ARISS News Release                                                      No. 23-64

ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Students at Primary School of Zipari Kos, Zipari, Greece

December 9, 2023—Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has received schedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact between an astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and students at the Primary School of Zipari Kos located in Zipari, Greece.  ARISS conducts 60-80 of these special amateur radio contacts each year between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses aboard the ISS.
 
The Primary School of Zipari is located on the island of Kos in the Dodecanese in Greece. The Island of Kos, with a population of 35,000, is in the southern part of the country. The school serves 400 students aged 6-12 and 45 teachers, and participates in innovative programs such as European Erasmus+ programs and often takes part in Pan-Hellenic competitions. This year an Astronomy School Club was formed to prepare students for this ARISS contact. Other student activities include participation in the ESA Moon camp challenge (2nd and 6th grade students), robot building, how to track the ISS, and amateur radio communication (including morse code).
 
This will be a direct contact via Amateur Radio allowing students to ask their questions of Astronaut Andreas Mogensen, amateur radio call sign KG5GCZ. The downlink frequency for this contact is 145.800 MHz and may be heard by listeners that are within the ISS-footprint that also encompasses the relay ground station.
 
The amateur radio ground station for this contact is on the island of Kos in the Dodecanese in Greece. Amateur radio operators using call sign SV5BYR, will operate the ground station to establish and maintain the ISS connection.
 
The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for December 14, 2023 at 3:17:31 pm EET (Greece) (13:17:31 UTC, 8:17 am EST, 7:17 am CST, 6:17 am MST, 5:17 am PST).
 
The public is invited to watch the live stream at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVW_nsutRMEfS2e8tURrltw
 and also at https://linktr.ee/zipariss2023
 
_______________________________
 As time allows, students will ask these questions:
1. How long have you been in space?
2. How many people, men and women are there now on the space station?
3. Can you name one reason you became an astronaut?
4. Do you believe there is life on other planets?
5. How did you feel the first time you left Earth?
6. What is your favorite food in space?
7. What is your favorite spot in the Space Station?
8. How did you feel when you first saw the Earth from above?
9. What scares you in space?
10. What do you miss about Earth?
11. After how long do you start missing your loved ones?
12. What message would you send to your loved ones?
13. Do you ever feel lonely on the International Space Station?
14. What is the main danger you might encounter there?
15. What do you do when you get sick?
16. What is your favorite sport? Can you play that in space?
17. What do you do for fun in space?
18. Which is your favorite planet and why?
19. Have you ever had an accident during a repair?

ARISS News Release                                                    No. 23-63

ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Students at Harbor Creek School, Harborcreek, Pennsylvania, USA

December 8, 2023—Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has received schedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact between an astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and students at Harbor Creek School in Harborcreek, PA.  ARISS conducts 60-80 of these special amateur radio contacts each year between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses aboard the ISS.
 
Harbor Creek Senior High School provides students STEM-related learning activities that include the opportunity to join/participate in the school’s amateur radio and STEM club - Advanced Technologies Group (ATG) (KC3SGV). About 30 of ATG’s student club members (grades 7-12) have been preparing for this ARISS contact - having built the antennas, and learning the various systems and skills needed to make a successful ISS contact, with many of these students having earned their FCC ham licenses. For this ARISS contact, students will be using ATG’s radio station.  ATG’s past activities have included high-altitude balloon launches, amateur radio competitions, fox hunting, and Geocaching. Earlier this year, students launched a high-altitude balloon that had live APRS tracking, weather data collection instruments, GPS tracking, and live HD video broadcast for most of the flight. Other 2023 club projects allowed students to learn astrophotography using a tracking mount and software, discover how to map the universe’s hydrogen levels through radio astronomy, and receive images of the Earth from the NOAA GOES satellite. The school has also partnered with members of the Wattsburg Wireless Association, Amateur Radio Club (K3WWA), who have provided, and continues to provide students very helpful support.
 
This will be a direct contact via Amateur Radio allowing students to ask their questions of Astronaut Andreas Mogensen, amateur radio call sign KG5GCZ. The downlink frequency for this contact is 145.800 MHz and may be heard by listeners that are within the ISS-footprint that also encompasses the relay ground station.
 
The amateur radio ground station for this contact is in Harborcreek, PA. Amateur radio operators using call sign KC3SGV, will operate the ground station to establish and maintain the ISS connection.
 
The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for December 11, 2023 at 8:45 am EST (PA, USA) (13:45 UTC, 7:45 am CST, 6:45 am MST, 5:45 am PST).
 The public is invited to watch the live stream at: https://www.youtube.com/@AdvancedTechnologiesGroup
 
_______________________________
 
As time allows, students will ask these questions:
1. How will the work astronauts are doing today help humanity in the future?
2. How soon do you see living in space as a possibility in the future?
3. Do you believe we are alone in the universe, and why?
4. What is the hardest thing to acclimate to on the ISS?
5. What is the most fun or interesting thing about living in space that you would not be able to do on earth?
6. What is the first thing you plan to do when you get back to Earth? (Not required NASA stuff.)
7. What is the biggest challenge in future space exploration?
8. What other professions were you interested in prior to NASA, and are you still interested in them?
9. What or who inspired you to become an astronaut?
10. What was the biggest challenge you had to face in order to become an astronaut, and why?
11. Why do you think that space exploration is important?
12. How long did it take you to adapt to zero G?
13. What tasks do you enjoy doing the most and least on the ISS?
14. What do you see as the future of space flight?
15. What is something you didn't expect to miss about living on Earth, after being on board the ISS?
16. How do you see private companies and NASA working together in the future?
17. What was your most challenging experience in space? What made the experience so challenging?
18. Did you have any concerns about your travel when you first went into space, and do you still have these concerns?
19. Were there any times where you felt it was never possible to become an astronaut, and why?
20. Can you describe the diversity of the crew on ISS, and how you work together to accomplish the mission?
21. How do you stay in touch with your family while onboard the ISS?
22. What was the first thing you missed about Earth, and why?

ARISS News Release                                                  No. 23-62

ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Students at Orangeburg Christian Academy, Orangeburg, South Carolina, USA

December 2, 2023—Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has received schedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact between an astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and students at Orangeburg Christian Academy in Orangeburg, SC.  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.
 
Orangeburg Christian Academy (OCA) is a small private school of about 250 students, ranging from grades K to 12th. Students learn about space travel at various grade levels and learn about electronics and radio communication in high school. OCA will use the ARISS radio contact to strengthen and reinforce the areas of their STEM curriculum while also demonstrating the use of radio technology. Topics include space science, astronomy, science on the ISS, and electronics and amateur radio. Students have previously listened to a ARISS contacts with other schools via ham radio. Members of the Edisto Amateur Radio Society are supporting OCA for this ARISS contact.
 
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 ground station.
 
The amateur radio ground station for this contact is in Orangeburg, SC. Amateur radio operators using call sign N7GZT, will operate the ground station to establish and maintain the ISS connection.
 
The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for December 5, 2023 at 10:19:30 am EST (SC, USA) (15:19:30 UTC, 9:19 am CST, 8:19 am MST, 7:19 am PST).
 
The public is invited to watch the live stream at: https://www.facebook.com/orangeburgchristianacademy
_______________________________
 
As time allows, students will ask these questions:
1. How do you talk to your family from space?
2. How do you stay safe?
3. What do you drink in space?
4. What does it feel like to be in space?
5. Does food taste and smell different?
6. Can you see eclipses from space?
7. Can you go outside the ISS?
8. What is the hardest training you have to do?
9. What was it like to experience zero gravity for the first time?
10. What do you do if someone has a serious medical emergency?
11. Are astronauts able to shower?
12. Do you ever get homesick?
13. Do you ever have to make repairs?
14. Why did you choose to become an astronaut?
15. What do astronauts do in their free time?
16. What happens if someone cries in space?
17. Are there any animals on the ISS?
18. How do you get a haircut?
19. Did you bring a phone to the space station?
20. What does the sunset look like from space?

ARISS News Release                                                     No. 23-61

ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Students at Carl-Maria-von-Weber-Schule Eutin, Eutin, Germany, and Gymnasium im Loekamp, Marl, Germany

December 1, 2023—Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has received schedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact between an astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and students at two schools located in Germany.  ARISS conducts 60-80 of these special amateur radio contacts each year between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses aboard the ISS.
 
The Carl-Maria-von-Weber-Schule (CMVW) is a high school located in the heart of the city of Eutin, in the northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein. CMVW offers a STEM curriculum from grade 5 to graduation, which is supplemented through extracurricular activities and projects. For this ARISS contact, members of Amateur Radio Association Eutin, are providing radio equipment and technical expertise.
 
The Gymnasium im Loekamp has about 800 students in classes from grade 5 up to level Q2 (grade 13) and 75 teachers. It is a full-time municipal school located in Marl, at the north rim of the Ruhr area in Germany, and about 260 miles southwest of Eutin. They also offer computer science as a compulsory subject for students in grades 5 and 6, as an elective from grades 7 to 13. Their 'Junior Engineering Academy' is a technical elective in grades 9 and 10 with additional STEM working groups that includes robotics and programming.
 
This will be a direct contact via Amateur Radio allowing students from both schools to ask their questions of Astronaut Andreas Mogensen, amateur radio call sign KG5GCZ. The downlink frequency for this contact is 145.800 MHz and may be heard by listeners that are within the ISS-footprint that also encompasses the relay ground station.
 
The amateur radio ground station for this contact is in Eutin, Germany. Amateur radio operators using call sign DKØOH, will operate the ground station to establish and maintain the ISS connection and provide a telebridge contact with students at Gymnasium im Loekamp.
 
The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for December 4, 2023 at 12:36 pm CET (GER) (11:36 UTC, 6:36 am EST, 5:36 am CST, 4:36 am MST, 3:36 am PST).
 The public is invited to watch the live stream at: https://youtu.be/il4hZ40lO_o
_______________________________
 
As time allows, students will ask these questions:
1. What exciting experience fascinated you the most during your stay on the ISS?
2. Could you highlight a discovery that have already emerged through research conducted on the ISS?
3. We have a school project where we launch a weather balloon. Can you see a weather balloon at 40km altitude from the ISS?
4. Do you conduct experiments in space from the ISS and if so, what was the most exciting experiment?
5. Is there any muscle degradation due to weightlessness in space, and if so, what are the symptoms and countermeasures?
6. How do astronauts treat illnesses or medical emergencies while they are in space?
7. Is the time different in space than on Earth?
8. Does your voice change due to weightlessness or muscle loss when you stay on the ISS?
9. How do astronauts spend their free time in space?
10. How would you describe the dynamics and relationships among astronauts aboard the ISS, and did you know your colleagues before the mission?
11. What do you miss most from Earth in space and what will you miss most from the ISS on Earth?
12. How do you feel when you look out of the window to the earth and think of your family living there?
13. How have your expectations regarding your work on the ISS changed compared to your initial thought?
14. What are the main differences between training underwater and actually living in space, even though both conditions are weightless?
15. Don't you miss just sitting down there and does the weightlessness get annoying sometimes?
16. What is your biggest fear during a mission?
17. How is the food packaged on the ISS, and does it taste different than on Earth?
18. How is air quality maintained inside the space station?
19. How is water filtered from urine in the space toilet?
20. Do you believe in the existence of aliens?

ARISS News Release                                                   No. 23-60

ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Students at New Heights School & Learning Services, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

November 14, 2023—Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has received schedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact between an astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and students at the New Heights School & Learning Services in Calgary, CAN.  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.
 
New Heights School is a private school for autistic and neurodivergent students, serving 123 students, grade levels ranging from Kindergarten to Grade 12. The school has small class sizes of 10 or 11 students with about two teaching staff in each class and therapists throughout the school. Leading up to this ARISS contact the school has involved all students in a “Life in Space” themed science month. Each classroom focused on one unique project, which integrated subjects that included; Sky Science, Space Exploration, and Electromagnetic Energy. Students were able to demonstrate their learning through research projects, creating posters, creating websites, creative writing activities and public speaking.
 
This will be a telebridge Contact via Amateur Radio allowing students to ask their questions of Astronaut Andreas Mogensen, amateur radio call sign KG5GCZ. The downlink frequency for this contact is 145.800 MHz and may be heard by listeners that are within the ISS-footprint that also encompasses the telebridge station.
 
The ARISS amateur radio ground station (telebridge station) for this contact is in Casale Monferrato, Italy. The amateur radio volunteer team at the station will use the callsign IK1SLD, to establish and maintain the ISS connection.
 
The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for November 17, 2023 at 10:06:45 am MST (Alberta, CAN) (17:06:45 UTC, 12:06 pm EST, 11:06 am CST, 9:06 am PST).
 
The public is invited to watch the live stream at: Watch for possible Livestream www.ariotti.com starting 15min before AOS.
_______________________________
 
As time allows, students will ask these questions:
1. What was it like exiting Earth and boarding the ISS?
2. How do you sleep?
3. What is the scariest thing that has happened in space?
4. When was the last time you were on Earth?
5. What kind of food do you eat in space?
6. What kind of experiments do you perform?
7. What is the strangest thing you have seen in space?
8. How do you go outside of the ISS without floating away?
9. How much power does the ISS use every day?
10. What is the longest spacewalk you have done?
11. Has any space junk threatened the structural state of the ISS?
12. How do you dispose of garbage on the ISS?
13. Do you exercise?
14. How old do you have to be to go to space?
15. Can you watch videos or play online games on the ISS, or can you only enjoy board games while on board?

ARISS News Release                                                                 No. 23-59

ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Students at Halls Head College, Mandurah, Western Australia, Australia

November 3, 2023—Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has received schedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact between an astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and students at the Halls Head College in Mandurah, Western Australia, AUS.  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.
 
Halls Head College is a co-educational Independent Public School with just under 1400 students in Years 7 to 12.  The school offers a wide range of subjects from general courses to ATAR and has a large selection of Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses offered both on and off campus. Prior to this ARISS contact, a cross-curricular STEM approach has been implemented as well as developing community partnerships with professional and university lecturers in the fields of space exploration.
 
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 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 November 6, 2023 at 3:52:56 pm AWST (Mandurah) (7:52:56 UTC, 2:52 am EST, 1:52 am CST, 12:52 pm MST, 11/5/23 11:52 pm PST).
_______________________________
 
As time allows, students will ask these questions:
1. What is the main thing you miss about Earth?
2. What have you learned that you didn’t know before going to the ISS?
3. What/who was your biggest inspiration?
4. What has been the most challenging obstacle you have had to face?
5. What is your everyday routine on the ISS?
6. What was the most memorable part of your astronaut training (good or bad)?
7. What qualifications do you need to become an astronaut?
8. What is the weirdest thing that has happened in space?
9. What is the first step to becoming an astronaut and how long does the training take?
10. What effect does being in space have on the human body?
11. Can you boil water in space?
12. Do you think space would have a smell? How would you smell it?
13. What type of food do you eat in space and what is your favourite?
14. Do you have a regular job on Earth?
15. What is your objective on the ISS?
16. How has your view of the Earth changed since being in space?
17. What is your role on the ISS?
18. Is it ever boring up there?
19. Are you looking forward to the new space station?
20. What kinds of exercises do you do in space?

ARISS News Release                                                  No. 23-58

40th Anniversary Celebration of the Positive Impact of Amateur Radio on Human Spaceflight

October 24, 2023 — Astronaut Owen Garriott, amateur radio callsign W5LFL, pioneered amateur radio communication from space on his STS-9 Space Shuttle Columbia flight, conducted November 28 to December 8, 1983. In his free time, during the STS-9 mission, Garriott became the first ever person from space to communicate with amateur radio operators on the ground. He was also the first to be heard directly from space by the public using simple FM receivers and scanners. 

Dr. Garriott's mission, 40 years ago, transformed astronaut communications from space forever, allowing amateur radio operators (hams) and the public to communicate with people in space. Prior to this, only a few mission controllers and heads of state could talk to an astronaut in space. Garriott represents the first of many spacefarers that employed amateur radio on the Space Shuttle, Mir space station and the International Space Station for public engagement, family connections and educational outreach. To date, well over a million people on Earth have participated directly in these astronaut radio contact engagements. The educational youth contacts, coupled with pre-contact education initiatives, have inspired, engaged and educated youth around the world and encouraged them to study and pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). 
 
As the ARISS (Amateur Radio on the International Space Station) team approaches the threshold of the 40th anniversary of human spaceflight amateur radio, we would like to gather the volunteer teams, astronauts, space agency officials, educators, and space and amateur radio enthusiasts to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida to recognize and celebrate the past forty years of this inspiring, educational, and free service and to share the excitement of what’s to come. 
 
The conference entitled “The Positive Impact of Amateur Radio on Human Spaceflight: 40th Anniversary Conference” will be held February 22-24, 2024, at the Center for Space Education: Astronauts Memorial Foundation, located adjacent to the NASA Kennedy Space Center Visitors Center. 
 
Highlights of the 40th Anniversary Conference include tours of the NASA Kennedy Space Center Visitors Center, human spaceflight amateur radio exhibits, networking sessions in the exhibit area, STEM education demonstrations, and two conference days packed with astronaut panel sessions, presentations by youth alumni in STEM careers, and recollections by educators and volunteer team alumni that supported Shuttle, Mir and ISS hardware development, flight operations and youth STEM engagement.
 
We encourage your attendance at our special celebration this February!  For information on registration and special event pricing at local hotels, visit our event website at www.ariss.org and choose the drop-down menu tab labeled “40th Anniversary.”
 
Special Request:
 
Countless students, worldwide, have participated in our SAREX (Shuttle/Space Amateur Radio Experiment), Mir and ARISS programs over the past 40 years.  If you are one of those students or if you know of a student that participated in our program and is in a STEM career, we would be delighted to hear about this and feature them as part of our celebration either through in-person participation, a video submission, email, or letter. We would also appreciate getting educator testimonials on the impact of SAREX, Mir and/or ARISS in their schools. Please provide this information to: astro-hams-40yrs@ariss-i.org .

ARISS News Release                                                   No. 23-57

ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Students at A. L. Burruss Elementary School, Marietta, Georgia, USA

October 21, 2023 — Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has received schedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact between an astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and students at the A. L. Burruss Elementary School in Marietta, GA.  ARISS conducts 60-80 of these special amateur radio contacts each year between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses aboard the ISS.
 
A.L. Burruss Elementary School is an International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Program World School and National School of Excellence serving K-5 students.  The school’s curriculum includes relevant STEM topics across all grade levels and disciplines.
Burruss students have been busy preparing for this event by studying concepts related to outer space, radio waves, communication, and the International Space Station. In the Learning Garden and Stem Labs, they have been participating in the Tomatosphere™ project to study tomato seeds that have been exposed to space or space-simulated environments in comparison to seed with no exposure. In the media center, the students have been tracking and monitoring the location of the ISS using a Geochron monitor. In September, a representative from GOT Space and the Georgia Space Grant Consortium assisted students in using a VR headset to “tour” the ISS to learn more about it and, just before the scheduled contact, they will participate in the Amateur Radio School Club Round Up to get hands-on experience with amateur radio before the contact. Members of the North Fulton Amateur Radio League (NFARL) are supporting the school’s curriculum and assisting with the technical aspects involved in facilitating this ARISS radio contact.
 
This will be a direct contact via Amateur Radio and students will take turns asking 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 Marietta, 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 October 24, 2023 at 12:14:50 pm EDT (GA) (16:14:50 UTC, 11:14 am CDT, 10:14 am MDT, 9:14 am PDT).
 
The public is invited to watch the live stream at: www.youtube.com/channel/UCuI4sKDBpERtEFs9bFrRMFA/live
_______________________________
 
As time allows, students will ask these questions:
1. How do you brush your teeth and take showers in space?
2. How do you stay in touch with your family?
3. Do you have internet or TV in space so that you can contact people, find out the news, or watch live sports?
4. Can you see the solar system?
5. Did you see anything during the recent solar eclipse? Could you tell it was happening?
6. Why did you decide to go into space and how did you get selected for the ISS? Did you dream of it when you were a kid?
7. What do you do all day? Do you have free time and what do you do for entertainment or for exercise?
8. How do you drink water if there is no gravity?
9. How do you get more food or supplies when you run out?
10. Is the food good and what is your favorite meal?
11. How do you know if it is day or night?
12. How do you get to and from the ISS? How long does it take? What is that travel like?
13. What did you think when Astronaut Frank Rubio and the cosmonauts had to stay there when the Soyuz MS22 was damaged? Did it cause problems to have extra people there?
14. Can you catch germs in space and what happens if someone gets sick up there?
15. How do you sleep in zero gravity? Do you lie down or stand up or just float?
16. Do you go outside of the space station and if you do how do you stay connected?
17. What do you see from up there and what is your favorite thing to see?
18. What is the first thing you will do when you get back home?
19. Do you have to do any math?
20. Is it scary up there?

ARISS News Release                                                    No. 23-56

ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Students at St Peter in Thanet CE Junior School, Broadstairs, Kent, United Kingdom

October 15, 2023—Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has received schedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact between an astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and students at St Peter Junior School in Broadstairs, UK.  ARISS conducts 60-80 of these special amateur radio contacts each year between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses aboard the ISS.
 
St Peter is a three form entry junior school located in Broadstairs, a small seaside town on the South East coast of England. St Peter’s students (ages 7 – 11) have been taking part in activities in ‘Mission Zero’ where they write a program to display a personalized image on an Astro Pi computer on board the ISS to remind the astronauts of home. Students have also been taking part in the FUNcube project (tracking an active LEO Satellite - FUNcube-1/AO-73), and participating in a community stargazing event assisted by members of Ramsgate Stargazers. The school’s science club has also engaged students in space-related activities that include learning the difficulties of traveling to space, designing and launching rockets (using water and air), and living on the ISS (and designing solutions that may help overcome these difficulties).  Members of the Hilderstone Radio Society (G0HRS) have been fundamental in advising and supporting the school during these activities and during this ARISS contact.
 
This will be a direct contact via Amateur Radio and students will take turns asking 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 Broadstairs, UK. Amateur radio operators using call sign GB4SPT, will operate the ground station to establish and maintain the ISS connection.
 
The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for October 18, 2023 at 10:57:49 am BST (UK) (9:57:49 UTC, 5:57 am EDT, 4:57 am CDT, 3:57 am MDT, 2:57 am PDT).
 
The public is invited to watch the live stream at: https://live.ariss.org
_______________________________
 
As time allows, students will ask these questions:
 
1. Is it hot or cold in space, and if it’s hot how do you keep cool and if it’s cold how do you keep warm in your spacesuit?
2. Is it really true that girls are better suited to space than boys?
3. How do you tell if it's night or day on the international space station?
4. Would you be happy to live in space for the rest of your life if you were told to?
5. What are your thoughts about space travel in the future for mankind?
6. In the future will we be able to take holidays to the international space station?
7. Do you think living organisms will ever be found in space, and if so what could they be?
8. Do you get dizzy in space when you are not moving? Or does the lack of gravity mean that you do not get dizzy?
9. Does the ISS shake when a Soyuz spacecraft docks?
10. I know we can measure gravity, but what is gravity?
11. What is the furthest distance a human has travelled away from Planet Earth?
12. What would happen if you played on a swing in space?
13. What is the most amazing thing you have seen on earth from the space station?
14. How do fires behave in space?
15. Have you seen any comets?
16. How much work do you have to do on the space station each day, and what do you do in your spare time?
17. My brother and I love space, my brother especially loves the moon. We would love to be able to explore space one day. What advice can you give us, to help our dreams come true?
18. What did you study in school to become an astronaut?
19. How does the space station renew the oxygen inside the station?
20. What is different about growing plants in space and do you think we'll be able to grow food for long term space missions?
21. Will there be a point soon when you can watch Netflix or use your mobile phone in Space - as you are near the satellites that operate the signals?

ARISS News Release                                                    No. 23-55

ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Students at Valley Stream South High School, Valley Stream, New York, USA

October 14, 2023—Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has received schedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact between an astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and students at the Valley Stream South High School located in Valley Stream, NY.  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.
 
Valley Stream South High School is a suburban, public middle school and high school which serves about 1,260 students, grades 7 through 12. Students are following an Earth Science ARISS Lesson Plan that covers topics that include: astronomy and satellites, physics of rocket launches and orbital mechanics, and how amateur radio communications are used on the ISS. Members of the Long Island Mobile Amateur Radio Club (LIMARC) and Valley Stream South High School’s Falcon Report Club will assist with the telebridge preparation and ARISS contact.
 
This will be a telebridge Contact via Amateur Radio allowing students to ask their questions of Astronaut Andreas Mogensen, amateur radio call sign KG5GCZ. The downlink frequency for this contact is 145.800 MHz and may be heard by listeners that are within the ISS-footprint that also encompasses the telebridge station.
 
The ARISS amateur radio ground station (telebridge station) for this contact is in Casale Monferrato, Italy. The amateur radio volunteer team at the station will use the callsign IK1SLD, to establish and maintain the ISS connection.
 
The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for October 17, 2023 at 8:25 am EDT (NY) (12:25:03 UTC, 7:25 am CDT, 6:25 am MDT, 5:25 am PDT).
 
The public is invited to watch the live stream at: https://youtube.com/live/g74NbsTEvVw?feature=share
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As time allows, students will ask these questions:
1. What influenced you to become an astronaut?
2. I understand that to become an astronaut, one of the requirements is to get a degree in the STEM field. Can you further explain other requirements that you need to become an astronaut for students that would like to become one?
3. What training was required to become an astronaut?
4. What characteristics do you think NASA is looking for in future astronauts now and in the future?
5. Can you further explain the space community that you live in on the ISS?
6. Can you further explain how you prepared for microgravity in space in your training?
7. How does microgravity affect you?
8. What is the duration of time that you are permitted to be in space on the ISS?
9. What do you enjoy the most about being on the ISS?
10. Can you describe your daily activities?
11. How are you able to maintain homeostasis of your body systems while in space?
12. How are you able to maintain a productive, positive daily outlook being 400km away from Earth?
13. What strengths do you have that are important to the functioning of the crew on the ISS?
14. What are the challenges do you experience working on ISS that are different than working on Earth?
15. What was your most exciting mission in space?
16. Are there any upcoming missions that you are excited about?
17. What potential do you think agriculture has aboard the ISS as a source of long-term food supply?
18. There is exciting research on the ISS, what research are you involved in, and can you explain how the researchers on Earth coordinate with those in space?