ARISS CONTACT FOR ESA ASTRONAUT PAOLO NESPOLI, IZ0JPA AND ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVATORY OF BOLOGNA SUCCESSFUL

 

Saturday, 12 February, 2011 at 15:07 UTC, i.e. 16:07 local time, Astronomical Observatory of Bologna in Bologna, Italy, established a ARISS contact with Italian astronaut PAOLO NESPOLI, IZ0JPA on board the International Space Station. This was a telebridge contact by ARISS ground station LU8YY, Argentina.

 

The Astronomical Observatory of Bologna is one of the twenty research structures of the Italian National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF).  Besides scientific research, covering a wide range of astrophysical topics, Astronomical Observatory of Bologna is involved in operational and educational activities, and since several years it has started a collaboration with the Marino Golinelli Foundation, that organizes "La Scienza in Piazza", a square for Science. This is an activity addressed to the schools, in order to promote the diffusion of science through hands-on exhibitions and conferences. The goal is to carry Science through cities, towns, villages, transforming them in open air Science Centres. Last year the event had a number of about 50.000 visitors. This year the event will be held from the 3rd to the 13th of February, with the patronage of the Italian Space Agency (ASI).

 

ARISS mentor Francesco De Paolis, IK0WGF proposed to Doctor Sandro Bardelli, coordinator for this ARISS event a telebridge contact. The questions were read by the children and yang at school in "La Scienza in Piazza" event where an audience of more than 150 visitors and media assisted to the contact.

 

At 15:07 UTC contact with NA1SS was established by station LU8YY, argentina.

Astronaut Paolo NESPOLI answered 16 questions.

 

Regional and local media and newspapers covered the event.

 

Video of the contact is available on:

http://www.media.inaf.it/

 

ARISS contact was announced by web story on ESA Portal - National News:

http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMFU4MTRJG_Italy_0.html

 

Congratulations to Astronomical Observatory of Bologna team!

 

73

 

Francesco De Paolis, IK0WGF

ARISS mentor

 

Audio recording