ARISS contact planned with school in Kolo, Poland - Downlink audible over Europe.

Wednesday 19th September 2012 at 7:15 UTC, which is 9:15 CEST, an ARISS contact is planned with Zespol Szkol Technicznych (Complex of Technical Schools, abr. ZST), Kolo, Poland.

This will be a direct contact with the astronaut on the board of the ISS Akihiko Hoshide, (KE5DNI) operating OR4ISS. The ground station will be the amateur radio club station SP3PGZ.

Koło is a 650 years old town, located in central Poland. Zespol Szkol Technicznych (Complex of Technical Schools, abr. ZST) in Kolo is a modern, dynamic and constantly developing school with more than 60 years tradition, and a well-qualified staff. This is one of the largest secondary schools in the region. Currently, more than 1000 students aged 16 - 20 attend the school.

The school constantly modernizes facilities and upgrades equipment and by doing so keeps expanding their educational base to match contemporary teaching standards. The school is well equipped with nearly one hundred computers, majority of which are used by students and teachers during classes every day. Teachers and students have access to the library which also serves as a data bank containing information about students’ results and progress at school. The library provides free access to a broadband internet connection for students and teachers alike.

The students acquire practical skills in IT, Environment Protection and Car Mechanics. Students take new challenges very eagerly. Teachers utilize modern teaching techniques and encourage students to participate in various projects such as this ARISS school contact. They recently built an ECO-ROBOT, a small submarine-like drone with various spectrographic equipment on board and changeable head. They run a carting club and take care of the environment in the local community.

ZST has a tradition in the radio communications field. The school’s Amateur Radio Club SP3PGZ was established in 1976 and since then it has been active on many radio bands. The main goals of the club are: promoting shortwave radio communication as a hobby for youngsters, cooperation in local events and taking part in competitions.

Downlink signals from the International Space Station will be audible over Europe on 145.800 MHz FM. Uplink signals from the school to the ISS will be re-transmitted via the local amateur repeater on 438.800 MHz FM, locator JO92hf.

The event will be broadcast live via the Internet on: http://live.arisspolska.info/

Students will ask as many of following questions as time allows.

1. How long does the ISS member training programme last?

2. How long can the ISS remain in orbit with only solar energy at its disposal?

3. Is it allowed to attach posters or photos of your favorite celebrities, family or anything else to the walls?

4. What is the astronaut's maximum possible distance from the ISS during an EVA? Is it dangerous?

5. What is the ISS protection against space debris? Have you ever collided with tiny debris?

6. In what way is the ISS protected from solar flare radiation?

7. What can astronauts see from the Station's windows?

8. What special skills and abilities are required in order to take part in the mission?

9. What operating system do you use in the computers for research and controlling the station?

10. What works better in no-gravity environment – pen or pencil?

11. What is the temperature, pressure and air composition inside the station?

12. Has there ever been a case of sickness like a cold, aboard the station? If yes, how was it dealt with?

13. What are the key resources that the ISS needs for full functionality?

14. What schools do I have to attend, what languages do I need to learn and what should I target after school education to become an astronaut?

15. How much of free time do ISS members have during their stay on board?

16. How fast is your Internet connection and how does it work?

17. How does a cut in space look like and does it heal faster?

18. How much water do you use up weekly? Do you recycle the urine to get water?

19. Does the ISS represent for you some sort of home or just a workplace?

 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