ARISS requires two complete radio stations at your event site. Refer to chart for radio set-up: Direct Contact Installation

Photos of the radio equipment to be used by the school may be required prior to final approval for the radio contact.

It is suggested that redundant power sources be provided, i.e. separate ac circuits, battery back-up, or Uninterruptible Power Supply.

Minimum station requirements for the primary station (radio station #1) are:

output power of at least 75 watts, receive pre-amp, OSCAR style circular polarized beam antenna, azimuth/elevation rotor control. (Rotor with computer control required.  A manual method of aiming the beam antenna is not accepted.)

Minimum station requirements for the secondary station (radio station #2) are:

output power of at least 75 watts, receive pre-amp, vertical and/or "eggbeater” antenna.

Evaluation

U.S. Schools only - All teachers and students (grades 4-12) complete the NASA paper survey forms immediately following your contact and return them to the NASA-Johnson Space Center (JSC) Education Office. A commemorative picture of the ISS will be sent once the NASA surveys are returned.

 All schools download, fill out and e-mail the ARISS Activity Report (evaluation form) found at this link to ARISS mailbox  JSC-TFS-ARISS@mail.nasa.gov, Subject line: ARISS Activity Form (contact host) within 1 week after your contact.

Photographs

High resolution digital photographs (1.2 MB/picture) taken of the event, preferably by an experienced photographer. The photos should show the diversity of children reached by the program, and should include some close ups of the students. See: Release Forms Requirement

Audio

An audio mp3 file of the contact.

Video

Video, which may include activities (such as classroom lessons) leading up to and including the ARISS contact, is highly recommended. A DVD with "best quality" conversion is preferred. VHS is also acceptable.

Publicity

Include:

-        -  Number of students, teachers, and parents who were present

-        -  Names and titles of any dignitaries who attended

-        -  Names of the media that covered the event (newspapers, magazines, television and radio stations).

-        -  If articles are available online, provide the URLs.

-        -  If you have the capability to scan articles which are not available online, please forward these to ARISS.

-        -  If any mentors, radio operators, teachers or students were interviewed by the media, please see if these can be made available to ARISS.

Summary

Provide a short write up on your contact. Include:

-        -  Number of questions asked and answered

-        -  Number of students who asked questions

-        -  Number of students, parents and teachers in the audience

-        -  Names and titles of dignitaries in the audience

-        -  Media outlets present  (television stations, radio stations, newspapers, magazines)

-        -  The types of special lessons that were incorporated into your curriculum  

-        -  Quotes from students and teachers about the contact 

Release Forms

Photos and video of your contact may be used to promote the ARISS program. We therefore ask that you have parents sign a release form, allowing these items to be used in the future.

Submit

The support ARISS receives from NASA and the other space agencies is based on the schools’ positive educational outcomes of their contacts. So that we may continue to provide this once in a lifetime opportunity to other schools, we need you to supply the required items as soon as possible. Initial photos, audio, video, media coverage and the summary write up should be forwarded within three days to:

Rosalie White, rwhite@arrl.org

Martha Saragovitz, Martha@amsat.org

With more detailed postal mail follow-ups within 2 weeks of the contact to:

                                                      AMSAT                                     ARRL

                                                      Martha Saragovtiz                      Rosalie White

                                                      850 Sligo Ave. Suite 600           3853 S Cramer Circle

                                                      Silver Spring, MD 20910           Bloomington, IN 47403