ARISS contact planned for school in Foggia, Italy

 

Wednesday, September 14 at approximately 08:38 UTC, which is 10:38 CEST, an ARISS contact is planned for Universita degli Studi di Foggia, Italy.

 

The University of Foggia was founded by decree of the Ministry of  University and Research on 5th August 1999. From its birth the university, at a training and research level, has presented a dynamic and innovative proposal. This model is characterised by teaching which is attentive to local needs, locally applied research projects, internationalization, orientation, cultural events and promotion of university events.

 

Six faculties (Agriculture, Economics, Law, Arts and Philosophy, Medicine and Surgery, Education) with their three-year degree courses, specialist degree courses, 12 departments, an Interdepartmental Research centre, numerous masters, research doctorates and specialization schools have contributed towards making the university a cultural centre which enables students to acquire the professional training needed for present day society and ecocomy. The scientific community of the University of Foggia comprises 173 researchers, 103 associate professors and 95 ordinary professors. The administrative personnel amounts to 376, while there are presently more than 11,000 students at the university.

 

The contact will be a telebridge operated by IK1SLD located in northern Italy. Downlink signals will be audible over Europe on 145.800 MHz FM.

 

The audio of the contact will probably be distributed by EchoLink AMSAT (node 101 377) and JK1ZRW (node 277 208) Conference servers, as well as by IRLP Discovery Reflector 9010.

 

The conversation will be in English. Students will ask as many of following questions as time allows:

 

1. Rosanna: Is the life of an astronaut as a child would imagine?

 

2. Carmine: After the recent fall of the Soyuz cargo and the suspending of its flights, are you worried about ISS supplies?

 

3. Tommaso: What do you think about China's progress in space research and the launch of the first Chinese Space Station?

 

4. Stefania: Two of the ten great scientific equipment for the Juno mission are Italian. What do you think of Italian aerospace research?

 

5. Gaetano: How do you take care of your body? Do you wear deodorant or perfume? And what about the shave?

 

6. Silvestro: What sensations did you feel at the sight of Hurricane Irene?

 

7. Marcello: Human beings are little "Microcosm". What does an astronaut think about that when he comes back to the "Earth", after the opportunity to correlate with the "cosmic infinity "?

 

8. Fabio: Layka was the first "astronaut" no human on board of Sputnik. There are animals on board of the ISS and are they involved in some experiment?

 

9. Giuliano: There are tools such as balances or pens, which need gravity to work. How do you "weigh" or "take notes" on board of the ISS?

 

10. Federico: How can you avoid collisions with bodies drifting in the space?

 

11. Maria: Which experiments on the ISS could find more rapid implementation or make significant innovation in everyday life?

 

12. Sandro: When you look at the earth, do you  look at its beauty or you search for signs of the presence of human race?

 

13. Nino: Do not eat fruits, vegetables and other fresh food for the entire period of permanence in space involves some consequence?

 

14. Giuseppe: Are on-board computer systems designed specifically for your needs or are commercial systems such as those used by all of us?

 

15. Danilo: Do you think the Thetered experiment, made some years ago, can be replicated on the ISS?

 

16. Emanuela: On the ISS do you make studies and experiments about alternative energy?

 

17. Michela: The movies are full of fantasy. Do you think there is a possibility of life in space?

 

18. Luigi: Do you think our technology is ready to bring everybody to space?

 

19. Giancarlo: Water is a precious commodity on earth and even more in space. What criteria are adopted for its management on ISS?

 

20. Giuseppe: What are temperatures outside the ISS?

 

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 onboard 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.

 

73

 

Gaston Bertels, ON4WF

ARISS Chairman