An International Space Station Expedition 15 ARISS school contact has
been planned with students at Sunset Mesa Schools, Albuquerque, New
Mexico USA on 09 May. The event is scheduled to begin at approximately
14:44 UTC.
The contact will be a direct between stations NA1SS and W5SCA. The
contact should be audible in central portions of North America.
Interested parties are invited to listen in on the 145.80 MHz downlink.
The participants are expected to conduct the conversation in English.
Sunset Mesa Schools is an independent, non-sectarian school in
Albuquerque's Northeast Heights. The preschool program enrolls children
as young as 3, and the school graduates 5th graders who are prepared for
any middle school environment or challenge. Sunset Mesa, for 50 years,
has helped students excel in core academic subjects and develop
commendable character in their personal growth. Students are taught
traditional values and encouraged to practice them, both in their
pursuit of academic growth and in their development as productive,
honest, congenial citizens of the community.
The science curriculum over the past ten years has moved increasingly to
"hands on," inquiry based instruction. This is the practice from
kindergarten through 5th grade. Field trips often complement the
science curriculum. A two day retreat for 4th and 5th graders each year
has science as one of two emphases.
Participants will ask as many of the following questions as time allows:
1. How does the transition from liftoff to weightlessness feel?
2. Does the space station's orbit around the earth make you feel dizzy?
3. Are you able to see space junk as you travel in your orbit around the
earth? If so, how much and what kinds?
4. Can you see any bodies of water on Earth that are smaller than
oceans?
5. Are the Northern Lights visible from the space station?
6. Other than Earth, are any other planets visible to you from your
current location? If so, which ones?
7. Since you are closer to the planets than when you are on Earth, have
you seen anything interesting or weird on any of them?
8. By observing planets while you are in space, can you predict how the
relationships between planets might change in the future?
9. Have you seen a solar eclipse while you were in space? How does a
solar eclipse seen from space look different from one seen from Earth?
10. What is the most interesting thing you have seen in space during
your mission?
11. How many of the planned laboratories are completed and what is their
average size?
12. Do you receive special training for the experiments you are
conducting, besides the training you have for being in space?
13. Is there anything in space that holds promise for curing diseases
that we don't have cures for on Earth?
14. What scientific discoveries are being made during this mission?
15. Has your current experiment on flames and metal alloys provided any
improvements that might prove useful on Earth?
16 Have you ever wanted to quit being an astronaut? If so, why?
17. Do humans age slower in space than on Earth?
18. What do you and the other astronauts do for fun while you are on
your mission?
19. How do you get oxygen when you are inside the Space Station?
Please note, the amateur equipment on the ISS is not functioning in the
automatic modes properly and may be silent more than usual. Information
about the next scheduled ARISS contact can be found at
http://www.rac.ca/ariss/upcoming.htm#NextContact .
Next planned event(s):
Escola Secundaria de Estarreja, Estarreja, Portugal, direct via CT6ESE,
Wed 2007-05-09 14:58 UTC
Barrhaven Public School, Ottawa, ON, Canada, direct via VA3MGY Tue
2007-05-15 15:27 UTC
ARISS is an international educational outreach program partnering the
participating space agencies, NASA, Russian Space Agency, ESA, CNES,
JAXA, and CSA, with the AMSAT and IARU organizations from participating
countries.
ARISS offers an opportunity for students to experience the excitement of
Amateur Radio by talking directly with crewmembers on-board the
International Space Station. Teachers, parents and communities see,
first hand, how Amateur Radio and crewmembers on ISS can energize
youngsters' interest in science, technology, and learning. Further
information on the ARISS program is available on the website
http://www.rac.ca/ariss (graciously hosted by the Radio Amateurs of
Canada).
Thank you & 73,
Kenneth - N5VHO