ARISS News Release                                            No. 23-32

ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Students at Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), Dubai, United Arab Emirates

June 19, 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 MBRSC located in Dubai, UAE.  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 MBRSC is a Dubai government organization working on the UAE space program, which includes various space satellite projects, the Emirates Mars Mission, the Emirates Lunar Mission, and the UAE astronaut program. The MBRSC actively works to promote space science and research in the region with educational programs designed to promote a culture based on discovery and exploration in future generations at all education levels.  MBRSC is hosting this ARISS contact for high school students who will be asking questions in Arabic and/or English.
 
This will be a direct contact via Amateur Radio allowing students to ask 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 relay ground station.
 
The amateur radio ground station for this contact is at MBRSC, Dubai, UAE. Amateur radio operators using call sign A68MBR, will operate the ground station to establish and maintain the ISS connection.
 
The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for June 22, 2023 at 12:38:52 pm GST (Dubai, UAE) (8:38:52 UTC, 4:38 am EDT, 3:38 am CDT, 2:38 am MDT, 1:38 am PDT).
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As time allows, students will ask these questions:
1. What made you want to be an astronaut?
2. How does it feel to be in space and see the Earth from up there?
3. What is the hardest part about living on the International Space Station?
4. How do you stay healthy and fit in space?
5. Can you tell us about a typical day on the ISS?
6. Does time feel different in space?
7. What kind of experiments are you doing on the ISS right now?
8. Have you seen anything really cool or amazing in space?
9. How do you cope with being away from your family and friends for so long?
10. What advice do you have for kids who want to be astronauts?
11. Can you share a story about the spacewalk you've done?
12. What are some dangers or risks of going to space, and how do you stay safe?
13. How do you handle emergencies or if someone gets sick on the ISS?
14. What happens to your bones and muscles when you're in space?
15. Do you sleep differently in space, and does it feel weird without gravity?
16. Have you noticed any changes in how you think or feel in space?

ARISS News Release                                                   No. 23-31

ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Educators at SPACE (Space Port Area Conference for Educators), Kennedy Space Center, Florida, USA

June 18, 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 educators at the Space Port Area Conference for Educators located at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.  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 Annual Space Port Area Conference for Educators (SPACE) aims to serve teachers from across the nation by providing professional development opportunities, and high-quality STEM instructional resources. Attending educators spend three days at The Center for Space Education developing curriculum and forming relationships. Educators are given a once in a lifetime opportunity to be immersed in the operations of Kennedy Space Center - including keynote sessions with astronauts, launch directors, and other space icons, as well as behind the scene tours of Space Port Operations.  This year’s conference is highlighted with an ARISS contact that will also help educators better understand the ARISS STEM/STEAM experience.
 
This will be a telebridge Contact via Amateur Radio and participants will ask their questions of Astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi, 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 June 21, 2023 at 10:52:25 am EDT (FL) (14:52:25 UTC, 9:52 am CDT, 8:52 am MDT, 7:52 am PDT).
 
The public is invited to watch the live stream at: https://youtube.com/live/pcguZFKKPCI
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As time allows, participants will ask these questions:
1. How much noise is there on the ISS compared to your work space on the ground and how do you adapt?
2. What are skills that you had to learn/practice to complete your work on the ISS?
3. Do you play any music on instruments or your personal devices while on the ISS? If so, what do you play?
4. If a student is interested in becoming an astronaut, what nutrition and exercise advice would you provide them for training on Earth versus training on the ISS?
5. What is one trait that you think is absolutely necessary to become an astronaut?
6. If you have been on an EVA or near an astronaut that has been on one, is there any detectable smell? What does space smell like?
7. What do you do to handle the monotony of long term confinement to a small controlled environment?
8. Do you have any hobbies that helped prepare you for your work aboard the ISS?
9. Are your dreams different in zero g?
10. How is your impression when you see from another perspective the earth, the geography, the ocean?
11. What would surprise us that you are unable to do in space that we take for granted here on Earth?
12. What type of activities are taking place onboard the ISS that are part of NASA's Moon to Mars efforts?
13. Commitment to the ISS has been shown through 2030 for several countries. After that, what's next? What do our students have to look forward to?
14. What does your exercise routine consist of to maintain your health and strength, while living in space?
15. What was your application to become an astronaut like? Did it take you numerous times? Did you do anything in between applications to improve your chances?

ARISS News Release                                                       No. 23-30

ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Students at Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), Dubai, United Arab Emirates

June 17, 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 MBRSC located in Dubai, UAE.  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 MBRSC is a Dubai government organization working on the UAE space program, which includes various space satellite projects, the Emirates Mars Mission, the Emirates Lunar Mission, and the UAE astronaut program. The MBRSC actively works to promote space science and research in the region with educational programs designed to promote a culture based on discovery and exploration in future generations at all education levels.  MBRSC is hosting this ARISS contact for high school students who will be asking questions in Arabic and/or English.
 
This will be a direct contact via Amateur Radio allowing students to ask 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 relay ground station.
 
The amateur radio ground station for this contact is at MBRSC, Dubai, UAE. Amateur radio operators using call sign A68MBR, will operate the ground station to establish and maintain the ISS connection.
 
The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for June 20, 2023 at 2:16 pm GST (Dubai, UAE) (10:16 UTC, 6:16 am EDT, 5:16 am CDT, 4:16 am MDT, 3:16 am PDT).
_______________________________
 
As time allows, students will ask these questions:
1. Why is it important for different countries to work together in space exploration?
2. How do you stay in touch with your family while you're on the ISS?
3. What kind of training do you do to get ready for a space mission?
4. How does going to space change the way you see things?
5. How does the UAE contribute in space exploration?
6. Can you tell us about the UAE's space program and what it wants to do in the future?
7. How does the UAE's culture influence your work on the ISS?
8. Are there any projects or experiments you're working on that have to do with the UAE's interests?
9. What advice do you have for kids in the UAE who want to be astronauts?
10. How do you celebrate holidays or special days when you're on the ISS?
11. How does the UAE's focus on taking care of the environment match with its space exploration goals?
12. What are your future plans/Missions once you reach Earth?
13. How do you deal with missing home when you're in space for a long time?
14. Can you tell us about any experiments or research you've done that can help people on Earth?
15. How does seeing Earth from space change how you think about it?
16. What kind of experiments are you doing on the ISS right now?
17. Have you seen anything really cool or amazing in space?