SUCCESSFUL ARISS SCHOOL CONTACT WITH UK NATIONAL SPACE CENTRE
Students, teachers, parents, radioamateurs and media gathered Friday April 4, 2003 in the National Space Centre, Leicester, UK. This was an evening party as they had a date at 19h29 local time with an astronaut on board the International Space Station.
The students and the teachers were of nearby Rushey Mead secondary school. This State Secondary Comprehensive School for the 11-16 years old age range has a large number of pupils from ethnic minorities. They also have an amateur radio club.
For this special occasion, the GB2NSC station of the National Space Centre had been chosen for the space talk. John Heath, G7HIA operated the station.
Magic operated when commander Ken Bowersox, KD5JBP answered the call. Twelve youngsters could put their question and listen to the answers from Space while the ship cruised the firmament.
Andy Thomas, G0SFJ, president of the NSC amateur radio club, was to share the excitement of a Space talk with the larger public when, later in the evening, he was interviewed by the radio broadcast.
Howard Long, G6LVB offers audio and video recordings of the event at
http://www.g6lvb.com/issmedia.htmGaston Bertels, ON4WF
ARISS Vice Chairman