ARISS News Release                                                           No. 23-11

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

March 20, 2023—Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has received schedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact between an astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and students at the Lana’i High and Elementary School located in Lana’i City, Hawaii.  ARISS conducts 60-80 of these special amateur radio contacts each year between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses aboard the ISS.
 
Lāna’i High and Elementary School is the main school on the small island of Lāna’i, west of Maui. Lāna’i is the sixth largest Hawaiian island with an area of 140 square miles and a population of around 3,200 residents. The school (with 572 students in Pre-K to 12th grade) engages students in STEM/ PBL (project-based-learning) curriculum. In preparation for this ARISS contact, their curriculum is supplemented with studies that include amateur radio equipment, Earth and space science, radio astronomy, and amateur radio licensing. The school has enlisted community support from Everest Innovation Lab (in Hawaii), Emergency Amateur Radio Club Hawaii, Ohana Kilo Hoku, Kekulamamo, the Canada-France-Hawaii-Telescope Corporation, the Hawaii Dept of Education, and the Manele Koele Charitable Fund.  Amateur radio operators are providing support for this event as well as presentations on the ARISS program.
 
This will be a telebridge Contact via Amateur Radio allowing students to ask their questions of Astronaut Warren Hoburg, amateur radio call sign KB3HTZ. The downlink frequency for this contact is 145.800 MHZ and may be heard by listeners that are within the ISS-footprint that also encompasses the telebridge station.
 
The ARISS 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 23, 2023 at 8:22:52 am HST (HI) (18:22:52UTC, 2:22 pm EDT, 1:22 pm CDT, 12:22 pm MDT, 11:22 am PDT).
 
The public is invited to watch the live stream at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxm5Ca2y0HD_NxXlZWXv11A
_______________________________
 
As time allows, students will ask these questions:
1. How do astronauts celebrate their birthdays?
2. How long does it take to repair stuff in space?
3. What is your suit made out of?
4. What is one of the most exciting discoveries you have made?
5. What type of work is the ISS currently doing?
6. How do the suits produce air?
7. Are all the disadvantages such as working out so much, missing your family, and eating that crazy food worth being up in space that long? 
8.  What are the ISS walls made out of?
9. What kind of experiments do you perform on the outside platform?
10. What are some of the effects that happen to your body once you arrive on Earth from space?
11. How do you store air in the ISS?
12. Do you miss anyone?
13. Do you notice the days/time passing by?
14. How long does it take to get to space?
15.  How long do astronauts usually stay in space?
16.  What was one major event that caused difficulty in space?
17.  What would happen if an asteroid hit the space station?
18. What is the most difficult part of putting on your suit?
19. How does earth look from the ISS?
20. What have you learned from being in space?

ARISS News Release                                              No. 23-10

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

March 04, 2023—Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has received schedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact between an astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and students at the Jumeirah College Dubai located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.  ARISS conducts 60-80 of these special amateur radio contacts each year between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses aboard the ISS.
 
Jumeirah College Dubai is a GEMS education establishment founded in 1999, and has 1136 students enrolled (from 65 nationalities), ages 11-18. This British school provides the National Curriculum for England from years 7 to 13, is registered with the Department for Education and Skills in London, and is an examination center for the appropriate UK examination boards. The College has integrated this ARISS contact event into their STEM-based curriculum by holding a college-wide Science Week to observe the culmination of human achievement and explore space sciences. The College has also developed partnerships with external agencies in order to expand the educational horizons of their students and introduce them to the wider opportunities of STEM topics at higher levels. These agencies include, the Al Thuraya Astronomy Center, MBRSC and the UAE Space Agency.
 
This will be a telebridge Contact via Amateur Radio and students will take turns asking their questions of Astronaut Sultan AlNeyadi, amateur radio call sign KI5VTV. The downlink frequency for this contact is 145.800 MHZ and may be heard by listeners that are within the ISS-footprint that also encompasses the telebridge station.
 
The ARISS amateur radio ground station (telebridge station) for this contact is in Glenden, Queensland, Australia. The amateur radio volunteer team at the ground station will use the callsign VK4KHZ, to establish and maintain the ISS connection.
 
The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for March 7, 2023 at 12:45 pm GST (Dubai) (8:45UTC, 3:45 am EST, 2:45 am CST, 1:45 am MST, 12:45 am PST).
_______________________________
 
As time allows, students will ask these questions:
1. What inspired you to become an astronaut?
2. How did you prepare yourself mentally and physically for the journey to the Space Station?
3. How did you feel during the launch of the spacecraft?
4. At which point did you feel a change in gravity during your journey to space?
5. What are some of the differences between the simulation training and experiencing real-life space travel?
6. What was the most surprising aspect when you arrived at the Space Station?
7. Do you ever get homesick while in space? If so, how do you deal with it?
8. What does it feel like when you are wearing a spacesuit?
9. How is a build-up of waste managed on the Space Station to stay sustainable?
10. What type of work and research do you do on the Space Station?
11. Do you feel cold while living on the Space Station?
12. What sounds can you hear around the Space Station and do they distract you?
13. What is the scariest thing that has happened to you in space?
14. How do you clean the inside and the outside of the Space Station?
15. Do you find it difficult to sleep on the Space Station?
16. How do you entertain yourself when you're on the Space Station?
17. What personal items did you bring with you to the Space Station and why did you bring them?
18. What is your favourite food to eat on the Space Station?
19. What does the future of space exploration hold for humanity?
20. What physical changes happen to your body when living on the Space Station for a long duration mission?