ARISS News Release                                                         No. 23-13

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

March 28, 2023—Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has received schedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact between an astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and students at the Stone Magnet Middle School located in Melbourne, FL.  ARISS conducts 60-80 of these special amateur radio contacts each year between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses aboard the ISS.
 
Stone Magnet Middle School (Stone), founded in 1954, has 649 students (ages 12 to 15) in the seventh and eighth grades. Stone’s educational foundation provides STEAM-based programs that show the interdisciplinary connections among the sciences, technologies, engineering, arts, and mathematics for students across all classrooms. Prior to this ARISS contact, students have been learning about the ISS, NASA research on the ISS (by conducting their own ISS-based experiments) and radio science (radio waves). Members of the Platinum Coast Amateur Radio Society (PCARS) are supporting the school during this ARISS contact.
 
This will be a direct contact via Amateur Radio allowing students to ask their questions of Astronaut Steve Bowen, amateur radio call sign KI5BKB. The downlink frequency for this contact is 145.800 MHZ and may be heard by listeners that are within the ISS-footprint that also encompasses the relay ground station.
 
The amateur radio ground station for this contact is in Melbourne, FL. Amateur radio operators using call sign AJ9N, will operate the ground station to establish and maintain the ISS connection.
 
The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for March 31, 2023 at 2:07:55 pm EDT (Melbourne) (18:07:55 UTC, 1:07 pm CDT, 12:07 pm MDT, 11:07 am PDT).
 
The public is invited to watch the live stream at:  https://youtube.com/channel/UCuO96ZDAoLWVlko5CyATxzw
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As time allows, students will ask these questions:
 
1. How does returning to Earth affect your physical and mental health? 
2. What food and drinks do you consume, and does it taste the same as it does on Earth? 
3. Do you see any objects speeding by the space station? 
4. What plants are currently growing on the ISS, and what is the purpose for them? 
5. Did you have special training before you traveled to the ISS, if so, what did it entail? 
6. I play the cello, what instruments have been brought to space, and does it sound different? 
7. What was one of the biggest surprises/adaptations you had to make that you were not prepared for? 
8. How do you sleep in space, and do you have trouble sleeping? 
9. What exercises do you do and how long and often do you have to do them for? 
10. What is the process to become an astronaut? 
11. How do you contact family and friends? 
12. What type of work and research do you do? 
13. Are there any factors that could delay travel back to Earth? 
14. How much free time do you get and what do you do for entertainment? 
15. What happens if you get sick or bleed in space? 
16. What kinds of supplies get delivered to the ISS and how often? 
17. Do you get homesick? If so, how do you deal with it? 
18. What is the process of converting urine into clean drinking water? 
19. What is the most mentally challenging thing about the transition from Earth to Space? 
20. What inspired you to become an astronaut? 
21. How do you use the bathroom in space? 
22. What does a typical day look like for you? 

ARISS News Release                                                 No. 23-12

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

March 25, 2023—Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has received schedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact between an astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and students at the Valle de Camargo High School located in Revilla de Camargo, Spain.  ARISS conducts 60-80 of these special amateur radio contacts each year between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses aboard the ISS.
 
The Valle de Camargo school is a public school with about 1000 students enrolled, ages 12 to 18 years. The school is hosting this ARISS contact with a goal to encourage the students in their course studies: math, physics, sciences, and technology. Related to this contact, students are also taking part in studies that include electronic communication, our Solar system, and amateur radio. For this contact, the school is being supported by the Santander Amateur Radio Association, whose members have also been demonstrating (over the past 5-years) short wave radio operation for the students during the school’s annual Cultural Week event.
 
This will be a direct contact via Amateur Radio and students will take turns asking their questions of Astronaut Steve Bowen, amateur radio call sign KI5BKB. The downlink frequency for this contact is 145.800 MHZ and may be heard by listeners that are within the ISS-footprint that also encompasses the relay ground station.
 
The amateur radio ground station for this contact is in Revilla de Camargo, Spain. Amateur radio operators using call sign EG1RVC, will operate the ground station to establish and maintain the ISS connection.
 
The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for March 27, 2023 at 5:09 pm CEST (Madrid, Spain) (15:09 UTC, 11:09 am EDT, 10:09 am CDT, 9:09 am MDT, 8:09 am PDT).
 
The public is invited to watch the live stream at: http://www.iesvalledecamargo.org
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As time allows, students will ask these questions:
1. Did you want to be an astronaut when you were a child?
2. Did you have to perform very demanding physical tests to be an astronaut?
3. What studies have you done to become an astronaut?
4. Can you communicate with your family frequently?
5. How long do you usually stay on the ISS?
6. Is it possible to dance in space?
7. How do you spend your free time on the ISS?
8. What are the effects on health of living in space?
9. What are the best aspects of cooperating among so many nations?
10. How often do you receive supplies from Earth?
11. What are your greatest fears living on the ISS?
12. Is it easy to lose track of time living through continuous sunrises and sunsets?
13. What do you do if a crew member becomes ill?
14. What are the main problems of living together on the ISS?
15. What is the most interesting experiment you are working on?
16. What is the most impressive atmospheric phenomenon you have seen?
17. How do you feel when you remember that there is nothing around the ISS?
18. Do you frequently do spacewalks outside the ISS? What does it feel like?
19. Would it be possible for a disabled person to travel to space?
20. Could you explain the feeling of living without gravity?

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
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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).
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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?