are you hoping to obtain from it?
11. What information have you gathered from studying animals (such as ants or bees) on the ISS? Have they ever gotten out?
12. Have you made up any new game to play that only works in space?
13. How do you drive/control the ISS?
14. Can you tell us about a time that you were scared or worried while in space?
15. What happens if you get seriously sick or injured on the ISS?
16. What's the farthest away someone has gone on a spacewalk?
17. Do you have designated people to perform experiments on the ISS, or does everyone take part of that?
18. What is the most awesome sight that you have seen on Earth, or in space, from the ISS?
 
ARISS – Celebrating 20 Years of Continuous Amateur Radio Operations on the ISS
 
About ARISS:
Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) is a cooperative venture of international amateur radio societies and the space agencies that support the International Space Station (ISS).  In the United States, sponsors are the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT), the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), the ISS National Lab-Space Station Explorers, and NASA’s Space Communications and Navigation program. The primary goal of ARISS is to promote exploration of science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics topics by organizing scheduled contacts via amateur radio between crew members aboard the ISS and students. Before and during these radio contacts, students, educators, parents, and communities learn about space, space technologies, and amateur radio. For more information, see www.ariss.org.
 
Media Contact:
Dave Jordan, AA4KN
ARISS PR
                                                                              
Like us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter. Search on Amateur Radio on the ISS and @ARISS_status.