Archived ARISS status reports *********************** November 19, 2012 1. Upcoming School Contact An Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact has been scheduled for Liceo scientifico Giacinto De Sivo – Fondazione Villaggio dei Ragazzi in Maddaloni, Italy on Tuesday, November 20 at 08:31 UTC using radio station IK1SLD in Italy. The contact will be incorporated into lessons focused on the developments in astronomy from a scientific, philosophical and literary point of view. 2. Successful ARISS Contacts Held An Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact was held between Sunita Williams, KD5PLB on the ISS and students visiting the Gujarat Science City (GSC) in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India on Wednesday, November 14 via telebridge station IK1SLD in Italy. The children got in 15 questions about daily life on the ISS before losing the radio connection. GSC has high-tech exhibitions covering space exploration and communications; the contact was part of a special outreach program of the GSC, organized to provide students with hands-on activities related to the ISS. The displays and activities provide children with the motivation and inspiration for a career and future in space science and research. The Times of India covered the event. See: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/Excited-kids-go-on-space-talk-with-Sunita/articleshow/17250710.cms On November 16, Florida’s Flagler Palm Coast Amateur Radio Club (FPCARC) connected with Astronaut Sunita Williams, KD5PLB via an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact. Indian Trails Middle School hosted the event, but students from other area schools also participated. Former NASA astronaut Winston Scott gave a presentation to the students. All schools in the district were able to participate in the event through live internet streaming. Media representatives were present and articles have been posted. FlaglerLive.com has a story: http://flaglerlive.com/46845/ham-radio-iss/ For the Palm Coast Observer article, see: http://www.palmcoastobserver.com/news/palm-coast/Neighborhood/111720125718/Students-get-visit-from-astronaut-talk-to-space-st 3. ARISS Contact with Cumberland Elementary School - Video Cumberland Elementary School participated in an ARISS contact on October 30. Students had the opportunity to question Indiana native Kevin Ford, KF5GPP about ISS life. The contact video is now available. See: http://cumberland-iss.weebly.com 4. Video of ARISS Contact at JOTA Event Scouts visiting the National Scouting Museum in Irving, Texas on October 20 took part in the Jamboree on the Air (JOTA) event and spoke with Sunita Williams, KD5PLB on the ISS. Video of the contact may be viewed at: http://vimeo.com/53281390 5. ARRL QST on ARISS The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) published some ARISS-related news in its December QST. The "In Brief" column included a short item about Astronaut Lee Morin, KF5DDB, being ARRL's guest at the 2012 ARRL National Convention, which merged with the annual Pacificon (ARRL Pacific Division Convention) in Santa Clara, CA. Convention attendees met Lee in the ARRL exhibit area; he was a forum presenter, and also the Saturday night banquet speaker. A second two-page article called "Pacificon Wrap-Up" was about the 2012 ARRL National Convention, which merged with the annual Pacificon in Santa Clara. The article covered convention activities such as the ARISS contact and Astronaut Lee Morin's well-received banquet presentation. The writer stated, "The ARRL National Convention was also honored to have NASA's Dr. Lee Morin, KF5DDB, attend and spend so much time with the kids and hams, who greatly enjoyed meeting a real astronaut. Lee also gave a couple of terrific presentations. I think if they had weighed just a little bit less, several of these kids would have achieved orbit all by themselves! Thank you, Lee." The article included a photograph of Dr. Morin with a youngster who had on a white jumpsuit with a NASA patch. The photo caption said, "Capt. Lee Morin, KF5DDB, gave kids like Ben a thrill as they met their first real astronaut. At Pacificon Lee helped with a successful ARISS contact between youth at Pacificon and the International Space Station." 6. AMSAT News Service on ARISS The November 18 AMSAT (Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation) News Service bulletin (ANS-323) included two write-ups on the ARISS contacts held in Italy earlier this month. It also contained an item about recent SSTV images transmitted from the ISS. See: http://amsat.org/pipermail/ans/2012/000667.html *********************** November 13, 2012 1. Upcoming School Contacts Gujarat Science City (GSC), Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India has been scheduled for an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact on Wednesday, November 14 at 10:18 UTC via telebridge station IK1SLD in Italy. GSC has a Hall of Space pavilion with high-tech exhibitions covering space exploration and communications. The exhibits include a simulated journey through space, animatronics with sound-synchronized pneumatic robots, computer-controlled multi-screen panoramic projections, precision interactive exhibits on experiments planned by NASA, the International Space Station and touchscreen computer multimedia programs. The ARISS contact will be part of a special outreach program that has been organized to provide students with many hands-on activities related to the ISS. The displays and activities provide children with the motivation and inspiration for a career and future in space science and research. Flagler Palm Coast Amateur Radio Club (FPCARC) in Palm Coast, Florida will participate in an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact on Friday, November 16 at 18:06 UTC. The club’s youth program, the Amateur Radio Cadets, introduces ham radio to students and prepares them for their FCC license exams. It provides students with in-depth classes in related subjects such as math, science, geography, basic electricity, and electronics. For the ARISS contact, FPCARC is collaborating with students from an area middle school and has invited other schools to the event. 2. Successful ARISS Contacts Held An Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact was held with Istituto Comprensivo di Govone, Scuola Secondaria di primo grado “Nino Costa” di Priocca and Istituto Comprensivo di Diano d'Alba in Priocca, Italy on Thursday, November 8. Nearly 200 students attended the event held at Planerio in Torino and listened as Akihiko Hoshide, KE5DNI answered questions about science experiments and daily activities on the ISS. The contact was tied into lessons on astronomy, space science and exploration. It received good media coverage and was Web cast by AMSAT Italia. On Friday, November 9, students from 1 Circolo Didattico G.Marconi in Casamassima di Bari, Italy experienced an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact, speaking with Akihiko Hoshide, KE5DNI on the ISS. The event was held at the Cittadella Mediterranea della Scienza and approximately 250 students attended. Hoshide fielded 20 questions posed to him by the youth. The contact was part of the primary school’s comprehensive STEM curriculum. 3. Amateur Radio Newsline Covers ARISS The November 9 Amateur Radio Newsline report #1839 included an item about the upcoming ARISS contact with students in Gujarat, India on November 14.The article, “Ham Radio in Space: First Time Ever India to ISS Student Contact” may be viewed at: http://www.arnewsline.org/storage/scripts/nsln1839.txt *********************** November 5, 2012 1. Upcoming School Contacts An Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact is slated for Istituto Comprensivo di Govone, Scuola Secondaria di primo grado “Nino Costa” di Priocca and Istituto Comprensivo di Diano d'Alba in Priocca, Italy on Thursday, November 8 at 12:04 UTC, direct via station IK1SLD. The ISS contact will be the culmination of a two year program which involves 150 students, ages 11-14. The students have been working with their teachers and with educators from the Science Center Infini.to - Museum of Space and Planetarium of Turin (Italy), attending courses in astronomy, space science and exploration. Lessons are linked to the national curriculum covering Earth science, the solar system and technology. 1 Circolo Didattico G.Marconi in Casamassima di Bari, Italy is slated for an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact on Friday, November 9 at 12:53 UTC. The contact is part of the primary school’s comprehensive STEM curriculum. 2. Successful ARISS Contacts Held On Tuesday, October 30, South Florida Science Museum (SFSM) in West Palm Beach, Florida welcomed county students to participate in an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact with Akihiko Hoshide, KE5DNI aboard the ISS. The West Palm Beach Amateur Radio Club, WPBARC, which maintains a ham station within the museum, collaborated with area teachers to provide educational content to students emphasizing NASA, the ISS and amateur radio. The club facilitated the radio connection with the ISS. During the contact, approximately 90 students were present at the radio station site and another 200 were in an adjacent room watching by CCTV. VIPs in attendance included Scott Carpenter - one of the original seven astronauts. The contact was seen by 125,000-187,000 students. The event was broadcast over the air on the Educational Networks channel 23, the PBS station's channel 42.4 (digital), and on 2 local Comcast Cable channels, bringing the estimated live audience to about 250,000 viewers. Others watched the live stream on the internet. Video is available for viewing: https://vodcast.palmbeachschools.org/player/812RZ An Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact was held between students from Southern Tier Catholic and Archbishop Walsh Academy in Olean, New York and astronaut Suni Williams, KD5PLB on the Space Station on Tuesday, October 30 using telebridge station IK1SLD in Italy. An audience of over 100 gathered for the event at the Dresser-Rand Challenger Learning Center at St. Bonaventure University located in Allegany, New York, and listened as Williams answered 19 questions during the 11minute pass over northern Italy. The contact was part of a comprehensive education plan covering Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). The Olean Times Herald covered the event. See: http://www.oleantimesherald.com/news/article_378e5d5e-235e-11e2-9531-0019bb2963f4.html Students from Cumberland Elementary School in West Lafayette, Indiana participated in a Q&A session with Kevin Ford, KF5GPP via an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact on Tuesday, October 30. Over 600 students, parents and teachers listened in as the youths asked their questions. The contact was integrated into a curriculum covering topics on space research, robotics and engineering. WLFI TV 18 and Lafayette Journal Courier provided media coverage. See: http://www.wlfi.com/dpp/news/local/cumberland-elementary-calling-the-international-space-station and http://www.jconline.com/article/20121030/NEWS0401/310300030/West-Lafayette-school-to-space-station-Do-you-copy-?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE An ARISS contact was held between Primarschule Aesch students in Forch, Switzerland and on-orbit astronaut Sunita Williams, KD5PLB on Friday, November 2. The children had 21 questions answered before the ISS went over the horizon. Around 40 people attended the event which received extensive media coverage including 3 newspapers, one country-wide radio station and one television station. The contact complemented a science curriculum covering astronomy and spaceflight. 3. Public Relations Award Received for ARISS Contact The ARISS contact held with Flabob Airport Preparatory Academy on April 19, 2012 earned Karen and Clint Bradford an award for an annual competition held by the Public Relations Society of America. For the full story, see: http://ariss.rac.ca/oindex.htm#Special_event_with_astronaut_wins_public_relations_award 4. AMSAT News Service on ARISS The AMSAT (Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation) News Service bulletin (ANS-309) posted on November 4 included 2 items about the ARISS program. “Successful ARISS School Contacts” and “Flabob Airport Preparatory Academy ARISS Contact Wins PR Award” may be viewed in full at: http://amsat.org/pipermail/ans/2012/000663.html 5. Amateur Radio Newsline Covers ARISS The Amateur Radio Newsline report #1838 posted two ARISS-related items on November 2. The first piece was about the South Florida Science Museum contact held on October 30 and the second covered the ARISS contact with Flabob Airport Preparatory Academy that won Clint and Karen Bradford a Public Relations Society of America award. “Ham Radio in Space: Largest Contact Ever with the ISS” and “Names in the News: K6LCS Receives Special Public Service Award” may be viewed at: http://www.arnewsline.org/storage/scripts/nsln1838.txt *********************** October 29, 2012 1. Upcoming School Contacts South Florida Science Museum (SFSM), West Palm Beach, Florida is slated for an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact on Tuesday, October 30 at 15:58 UTC. SFSM and the West Palm Beach Amateur Radio Club, WPBARC, which maintains a radio station within the museum, are working with area teachers to provide educational content to students emphasizing NASA, the ISS and amateur radio. The primary target audience is underserved, at-risk youth, ages 11-15. An Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact has been scheduled for Southern Tier Catholic and Archbishop Walsh Academy, Olean, New York on Tuesday, October 30 at 16:16 UTC using telebridge station IK1SLD in Italy. The contact is part of a comprehensive education curriculum which will pique students’ interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). Cumberland Elementary School, West Lafayette, Indiana has been slated for an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) on Tuesday, October 30 at 17:35 UTC. The contact will be integrated into a curriculum covering topics on space research, robotics and engineering. Other activities planned include night sky observations, model rocketry and electrical circuit projects. An Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact will be held with Primarschule Aesch in Forch, Switzerland on Friday, November 2 at 13:47 UTC. The contact will complement a science education plan covering astronomy and spaceflight. 2. Successful ARISS Contacts Held Meikei High School in Tsukuba, Japan participated in an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact on Tuesday, October 23. Students from the science club, who are studying orbital mechanics and amateur radio satellite communications, used their own radio station, JJ1YAF to make the call to on-orbit astronaut Akihiko Hoshide, KE5DNI, an alumnus of the school. The contact was conducted in Japanese. Approximately 60 people were in attendance and media coverage included 4 newspapers as well as the Japan Broadcasting Corporation, NHK. On Friday, October 26, students from East Falmouth Elementary School in East Falmouth, Massachusetts took part in a successful Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact with Sunita Williams, KD5PLB. Students asked 18 questions concerning what it is like to live in space and the experiments conducted on the Space Station. The contact was integrated into science lessons about the solar system, global climate changes on Earth and the advances in science and technology generated by space exploration. Over 100 students and guests were in attendance and reporters from two newspapers were present. 3. AMSAT News Service on ARISS The AMSAT (Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation) News Service bulletin (ANS-302) posted on October 28 included an item about the upcoming ARISS contact with Florida school children. The contact will be held at the South Florida Science Museum using the radio station WS4FSM, which is maintained by the West Palm Beach Amateur Radio Group. Using closed circuit TV, the contact will be broadcast to all county schools. The contact is scheduled for Tuesday, October 30. To view, “WS4FSM Hosts the Largest School Contact Ever With the ISS,” see: http://amsat.org/pipermail/ans/2012/000661.html *********************** October 22, 2012 1. Upcoming School Contacts Meikei High School in Tsukuba, Japan will participate in an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact on Tuesday, October 23 at 11:06 UTC. The school was established in 1979 by an alumni association formed principally by the graduates of the University of Tsukuba and Tokyo University of Education. Japanese astronaut Akihiko Hoshide is a graduate of the school. The school’s science club has a Radio & Electronics Group with its own radio station, callsign JJ1YAF. Club members and other interested students will learn about the ISS, orbital mechanics and amateur radio satellite communications through this activity. The group will speak with Hoshide during this contact, which will be conducted in Japanese. East Falmouth Elementary School, East Falmouth, Massachusetts will take part in an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact on Friday, October 26 at 17:40 UTC. Using NASA resources, students are learning about the solar system, global climate changes on Earth and the advances in science and technology generated by space exploration. 2. Successful ARISS Contacts Held On Tuesday, October 16, CRA Pozohondo in Nava De Abajo (Pozohondo), Spain hosted an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact via telebridge station LU8YY in Argentina. ISS astronaut Sunita Williams, KD5PLB chatted with students, answering 20 of their life-in-space questions. The activity was tied to lessons in astronomy, photography, radio and English as a second language. Over 100 students and guests attended. The school has posted video on its Web site: http://edu.jccm.es/cra/cra_pozohondo Students from the Wattsburg Area School District in Erie, Pennsylvania participated in an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact with on-orbit astronaut Sunita Williams, KD5PLB on Friday, October 19 via telebridge station VK4KHZ in Australia. Approximately 600 students were in attendance with another 400 participating from their classrooms, connected by internet. The ARISS contact was part of a comprehensive education plan which covers Robotics, Astronomy, Amateur Radio and Science. Scouts visiting the National Scouting Museum in Irving, Texas spoke with Sunita Williams, KD5PLB via an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact on Saturday, October 20. The contact was part of the Jamboree on the Air (JOTA) weekend event whereby Scouts of all ages from around the world connect with each other using Amateur Radio equipment. Williams was able to answer over 20 questions put to her by the Scouts and had time for longer than usual answers due to sharing of the contact by Australian telebridge stations VK6MJ and VK5ZAI. The audience consisted of around 200 scouts, parents, and friends and at least three television stations and several newspapers representatives were present. 3. ARISS International Team Meeting Held The ARISS International Team monthly teleconference was held on Tuesday, October 16. A status was given on the HamTV project as well as the new VHF unit to be flown to the ISS and subsequently installed in the Columbus Module. Minutes have been posted. See: http://ariss.rac.ca/arisstel2012-10-16.htm 4. Astronaut Training Status Luca Parmitano, KF5KDP attended his preflight session on October 17. He is slated to fly with Expedition 36 crew in May 2013. 5. ARRL Covers ARISS The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) ran a 3 page article in its November QST about an ARISS teacher and the STEM activities she did prior to and after her ARISS contact. ARRL also posted “Saturday Pacificon Snapshot” which talks about the activities held during the Pacific Division annual convention in Santa Clara, CA, including an ARISS contact between students and Akihiko Hoshide, KE5DNI on ISS. See: http://www.arrl.org/news/saturday-pacificon-snapshot 6. AMSAT News Service on ARISS The October 21 AMSAT (Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation) News Service bulletin (ANS-295) posted an article on the upcoming AMSAT Symposium to be held this week, Friday, October 26 – Sunday, October 28 in Orlando, Florida. NASA Astronaut Samuel Durrance will be the guest speaker at the Saturday banquet. Also included in this week’s bulletin is an item covering recent ARISS contacts. Both items can be found at: http://amsat.org/pipermail/ans/2012/000660.html *********************** October 15, 2012 1. Upcoming School Contacts CRA Pozohondo, Nava De Abajo (Pozohondo), Spain is preparing for an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact to be held on Tuesday, October 16 at 09:26 UTC via telebridge station LU8YY in Argentina. Students are learning about astronomy, photography and radio communications among other topics. The ARISS contact will be one of the hands-on activities highlighting these subjects. See the school Web site: http://edu.jccm.es/cra/cra_pozohondo Wattsburg Area School District in Erie, Pennsylvania has been slated for an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact on Friday, October 19 at 16:11 UTC via telebridge station VK4KHZ in Australia. NASA astronaut Michael Fincke has been invited to attend the event. The contact will stimulate interest and participation in extracurricular activities including the Robotics Club, Astronomy Club, Amateur Radio Club, Science Olympiad Team and others. An Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact has been scheduled for the National Scouting Museum, Irving, Texas on Saturday, October 20 at 18:32 UTC via telebridge station VK6MJ in Australia. The Boy Scouts of America hosts an annual international event, Jamboree on the Air (JOTA), which is in its 55th year, whereby Scouts of all ages from around the world connect with each other using Amateur Radio equipment. The National Scouting Museum has been a site for, and hosted an event in conjunction with JOTA for four years. 2. ARISS Contacts Held Students from St. George’s International School in Luxembourg participated in a Q&A session with Sunita Williams, KD5PLB on Monday, October 8 via an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact. The radio connection was handled by telebridge station W6SRJ in California. Approximately 700 students, teachers and guests were in attendance – 200 in the gym watched live and another 500 in the classrooms watched a “live stream” of the contact. The audience included several VIPs: the UK Ambassador Alice Walpole, the Head Teacher Heather Duxbury and the Deputy Head Teachers (Kath Griffiths and Mark Stenton) of both primary and secondary sections. Guest speakers gave talks on satellites as well as the NASA “Moon Buggie” project. The contact was one of the educational activities the students from both sections took part in to learn about electricity, astronomy and physics. On Tuesday, October 9, Liceo Statale Adelaide Cairoli in Pavia, Italy took part in its Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact via station W6SRJ in California. On-orbit astronaut Sunita Williams, KD5PLB, was able to answer 18 questions during the contact as nearly 1100 students gathered for the event. The school uses amateur radio as a teaching tool and its radio club provides students the opportunity to speak with other amateurs all over the world using different languages. This ARISS contact was used to focus on technology, science and foreign languages. The video may be viewed here: http://livestre.am/4aJ08 An Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact was held with youth attending the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) Pacific Division annual convention, PACIFICON in Santa Clara, California on Saturday, October 13. Telebridge station IK1SLD in Italy provided the radio connection. Astronaut Akihiko Hoshide, KE5DNI, on the ISS participated in the contact which was the featured event of the PACIFICON Youth Program that emphasized hands-on radio operation, electronics kit building, orbital mathematics and CubeSat satellite design, among other STEM activities. Fellow astronaut Dr. Lee Morin gave a presentation at the event and exchanged greetings with Hoshide at the end of the ISS pass. An audience of approximately 150 was present for the contact; 2500 attended the convention. 3. AMSAT News Service on ARISS The October 14 AMSAT (Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation) News Service bulletin (ANS-288) posted an article on upcoming JOTA activities at the National Scouting Museum in Irving, Texas, which will include an ARISS contact. “National Scouting Museum to Celebrate JOTA With ARISS Contact” may be found at: http://amsat.org/pipermail/ans/2012/000657.html 4. U.S. Schools Announce Upcoming Contacts Anacapa School in Santa Barbara, California and Bates College Museum of Art in Lewiston, Maine have both announced ARISS contacts planned for their schools in Spring 2013. See: http://www.noozhawk.com/article/100412_anacapa_live_qa_international_space_station/ and http://www.bates.edu/news/2012/10/04/starstruck-space-station/ *********************** October 9, 2012 1. Upcoming School Contact An Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact is planned for PACIFICON, Santa Clara, California on Saturday, October 13 at 18:57 UTC. Station IK1SLD in Italy will handle the radio hook-up. PACIFICON is the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) Pacific Division annual convention which is hosted and organized by the Mount Diablo Amateur Radio Club (MDARC). PACIFICON 2012 will be held October 12-14 and will host the 2012 ARRL National Convention and Exposition. Over 2,500 amateur radio enthusiasts are expected to attend. The PACIFICON Youth Program provides STEM educational goals which will include hands on radio operation, electronics kit building and soldering classes, Ohm’s Law, orbital mathematics, CubeSat satellite design, and popular radio transmitter T-Hunts. The ARISS contact will be integrated into the Youth Program to demonstrate earth to space communications and to inspire youth attending the event to consider STEM-related careers. 2. Izmir, Turkey School Hosts ARISS Contact On Friday, October 5, students from Izmir SEV Primary School in Turkey participated in an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact with astronaut Sunita Williams, KD5PLB via station K6DUE in Greenbelt, Maryland. Williams answered all 20 questions posed to her during the event which drew an audience of over 800 students and was heard all over Turkey. The contact highlighted a science curriculum which included other NASA activities such as First Lego League Robotic Teams and Destination Imagination Teams. 3. Sunita Williams Chats with Malaysian Students Sekolah Kebangsaan students in Putrajaya, Malaysia spoke with Sunita Williams, KD5PLB aboard the ISS through an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact on Sunday, October 7. The school was invited to participate in the contact by the National Space Agency Satellite Ground Station, 9M2RPN, in conjunction with the “Prime Minister’s National Space Challenge Trophy 2012,” an annual event since 2007 when the Malaysian astronaut, Dr. Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor, flew to the ISS. 4. ARISS Educator Interviewed Gladys Muñoz, a teacher at the Marcelino Canino Canino Middle School in Puerto Rico, was interviewed for a blog by Mr. Anthony Salcito, vice president for education Microsoft Worldwide Enterprises. This took place during her stay in Lima, Peru for Microsoft’s Latin America Forum for Innovative Education where she presented a summary of some of her school’s aerospace education projects. The school participated in its own ARISS contact on September 12, 2012. See: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fte3Vzn35-Y&list=UUG_FV4WjnZqtm6sux2g069Q&index=9&feature=plpp_video 5. ARISS and JOTA at National Scouting Museum Jamboree on the Air (JOTA), an activity where Scouts from all over the world connect via amateur radio, will be held at the National Scouting Museum in Irving, Texas on Saturday, October 20. An ARISS contact is planned for the event, as well as several other education activities. For more information, see: http://bsamuseum.org/Programs/JOTA%202012.aspx 6. Astronaut Training Status Luca Parmitano, KF5KDP has been scheduled for a preflight session on October 17. He is slated to fly with the Expedition 36 crew in May 2013. 7. AMSAT News Service on ARISS The October 7 AMSAT (Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation) News Service bulletin (ANS-281) included an item about PACIFICON and the ARISS contact planned for the youth attending the event. “PACIFICON 2012 Will Feature ARISS Contact and Satellite Demo Station” may be found at: http://amsat.org/pipermail/ans/2012/000655.html 8. Amateur Radio Newsline Covers ARISS On October 5, the Amateur Radio Newsline report #1834 included an article covering the upcoming Jamboree on the Air (JOTA) and the ARISS contact that is planned with Scouts at the BSA's Scouting museum in Texas. “That Final Item: JOTA 2012 October 20-21” may be found at: http://www.arnewsline.org/storage/scripts/nsln1834.txt *********************** October 1, 2012 1. Upcoming School Contacts Izmir SEV Primary School, located in Turkey, has been scheduled for an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact on Friday, October 5 at 08:32 UTC via telebridge station K6DUE in Greenbelt, Maryland. The school participates in the Partner School Science Program, which is a program under Global Friendship Through Space Education, a California-based non-profit organization that promotes friendship among young people from different countries and cultures through the study of space-related science and technology. Students communicate about space-related projects via e-mail, collaborate on research on NASA’s distance-learning Web site, and videoconference between partner schools and NASA. First Lego League Robotic Teams and Destination Imagination Teams have been a part of school activities annually since 2005. Invitations to attend this event have been extended to several VIPs including the minister of transportation, the president of the board of education, the director of education, the mayor of Izmir and the governor of Izmir. Sekolah Kebangsaan in Putrajaya, Malaysia will experience an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact on Sunday, October 7 at 11:04 UTC. The school was invited to participate by the National Space Agency Satellite Ground Station, 9M2RPN in conjunction with the “Prime Minister’s National Space Challenge Trophy 2012,” an annual event since 2007 when a Malaysia astronaut flew to the ISS. 2. Successful Contact Held with Waxter Young Women’s Academy An Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact was held between students at the Waxter Young Women’s Academy in Laurel, Maryland and Akihiko Hoshide, KE5DNI aboard the ISS on Monday, September 24. Telebridge station LU8YY in Argentina handled the radio connection. The girls were able to have all 13 of their questions answered with enough time left to thank Hoshide for participating. Phone lines throughout the center were made available so that other students could listen in as well. The ARISS contact was part of a comprehensive education plan used to interest students in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). 3. Sunita Williams Speaks with Halifax Students On Wednesday, September 26, Sacred Heart School of Halifax in Nova Scotia, Canada participated in an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact with on-orbit astronaut Sunita Williams, KD5PLB. The contact was scheduled for 16:07 UTC, and telebridge station LU8YY in Argentina connected with Williams, but the international phone line, which was to connect Argentina to Halifax, went down and could not be brought up until after the ISS had passed overhead. Williams agreed to try the contact again on the next pass. Ninety minutes later, the audience of 250 got what they had been waiting for – a successful contact! The students got in 17 questions, and one student was wished a Happy Birthday by the ISS commander. Thanks to all who helped the school complete its contact. *********************** September 24, 2012 1. Upcoming School Contacts An Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact has been scheduled for Waxter Young Women’s Academy in Laurel, Maryland on Monday, September 24 at 17:44 UTC via telebridge station LU8YY in Argentina. The ARISS contact is part of a comprehensive education plan which will pique students’ interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). An Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact is planned for Sacred Heart School of Halifax in Nova Scotia, Canada on Wednesday, September 26 at 16:07 UTC via telebridge station LU8YY in Argentina. The contact will be incorporated into science lessons through which students will learn about the ISS, its mission, its background and the significance of its contributions to science as well as our daily lives on Earth. 2. Successful Contacts Held Students from Zespól Szkól Technicznych w Kole in Kolo, Poland participated in an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact with Akihiko Hoshide, KE5DNI, aboard the ISS on Wednesday, September 19. Hoshide answered all 18 questions posed by the students during the overhead pass, which included topics on astronaut training, education, and skills and abilities needed on the ISS. Video of the event may be viewed here: http://www.livestream.com/arisspolska/video?clipId=pla_4a1f475f-d1a4-4e4c-baf5-a91a80d0c243&utm_source=lslibrary&utm_medium=ui-thumb An Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact was held between Sunset Hills Elementary School in San Diego, California and Akihiko Hoshide, KE5DNI on the ISS on Thursday, September 20. Students were able to have 13 questions answered about living on the ISS. Three television stations and other media covered the event. Video may be viewed at: http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/25558153 CBS has an article on its website: http://www.cbs8.com/story/19605202/local-students-aim-high-and-connect-with-space-station and the North County Times ran a story: http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/poway/rancho-penasquitos-international-space-station-chat-gives-students-higher-education/article_d02abc57-5246-50d0-9f17-4cbc11532c9a.html On Friday, September 21, Lafayette Middle School, La Fayette, Georgia took part in an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact with Sunita Williams, KD5PLB. The gymnasium was filled with students, guests and VIPs who listened as the school’s Rambler Radio Club members spoke with the astronaut. The school hopes the ARISS contact will help get the students interested in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. WRCB TV covered the event. See: http://www.wrcbtv.com/story/19610751/iss-and-lafayette-middle-students-make-contact 3. ARISS International Team Meeting Held The ARISS International Team monthly teleconference was held on Tuesday, September 18. Topics of discussion included a status on HamTV, as well as an update on the new VHF Ericsson which is expected to launch to the ISS later this year. Minutes have been posted. See: http://ariss.rac.ca/arisstel2012-09-18.htm 4. ARISS Status on Social Media ARISS currently has 1480 followers on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ARISS_status And as a reminder, ARISS news may also be found on Facebook. See: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Amateur-Radio-on-the-International-Space-Station-ARISS/153679794647788 5. ARRL Articles on ARISS On September 20, the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) carried a story written by ARISS member Dave Jordan about “Teach-In Day,” an annual event in Seminole County, Florida which provides opportunities for interested parties to visit schools and teach the children about their area of expertise. The Lake Monroe Amateur Radio Society visited English Estates School and talked about amateur radio, amateur satellites, the ISS and ARISS and the role of amateur radios during emergencies. English Estates participated in its own ARISS contact in May 2011. To view, “The 2011 English Estates Teach-In,” see: http://www.arrl.org/the-2011-english-estates-teach-in On September 20, ARRL Letter had an article on the ARRL National Convention to be held Friday – Sunday, October 12-14 in Santa Clara, California. NASA Astronaut Lee Morin, KF5DDB will attend and is the Pacificon forum presenter and the banquet speaker on Saturday night. ARRL Education Services will provide information on the ARISS program. For more information, go to: http://www.arrl.org/news/find-out-what-s-in-store-at-the-2012-arrl-national-convention The ARRL October QST’s "In Brief" column carried a note about NASA's Mars Rover, "Curiosity" landing in August, and how engineers will use the Morse code letters, JPL, imprinted on the wheels to determine how far the rover roams. 6. Amateur Radio Newsline Covers ARISS On September 21, the Amateur Radio Newsline report #1832 included an item on the Expedition 31/32 crew members that landed in Kazakhstan on September 16, after 125 days in space. “Amateur Radio in Space: Three Hams Return to Earth” may be found at: http://www.arnewsline.org/storage/scripts/nsln1832.txt 7. Stonepark Intermediate Announces Upcoming Contact Stonepark Intermediate School in Charlottetown, PEI, Canada is preparing for an ARISS contact with Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield, KC5RNJ/VA3OOG, who is scheduled to join the ISS Expedition 34 crew in December of this year. Sue Geddes, a teacher-librarian at Stonepark, was interviewed about the upcoming event: http://www.cbc.ca/islandmorning/episodes/2012/09/20/stonepark-space---canadian-astronaut-chris-hadfield/ The school has also posted information about the contact on its Web site. See: http://stonepark.wordpress.com/ariss-international-space-station-communication/ 8. South Florida Science Museum Holds Essay Contest for ARISS Contact The South Florida Science Museum is holding an essay contest for students in the Palm Beach County School District to select fifteen K-12 students to participate in an ARISS contact in October. Deadline for submissions is September 24. For more information, see: http://www.sfsm.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=news.details&ArticleId=64&returnTo=main *********************** September 17, 2012 1. Upcoming School Contacts Zespól Szkól Technicznych w Kole, Kolo, Poland will participate in an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact on Wednesday, September 19 at 07:15 UTC. Besides learning about space, amateur radio and satellite tracking in the classroom, students are also attending lectures on astronautics, engineering and astronomy. They are involved with related hands-on activities and competitions, with the winners receiving the opportunity to question the ISS astronaut. In addition, the school is forming astronomy and amateur radio clubs for the youth. The event will be broadcast live via the internet on: http://live.arisspolska.info/ An Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact has been planned for Sunset Hills Elementary School in San Diego, California on Thursday, September 20 at 17:24 UTC. Students are learning about the radio and space through age-appropriate hands-on activities. NASA education Web site materials are being used and guest speakers from the local Amateur Radio club will give a presentation to the students. Lafayette Middle School, La Fayette, Georgia is slated for an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact on Friday, September 21 at 15:03 UTC. The school will use the ARISS contact to promote the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics within its entire system. It hopes to arrange for Skype interviews with guests for the ARISS event: Dr. Rob Suggs and Dr. Bill Cooke of Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama; Cristi Whitworth, Educational Director for Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute; and Dr. June Scobee Rodgers, Founding Chair of the Challenger Center at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. 2. Successful Contacts Held Students attending Maroochydore State School in Maroochydore, Queensland, Australia participated in an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact on Wednesday, September 12 via telebridge station VK4KHZ in Australia. Akihiko Hoshide, KE5DNI answered 14 questions of the students before the ISS went over the horizon. Approximately 40 students and guests were in attendance and the contact received coverage by radio, television and newspapers. The contact was integrated into a comprehensive space curriculum, with lessons focused on the Venus Transit, the Juno mission and the Curiosity mission. An ARISS contact was held between Joe Acaba, KE5DAR on the ISS and Marcelino Canino Canino Middle School in Dorado, Puerto Rico on Wednesday, September 12 via telebridge station K6DUE in Greenbelt, Maryland. The session was conducted in Spanish, with all 16 questions answered. The students are involved in a Microsatellite Hardware program through which they design, build, launch, track and retrieve their microsatellites with the assistance of many local amateur radio operators. The school, located in a rural area of Dorado, has an enrollment of 464 students of which 78% live below the poverty level and 26% receive special education services. On Thursday, September 13, Sunita Williams, KD5PLB spoke with students at the Gymnasium Unterrieden in Sindelfingen, Germany through an ARISS contact and answered their space-related questions. One hundred people showed up for the event, including 4 media outlets. The audio was broadcasted via 2 amateur radio relays. The contact was integrated into several other amateur radio activities which included the students preparing for entry level amateur radio licenses and building a satellite receiving station. Video has been posted: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_uOnhrsOvg A second ARISS contact that Akihiko Hoshide, KE5DNI took part in last week was with children at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland on Thursday, September 13. The students had 21 questions answered during the ISS pass, and as the coordinating person at Goddard had previously asked another astronaut for answers to the questions, the remaining students still received "official" answers to their questions. Nearly 100 people were in attendance, with 4 media cameras recording the event. Prince George's County Community TV reported on the event. See: http://tinyurl.com/9q939u3 On Thursday, September 13, an ARISS contact was held between children at the Burns Sci-Tech Charter School in Oak Hill, Florida and Sunita Williams KD5PLB on the ISS. Daytona Beach Amateur Radio Association supported the school in this endeavor. The contact was integrated into lessons on radio waves, electricity, communications, geography and languages. 3. Astronaut Training Status Gregory Wiseman, KF5LKT took part in a basic operations training session on Wednesday, September 12. He is slated to fly with the Expedition 40 crew in May 2014. 4. ARRL Articles on ARISS The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) carried two articles related to ARISS in its ARRL Letter on September 13. The first item covers the return of Expedition 31/32 crew members to Earth. The second talks about the ARRL convention to be held in California on October 12-14. Astronaut Lee Morin will be a guest speaker at the event and ARISS member Kenneth Ransom, N5VHO will also attend. “Three Hams Return to Earth this Weekend; Watch Live on NASA TV” may be viewed at: http://www.arrl.org/news/three-hams-return-to-earth-this-weekend-watch-live-on-nasa-tv To read “ARRL Welcomes NASA Astronaut Lee Morin, KF5DDB, to 2012 National Convention,” see: http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-welcomes-nasa-astronaut-lee-morin-kf5ddb-to-2012-national-convention 5. Amateur Radio Newsline Covers ARISS On September 14, the Amateur Radio Newsline report #1831 included an item on the recent ARISS contact held with German students attending Michelstadt Gymnasium. “Ham Radio in Space: ISS to Germany Student Q and A Session” may be found at: http://www.arnewsline.org/storage/scripts/nsln1831.txt *********************** September 10, 2012 1. Upcoming School Contacts An Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact is planned with Maroochydore State School in Maroochydore, Queensland, Australia on Wednesday, September 12 at 07:03 UTC via telebridge station VK4KHZ in Australia. The contact will be integrated into a comprehensive science curriculum. Robotics kits were provided to the students and an astronomy club was formed at the school. Lessons have focused on the Venus Transit, the Juno mission and the Curiosity mission. An Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact is planned for Thursday, September 13 with children from NASA Goddard Child Development Center (GCDC), Greenbelt, MD, Howard B. Owens Science Center, Lanham, MD and University of Maryland’s Center for Young Children, College Park, MD. The contact will take place at 16:43 UTC. The contact and supporting activities will strengthen the students’ interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics subject matter. Burns Sci-Tech Charter School in Oak Hill, Florida is slated for an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact on Thursday, September 13 at 18:21 UTC. Daytona Beach Amateur Radio Association, Inc. will support the school in this endeavor. The contact will be integrated into lessons on radio waves, electricity, communications, geography and languages. 2. German Students Delighted with ARISS Contact An Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact was held between on-orbit astronaut Sunita Williams, KD5PLB and students at the Gymnasium Michelstadt in Michelstadt, Germany on Friday, September 7. Williams was able to answer 14 questions posed by the students during the ISS pass. Over 1600 students, teachers, and VIP's were in attendance, as well as representatives from radio, television and newspapers. Positive feedback was received from the school, including the following: “Older colleagues compared the feeling to watching the moon landing in TV. Our Kids were electrified and already now we can see an increased interest in sciences and extracurricular activities. We are planning to continue this topic and have further projects in this field.” Video has been posted. See: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xmL6wSPWzE 3. Girls’ School Speaks with ISS Astronaut On Sunday, September 9, Tara Anglican School in North Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia spoke with Astronaut Sunita Williams, KD5PLB via an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact. The radio connection was provided by telebridge station ON4ISS in Belgium. The contact was integrated into the school’s science and space curriculum. Tara Anglican, a girls K-12 school, was selected by Oxford University as the Australian school to participate in the Global Jet Watch Program which links astronomers at Oxford University with students from four high schools around the world in Australia, Chile, South Africa and India in order to carry out cutting edge research. Oxford University installed a research grade 20 inch RC Optical telescope, together with custom designed instrumentation and an observatory with a 4.5 metre dome on Tara's grounds for use by the students. The school also formed a partnership with the Astronomical Society of New South Wales (ASNSW) through which students are mentored in complex astronomy projects by experienced amateur astronomers. 4. AMSAT News Service on ARISS The September 9 AMSAT (Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation) News Service bulletin (ANS-253) included an item about AMSAT President Barry Baines, who talked about ARISS and other educational activities in an interview held at Shelby, North Carolina Hamfest with HAMRADIONOW.tv. A link to the video is included in the article or may be found directly on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3o_PV2b9F6g&feature=youtu.be . See: http://amsat.org/pipermail/ans/2012/000648.html *********************** September 4, 2012 1. Upcoming School Contacts An Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact has been scheduled for Marcelino Canino Canino Middle School in Dorado, Puerto Rico on Tuesday, September 4 at 14:17 UTC via telebridge station K6DUE in Greenbelt, Maryland. The ARISS contact is part of a comprehensive education plan which will pique students’ interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). An Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact has been scheduled for Gymnasium Michelstadt in Michelstadt, Germany on Friday, September 7 at 08:52 UTC. The school is part of the MINT network which specializes in the fields of Mathematics, Informatics, Nature sciences and Technology. It hopes to involve a large number of students and get them interested in science through the ARISS contact and associated hands-on activities, field trips and guest speakers. Tara Anglican School in North Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia has been scheduled for an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact on Sunday, September 9 at 08:50 UTC via telebridge station ON4ISS in Belgium. Tara Anglican is a girls K-12 school with an observatory. The school’s Astronomy Group involves students from many local schools. The ARISS contact will highlight lessons on astronomy. 2. Successful Contacts Astronaut Akihiko Hoshide, KE5DNI participated in two ARISS (Amateur Radio on the International Space Station) contacts over the past week. He spoke with students attending Megina Gymnasium Mayen in Mayen, Germany on Friday, August 31 and with youth from the Iruma Junior Ham Club in Iruma, Japan on Sunday, September 2. Sunita Williams, KD5PLB picked up a third ARISS contact with the National Electronics Museum in Linthicum, Maryland on Saturday, September 1. The radio contacts were integrated into comprehensive science and math lessons. *********************** August 27, 2012 1. Upcoming School Contacts Megina Gymnasium Mayen in Mayen, Germany has been scheduled for an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact on Friday, August 31 at 11:23 UTC. The radio contact will be integrated into math and physics lessons. Extracurricular activities involving astronomy and radio technology are planned. National Electronics Museum, Linthicum, Maryland will participate in an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact on Saturday, September 1 at 15:09 UTC. The museum has an active amateur radio program that trains and facilitates the licensing of students as amateur radio operators. It focuses on electronics, electrical engineering and space communications. Lessons will include lectures, demonstrations and hands-on activities. The Iruma Junior Ham Club in Iruma, Japan will participate in an ARISS (Amateur Radio on the International Space Station) contact on Sunday, September 2 at 08:32 UTC. The club members recently received their amateur radio licenses and are learning about satellite orbits and space. They look forward to speaking with Astronaut Akihiko Hoshide on the ISS. 2. Students Make Connection with Akihiko Hoshide on ISS Students from Institute for Education on Space, Wakayama University in Wakayama, Japan spoke with on-orbit Astronaut Akihiko Hoshide, KE5DNI via an ARISS contact on Sunday, August 26. The contact highlighted science lessons about space, satellites and radio waves. 3. ARISS International Team Meeting Held The monthly ARISS International Team meeting was held on Tuesday, August 21. The team discussed whether ARISS supporters should be recognized on the ARISS website and a status was given on the HamTV project and on the new Ericsson VHF radio which is scheduled to launch later this year. Minutes have been posted: http://ariss.rac.ca/arisstel2012-08-21.htm 4. Astronaut Training Status Gregory Wiseman, KF5LKT is scheduled for a basic operations training session in September. Wiseman is slated to fly with the Expedition 40 crew in May 2014. *********************** August 20, 2012 1. Upcoming School Contact Institute for Education on Space, Wakayama University in Wakayama, Japan will speak with Akihiko Hoshide, KE5DNI via an ARISS contact on Sunday, August 26 at 10:58 UTC. Educators will engage students in the ARISS contact as well as other space-related activities and lessons to teach about space, satellites and radio waves. 2. Successful Contacts An ARISS contact was held with students at the Kangaroo Inn Area School in Kangaroo Inn, South Australia on Tuesday, August 14 via station W6SRJ in California. ISS astronaut Sunita Williams, KD5PLB participated in the session, answering over 20 questions posed by the students. Nearly 90 visitors attended the event, including local politician Mitch Williams and his wife, the ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) radio network, WIN 8 regional TV and representatives from three newspapers. The contact complemented a science curriculum covering space and space exploration. On Thursday, August 16, an ARISS contact was held between students attending Wada Elementary School in Nagawa Town, Japan and Akihiko Hoshide, KE5DNI, aboard the Space Station, which highlighted a comprehensive education plan covering space, astronomy and radio communications. The event drew an audience of approximately 120 students and guests and garnered extensive media coverage including six television stations and five newspapers. 3. Meikei High School Contact to be Rescheduled Meikei High School in Tsukuba, Japan had been scheduled for an ARISS contact on Friday, August 17. The contact was unsuccessful. ARISS is investigating the reason for the failure. Meikei will be rescheduled during the week of October 22. 4. Debrief Session Held with Expedition 30/31 Crew ISS Ham members participated in a debrief session with Expedition 30/31 crew members Don Pettit and André Kuipers on Wednesday, August 15. Feedback on the ARISS program and radio equipment was provided which will help the team keep its procedures up-to-date. 5. ARISS in ARRL QST The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) carried a piece about ARISS in its September issue of QST. A small item in the "In Brief" column reported that three ham radio operators are crew members that arrived at the ISS in mid-July. *********************** August 13, 2012 1. Upcoming School Contacts Kangaroo Inn Area School, Kangaroo Inn, South Australia, Australia is planning for an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact to be held on Tuesday, August 14 at 08:29 UTC via station W6SRJ in California. The contact will be integrated into a science curriculum covering space and space exploration. Wada Elementary School in Nagawa Town, Japan has been scheduled for an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact on Thursday, August 16 at 08:01 UTC. The school offers a “General Education” subject through which students select their themes and write reports. One of the most popular subjects chosen this year was “Space.” The subject has been so popular because the children have been exposed to many space-related activities over the past few years including the recent International Year of Astronomy and the unmanned spacecraft, Hayabusa that was developed by the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) to return a sample of material from a small near-Earth asteroid named 25143 Itokawa to Earth for further analysis last year. Children observed an eclipse on May 21 and will visit the Nobeyama Radio Observatory over the summer. They will also be given radio kits so that they understand how receivers work. It is hoped that JAXA will support the school program and provide the youth with further information about space and the ISS. Meikei High School in Tsukuba, Japan will participate in an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact on Friday, August 17 at 07:09 UTC. The school was established in 1979 by an alumni association formed principally by the graduates of the University of Tsukuba and Tokyo University of Education. Japanese astronaut Akihiko Hoshide is a graduate of the school. The school’s science club has a Radio & Electronics Group with its own radio station, callsign JJ1YAF. Club members and other interested students are learning about the ISS, orbital mechanics and amateur radio satellite communications through this activity. The group will speak with Akihiko Hoshide during this ARISS contact. 2. Failed Contact with Canada Science and Technology Museum Canada Science and Technology Museum Summer Day Camps had been scheduled for an ARISS contact on Thursday, August 9 via station IK1SLD in Italy. The contact was unsuccessful. ARISS is investigating the reason for the failure. 3. Expedition 30/31 Scheduled for Debrief Astronauts Don Pettit and André Kuipers (Expedition 30/31) will take part in an ISS Ham debrief session to give feedback on the ARISS program. The debrief is scheduled for August 15. 4. AMSAT News Service on ARISS The August 12 AMSAT (Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation) News Service bulletin (ANS-225) has an item about Mark Hammond, N8MH, AMSAT Vice President of Educational Relations who will attend the AMSAT-UK Space Colloquium in September. Hammond will give a presentation on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics education, including a status on the ARISS program. See: http://amsat.org/pipermail/ans/2012/000641.html *********************** August 6, 2012 1. Upcoming School Contact An Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact has been scheduled for the Canada Science and Technology Museum Summer Day Camps on Thursday, August 9 at 18:39 UTC via station IK1SLD in Italy. The museum has run science camps for children in the Ottawa area for over 12 years. The summer of 2012 will see five concurrent camps for 125 children ages 6-12 for seven weeks of the summer. Each of the five camps has a different theme incorporating various aspects of science, technology and engineering and all will participate in the ISS link-up. Other activities will include launching a space balloon, building and programming robots, cryogenic demonstrations, launching water rockets and using robotic arms. 2. Space Jam Contact Successful Scouts attending Space Jam 6, which was held at the Octave Chanute Aerospace Museum in Rantoul, Illinois, participated in an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact with ISS astronaut Akihiko Hoshide, KE5DNI on Sunday, August 5. Hoshide was able to answer 22 space-related questions posed by the scouts before losing the radio connection. Space Jam focused on “The History of Aviation” this year and offered lessons on Space Exploration, Radio, Aviation, Electronics and Robotics among other STEM topics. Approximately 1000 scouts, leaders and parents turned out for Space Jam 6 this year. 3. Amateur Radio Newsline Covers ARISS The August 3 Amateur Radio Newsline report #1825 carried two news items concerning the ARISS program. The first item covers the new Ericsson which is slated to be launched to the ISS in November and the second is about Frank Bauer returning to his leadership role at AMSAT. To view “Ham Radio in Space: New 2 Meter Radio to Launch to the ISS” and “Names in the News: KA3HDO Returns to AMSAT as VP of Human Spaceflight,” see: http://www.arnewsline.org/storage/scripts/nsln1825.txt *********************** July 30, 2012 1. Upcoming School Contact Space Jam 6, which will be held at the Octave Chanute Aerospace Museum in Rantoul, Illinois, has been scheduled for an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact on Sunday, August 5 at 10:06 UTC. The Space Jamboree Workshop is the Midwest’s largest technology oriented gathering of Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. The theme this year is “The History of Aviation.” Subjects that will be taught and merit badges that may be earned include the following: Space Exploration, Radio, Aviation, Electronics, Robotics, Soil/Water Conservation, Environmental Science, Energy, Metalwork, Computers, Geology, Nuclear Science, Engineering and Inventing. The Jamboree is working with the University of Illinois, Purdue, and DePauw Universities (high altitude balloon launches, FIRST Robotics, Nuclear Engineering) to help Scouts plan for the future. 2. Girls from WE@RIT Camp Speak with Sunita Williams in Space Fifth and sixth grade girls attending the “Everyday Engineering” camp at Kate Gleason College, sponsored by the Women in Engineering @ Rochester Institute of Technology (WE@RIT) in New York took part in an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact on Monday, July 23. The girls talked with on-orbit astronaut Sunita Williams, KD5PLB who currently holds the record for longest space flight by a woman. The contact highlighted camp activities that focus on engineering-based themes to teach the engineering design process through hands-on build and design activities. This year’s camp theme is “World in Motion.” Also attending the contact were students from the grade 7-9 camp (held two weeks ago), the students attending this week’s RoboCamp, and the Lil' Kids on Campus Space Week kids. To view video of the contact, see: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdlpcw_VD4M 3. Virginia Air and Space Center Contact Successful On Thursday, July 26, Sunita Williams, KD5PLB held an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact with youth volunteers from the Virginia Air and Space Center in Hampton, Virginia. The volunteers give tours, provide demonstrations to the public and support the center in its efforts to educate the public. The center has its own amateur radio exhibit and during these summer months, it also welcomes NASA exhibits Destination Station, the Orion Test Vehicle and the Mars Science Laboratory. 4. AMSAT News Service on ARISS The July 29 AMSAT (Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation) News Service bulletin (ANS-211) announced the return of Frank Bauer to the position of VP-Human Spaceflight. Bauer will resume this position on August 1. Also given in the report was a status on the new Ericsson that will replace the old VHF radio in the Columbus Module. The new radio is currently scheduled to launch on 49P in November. For more information, see: http://amsat.org/pipermail/ans/2012/000637.html *********************** July 23, 2012 1. Upcoming School Contacts An Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact is planned for the Women in Engineering @ Rochester Institute of Technology (WE@RIT) in Rochester, New York on Monday, July 23 (13:27 UTC) as it hosts its pre-engineering summer camps. This year’s camp theme is “World in Motion.” The main camp activities revolve around engineering-based themes to teach the engineering design process and to have participants understand engineering projects and concepts through hands-on build and design activities. A mix of RIT engineering laboratory experiences, team building activities, project management, logical thinking, and problem solving will be incorporated. The summer camp services girls entering grades 5-9. An Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact has been tentatively scheduled for the Virginia Air and Space Center located in Hampton, Virginia on Thursday, July 26 at 14:05 UTC. The contact is part of a comprehensive education plan which will pique students’ interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). 2. ESA Space Camp Radios Joe Acaba On Space Station On Sunday, July 22, ESA Space Camp, held at St. Columba’s College, Dublin, Ireland, took part in an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact via telebridge station W6SRJ in California. Joe Acaba, KE5DAR on the ISS participated in the Q&A session, answering the youths' 21 questions. The event drew an audience of over 160. The space camp was attended by children of ESA employees who learned about space through guest speakers, hands-on activities and field trips. 3. ARISS International Team Teleconference Held The monthly ARISS International Team meeting was held on Tuesday, July 17. Discussion topics included the ARISS paperwork filed with the ITU and an update on ARISS radio equipment in the Columbus Module. Minutes have been posted: http://ariss.rac.ca/arisstel2012-07-17.htm 4. Amateur Radio Newsline Covers ARISS The July 20 Amateur Radio Newsline report #1823 had a story about new ISS crew members Sunita Williams, KD5PLB, Yuri Malenchenko, RK3DUP, and Aki Hoshide, KE5DNI, who arrived at the space station on July 17. “Ham Radio in Space: New Astro-Hams Arrive at the ISS as Part of the Expedition 32 Crew” may be viewed at: http://www.arnewsline.org/storage/scripts/nsln1823.txt 5. AMSAT News Service on ARISS The July 22 AMSAT (Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation) News Service bulletin (ANS-204) included two ARISS-related items. The first item covers Moon Day 2012 that was held in Dallas, Texas over the weekend and was supported by ARISS and AMSAT representatives. The second covers new Expedition 32 crew members on ISS. “AMSAT and ARISS Support Moon Day 2012 at Dallas Love Field Air Museum” and “Three Hams Arrive + Three Hams Aboard = Six Hams Aboard ISS” may be found here: http://amsat.org/pipermail/ans/2012/000636.html *********************** July 16, 2012 1. Upcoming School Contact ESA Space Camp, which is being held at St. Columba’s College, Whitechurch, Dublin, Ireland, has been scheduled for an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact on Sunday, July 22 at 17:25 UTC via telebridge station W6SRJ in California. The ARISS contact is part of an educational program of which some activities are based around André Kuipers’ mission, Spaceship Earth. Children at the camp will have 2 weeks of space education covering the themes of Climate, Biodiversity and the Human Body as well as Earth Observation and the Solar System. The children will also receive lessons about how to communicate with the crew on the ISS from a ham radio expert. 2. ARISS Contact with Women in STEM An Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact was held with Women in STEM High School Aerospace Scholars in Houston, Texas on Tuesday, July 10 via telebridge station W6SRJ in California. The high school girls came from across the U.S. to participate in the program which provided them the opportunity to plan a space exploration mission and to learn from women that work at NASA. Joe Acaba, KE5DAR on ISS answered 23 questions during the Q&A session. Approximately 150 students and guests were present for the event. Video may be viewed here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igM-2qegJWo&feature=youtu.be 3. ARISS Exhibit at Moon Day 2012 Moon Day 2012 will be held at the Frontiers of Flight Museum at Love Field in Dallas, Texas on July 21 to commemorate Neil Armstrong’s walk on the moon on July 21, 1969. The event will feature space exhibits, demonstrations and other space activities. AMSAT and ARISS will set up a booth to showcase amateur radio satellites including a model of the Fox-1 satellite and will provide and distribute information on the ARISS program. http://nightsky.jpl.nasa.gov/event-view.cfm?Event_ID=37613 4. Expedition 30/31Crew Scheduled for Debrief Astronauts Don Pettit and André Kuipers (Expedition 30/31) will take part in a debrief session to give feedback on the ARISS program. The debrief is currently scheduled for August 15. 5. AMSAT News Service on ARISS On July 15, AMSAT (Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation) posted an article in its News Service bulletin (ANS-197) on the Soyuz TMA-05M crew that was launched on July 15 and is headed toward the Space Station. “NASA TV to Cover Three Hams Docking at ISS” may be found at: http://amsat.org/pipermail/ans/2012/000634.html 6. ARRL Covers ARISS News The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) ran a story in its July 12 ARRL Letter about the new crew members joining Expedition 32 on the ISS. “Three Hams Scheduled to Head to ISS This Weekend” may be viewed at: http://www.arrl.org/news/three-hams-scheduled-to-head-to-iss-this-weekend ARRL’s August QST included a few ARISS items as well: There was a long article about long-haul truckers who enjoy Amateur Radio contacts on the road, made from their rigs. Author Norm Fusaro (W3IZ) reported about one particular trucker, "Of the thousands of contacts he has made from his truck John recalls making a packet connection to the International Space Station as one of his most memorable contacts. John said he made this contact at a rest stop." A short article in the "Up Front" column covered ARISS team member Farrell Winder, W8ZCF, and Jeff Winder, KB8VCO, who described how they and two other hams worldwide managed to make a 70 cm SSTV contact via ARISSat-1 late last year. Farrell said it was "a lot of hard earned fun, challenge and education." Farrell was on the ARISS team. *********************** July 9, 2012 1. Upcoming School Contacts An Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact has been slated for Women in STEM High School Aerospace Scholars in Houston, Texas on Tuesday, July 10 at 15:17 UTC using ground station W6SRJ in California for the telebridge. The contact is part of a comprehensive education plan which will pique students’ interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). ESA Space Camp, which will be held at St. Columba’s College, Whitechurch, Dublin, Ireland, has been scheduled for an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact on Sunday, July 22 at 17:25 UTC via telebridge station W6SRJ in California. The ARISS contact is part of an educational program of which some activities are based around André Kuipers’ mission, Spaceship Earth. Children at the camp will have 2 weeks of space education covering the themes of Climate, Biodiversity and the Human Body as well as Earth Observation and the Solar System. The children will also receive lessons about how we communicate with the crew on the ISS from a ham radio expert. 2. Nunavik Youth Connect with ISS On July 4, youth attending the Cirqiniq Summer Camp in Kuujjuaq, Quebec (Nunavik), Canada spoke with on-orbit astronaut Joe Acaba, KE5DAR via an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact. Telebridge station K6DUE in Greenbelt, Maryland provided the radio connection. The contact was held in conjunction with a circus camp being offered to youth, ages 13 to 17, in Nunavik that was led by a group of instructors affiliated with Cirque du Soleil®. The campers learned tight-wire walking, aerial acrobatics and juggling among other skills and ended the session with a parade and community show. This year’s theme was “Planets and the Universe.” Local media covered the event. 3. ARRL Article on ISS Crew Change The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) ran a story in its July 5 ARRL Letter about the crew change taking place on the ISS. “Trio from ISS Lands Safely In Kazakhstan” may be viewed at: http://www.arrl.org/news/trio-from-iss-lands-safely-in-kazakhstan 4. Amateur Radio Newsline Covers ARISS The July 6 Amateur Radio Newsline report #1821 included an article on Penn State University students who have designed a new supercapacitor battery for the next ARISSat. For more information, see “Ham Radio in Space: Students Design Supercapacitor Battery for ARISSat” at: http://www.arnewsline.org/storage/scripts/nsln1821.txt *********************** July 2, 2012 1. Upcoming School Contact Cirqiniq Summer Camp in Kuujjuaq, Quebec (Nunavik), Canada has been scheduled for an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact on Wednesday, July 4 at 14:23 UTC via station K6DUE in Greenbelt, Maryland. This is the third annual circus camp being offered to youth, ages 13 to 17, in Nunavik. Approximately 80 youth will gather to learn skills in circus and other art activities in Kuujjuaq. It will be led by a group of instructors and junior instructors who have been trained in social circus. The camp will end with a parade and community show. This year’s theme is “Planets and the Universe.” 2. Virginia Contact to be Rescheduled The ARISS contact that was scheduled with the Virginia Air and Space Center in Hampton, Virginia on Tuesday, June 26 was not successful due to ground station issues. ARISS will try to reschedule this event for the week of July 23. 3. ARISS Contact Featured at STEM Conference On Thursday, June 28, an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact was held between Expedition 30/31 crewmember André Kuipers and students attending the STEM Solutions Youth Summit which was part of the U.S. News STEM Solutions 2012 conference in Dallas, Texas. Telebridge station K6DUE in Maryland provided the radio hookup. The contact, a highlight of the event, provided youth the opportunity to ask Kuipers about life and work in space. Leland Melvin, Associate Administrator for Education, and Charlie Bolden, NASA Administrator, attended the conference. 4. AMSAT News Service on ARISS AMSAT (Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation) posted 2 ARISS-related articles in its News Service bulletin (ANS-183) on July 1. The first covers the ARISS contact held with Scouts Canada on June 23. The second item is about the crew change taking place on the ISS titled, “Soyuz to Fly 3 Hams Up, 3 Hams Staying, 3 Hams Coming Home.” For more information, see: http://amsat.org/pipermail/ans/2012/000630.html *********************** June 25, 2012 1. Upcoming School Contacts An Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact has been scheduled for the Virginia Air and Space Center located in Hampton, Virginia on Tuesday, June 26 at 18:22 UTC. The contact is part of a comprehensive education plan which will pique students’ interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). The 2012 STEM Summit in Dallas, Texas has been slated for an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact on Thursday, June 28 at 18:11 UTC via telebridge station K6DUE in Maryland. Leland Melvin, Associate Administrator for Education, and Charlie Bolden, NASA Administrator, are expected to be in attendance. NASA’s Third Rock Radio plans to air the contact audio. http://www.rfcmedia.com/thirdrockradio/ 2. Canada Scouts Contact Successful On Saturday, June 23, Scouts Canada, Nova Scotia Council in Dartmouth, Canada called on-orbit astronaut André Kuipers, PI9ISS during an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact via telebridge station VK5ZAI in Australia. The contact was held as part of a space event with Scouts of various ages in conjunction with groups earning their Science Badge awards. Over 150 were in attendance. The contact was Webcast and the presentation was captured for retransmission by Aliant IPTV Atlantic during July/August and for development of an edited CD for distribution to interested parties. There was excellent media coverage including 3 television stations and two newspapers. A 20 minute radio interview was held with "the Rick Howe Show" on Friday, June 22 on Amateur Radio - ARISS and Field Day Operations. In addition, an article is being prepared for periodicals: Royal Astronomical Society, Halifax Public Libraries, Radio Amateurs of Canada. 3. ARISS International Team Meeting Held The ARISS-International monthly teleconference was held on Tuesday, June 19. Discussion topics included a Columbus Module status. Minutes have been posted: http://ariss.rac.ca/arisstel2012-06-19.htm 4. AMSAT News Service on ARISS AMSAT (Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation) News Service bulletin (ANS-176) ran two ARISS-related articles on June 24. “Video Posted From ARISS Contact with 8N3KN in Japan” provides a link to view the recent contact held with Kawachinagano Eastside Junior High School students. The second item, “ARISS Contact Planned as NASA Hosts Future Female Explorers” talks about the upcoming contact planned with the Women in STEM High School Aerospace Scholars project (WISH). For more information, see: http://amsat.org/pipermail/ans/2012/000629.html *********************** June 18, 2012 1. Upcoming School Contact An Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact has been scheduled for Scouts Canada, Nova Scotia Council in Dartmouth, Canada on Saturday, June 23 at 17:10 UTC via station VK5ZAI in Australia. A “Space Program Event” will be held with Scouts of various ages in conjunction with groups earning their Science Badge Awards. The youth will learn about space, the ISS and amateur radio. 2. Successful ARISS Contacts Held ESA-ESTEC arranged for an ARISS contact that was held on Tuesday, June 12 at the Ruimtevaart Museum in Lelystad, the Netherlands with students that had taken part in André Kuipers’ Mission: Spaceship Earth competition. Through this program, Kuipers gave assignments to Dutch school children and the winners of the competition were invited to the event. Kuipers chatted with students and answered their questions about space. ARISS delegate Bertus Hüsken, PE1KEH attended the event and presented ARISS activities to the audience. Telebridge station W6SRJ in California handled the radio connection. To view video of the event, see: http://www.ruimteschipaarde.nl/ruimtelog/Winnaars-Missie-2-leggen-radiocontact-met-Andr-Kuipers/186 Students from St. Anne’s Primary School in Strathfield South, NSW, Australia spoke with Joe Acaba, KE5DAR on the ISS through an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact on Wednesday, June 13 via telebridge station LU8YY in Argentina. Approximately 150 people attended the event. The contact was integrated into the space curriculum across all grades and was held along with the school’s science fair. 3. Amateur Radio Newsline Covers ARISS The June 15 Amateur Radio Newsline report #1818 included an item about the recent move of packet operations to the UHF radio in the Columbus Module. “Ham Radio in Space: ARISS Digipeter Moves to 437.550 MHZ” may be viewed at: http://www.arnewsline.org/storage/scripts/nsln1818.txt 4. Astronaut Training Status Barry Wilmore took part in an ARISS introductory class on Monday, June 11. Wilmore is slated to fly with Expedition 41 in September 2014. *********************** June 11, 2012 1. Upcoming School Contacts An ARISS contact with ESA-ESTEC in the Netherlands has been scheduled for an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact on Tuesday, June 12 at 09:25 UTC via telebridge station W6SRJ in California. This activity is part of an educational program around André Kuipers’ Mission: Spaceship Earth. Part of this program consists of mission assignments Kuipers gives to Dutch school children. The winners of each challenge are then invited to the radio contact. Other program activities include lessons and experiments. St. Anne’s Primary School, Strathfield South, NSW, Australia has been scheduled for an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact on Wednesday, June 13 at 10:31 UTC via telebridge station LU8YY in Argentina. The contact will be incorporated into the curriculum across all grades and a contest held to choose the questions to ask of the astronaut. A Science Fair with a focus on space will be held the day of the contact. Each class is responsible for investigating one aspect of space/space exploration and for creating information banks, posters, displays, interactive activities and games for other classes to engage in. The creation of the activities and games includes knowledge of basic circuitry and the use of SMART Board technology. Parents and community members have been invited. 2. Japanese Contact Successful On Wednesday, June 6, students attending Kawatinagano Higashi Junior High School in Kawatinagano, Osaka, Japan took part in an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact with André Kuipers, PI9ISS on ISS. At the beginning of the contact the school was experiencing a power blackout, but recovered in time so that all children were able to ask their questions. The event supplemented lessons about space and the ISS. 3. AMSAT News Service on ARISS On June 10, AMSAT (Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation) News Service bulletin (ANS-162) ran an article titled, “Status of ISS Ham Radio Operations.” The item gives an update on packet operations that were moved to the Columbus Module UHF radio in order to accommodate the Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) which is using the same power outlet the Kenwood radio uses in the Service Module. The ATV will remain docked to the ISS until September. See: http://amsat.org/pipermail/ans/2012/000625.html 4. Astronaut Training Status Astronaut Jeannette Epps took and passed her amateur radio license exam last week and was given the callsign KF5QNU. She is not assigned to any future ISS expedition crews at this time. *********************** June 4, 2012 1. Upcoming School Contact Kawatinagano Higashi Junior High School in Kawatinagano, Osaka, Japan has been scheduled for an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact on Wednesday, June 6 at 11:18 UTC. The contact will supplement lessons about the ISS and its mission. 2. Australian Contact Successful On Friday, June 1, an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact was held between on-orbit astronaut Don Pettit, KD5MDT and St. Mary’s Catholic Primary School in Hay, NSW, Australia via telebridge station VK6MJ. Approximately 200 students and guests were in attendance. Students were well prepared for the radio connection and had been learning about space, the Space Station and astronauts. Drawings, pictures and written articles created by the youth were on display at the school. Students had all their questions answered and gave a big “Thank you” to Pettit before the ISS went over the horizon. 3. Burbank Debrief Held On Wednesday, May 30, ARISS team members participated in an ISS Ham debrief session with Expedition 29/30 crew member Dan Burbank. The astronaut provided feedback on the ISS Ham radio equipment and ARISS school contacts. His feedback will aid the ARISS team in keeping its program and procedures up-to-date. 4. ARISS in ARRL QST The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) had a few items about ARISS in its June QST. The “Media Hits” column included: --mention of the PR hit in Patch.com titled, "Parkside Elementary To International Space Station, Over" regarding Parkside Elementary's contact with the ISS --mention of the PR hit in the Southwest News-Herald titled, "Liberty Junior Makes Space Station Contact" regarding Liberty Jr. High's contact with the ISS 5. AMSAT News Service on ARISS On June 3, AMSAT (Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation) News Service bulletin (ANS-155) ran an article titled, “STEM Education Identified as Critical for Continued Rides to Space.” The item covers AMSAT’s education goals and lists its needs for support. See: http://amsat.org/pipermail/ans/2012/000624.html *********************** May 29, 2012 1. Upcoming School Contact An Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact has been scheduled for St. Mary’s Catholic Primary School in Hay, NSW, Australia on Friday, June 1 at 10:44 UTC via Australian telebridge station VK6MJ. Students are learning about space and are involved in creative writing projects using the “My Life as an Astronaut” theme. Older students are working on informational reports focused on life in space and the occupation of astronauts. 2. Northland Preparatory Academy Calls ISS On Thursday, May 24, students from Northland Preparatory Academy in Flagstaff, Arizona participated in an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact with Joe Acaba, KE5DAR on the ISS. Approximately 550 students, staff and administrators, as well as Dr. Jeffrey Hall, director of the Lowell Observatory, and the mayor were in attendance. The contact complemented a Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) curriculum. Video of the event, including Dr. Hall’s presentation, has been posted on-line. See: http://spacescienceteaching.blogspot.com/ The Arizona Daily Sun ran an article on the event which may be found here: http://azdailysun.com/news/local/education/voice-from-the-final-frontier-at-npa/article_2a397493-3985-58b5-a833-7f3780a66479.html 3. Burbank Debrief Scheduled Astronaut Dan Burbank, KC5ZSX will participate in a debrief session with ARISS members on May 30. Burbank participated in many ARISS contacts during his Expedition 29/30 mission which ended on April 27. 4. AMSAT News Service on ARISS The AMSAT (Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation) News Service bulletin (ANS-148) posted on May 27 has an article titled, “ARISS Call For Volunteers.” It talks about the Dayton presentations given by Mark Hammond, N8MH on ARISS mentor and ARISS ground station opportunities and provides the ARRL Web site link (http://www.arrl.org/ariss-volunteers) which details those opportunities. See: http://amsat.org/pipermail/ans/2012/000622.html 5. Amateur Radio Newsline Covers ARISS The May 25 Amateur Radio Newsline report #1815 included an article about some Penn State Behrend students who “developed a super capacitor based energy storage device designed to replace the silver-zinc battery on ARISSat type satellites.” To view, “Ham Radio in Space: Student Project May Fly in Space,” go to: http://www.arnewsline.org/storage/scripts/nsln1815.txt *********************** May 21, 2012 1. Upcoming School Contact Northland Preparatory Academy in Flagstaff, Arizona has been scheduled for an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact on Thursday, May 24 at 17:00 UTC. The contact is part of a comprehensive education plan which will pique students’ interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). 2. ARISS International Team Meeting Held The ARISS International Team monthly meeting was held on May 15. Discussions included a status of the Ham TV project. Minutes have been posted: http://ariss.rac.ca/arisstel2012-05-15.htm 3. Astronaut Training Status Chris Hadfield, KC5RNJ/VA3OOG and Thomas Marshburn, KE5HOC, both slated to fly with Expedition 34, acquired their preflight training during a session on May 14. Alexander Gerst, KF5ONO (Expedition 40) took his introductory/ basic operations class on May 9. Kevin Ford, KF5GPP is scheduled for a preflight session on May 22. He is scheduled to launch with the Expedition 33 crew in October 2012. 4. ARRL Site for ARISS Volunteers The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) has a new Web page for ARISS-US volunteers. For more information about these opportunities, see: http://www.arrl.org/ariss-volunteers 5. AMSAT News Service on ARISS The AMSAT (Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation) News Service bulletin (ANS-141) posted on May 20 contained two ARISS-related items. The first piece covered Dayton Hamvention activities which included the presentations given by Mark Hammond, N8MH about ARISS mentor and ARISS ground station opportunities. A second item was posted about the new Expedition 31 ham crew members that arrived at the ISS last week. See: http://amsat.org/pipermail/ans/2012/000620.html 6. Amateur Radio Newsline Covers ARISS The May 18 Amateur Radio Newsline report #1814 included an article on the new crew members that joined Expedition 31 on the ISS. The article, “Ham Radio in Space: Three More Hams Launch toward the ISS” may be found at: http://www.arnewsline.org/storage/scripts/nsln1814.txt *********************** May 14, 2012 1. Farnsworth Contact Successful An Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact was held between youth at Farnsworth Aerospace PK-8 Magnet School in St. Paul, Minnesota and on-orbit astronaut Don Pettit, KD5MDT on Monday, May 7. Approximately 100 students as well as some school board members and local dignitaries attended the event. The contact was simulcast throughout the school for those classes not present. It was held to complement students’ studies in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). Additionally, local hams assisting with the contact increased their club membership from 30 to 50 members since agreeing to support the contact. See: http://www.n9xh.org/ for photos leading up to and including the contact. Local media covered the event which even made the “Around the Nation” section of USA Today for Minnesota. KARE 11 carried the news: http://www.kare11.com/news/article/975550/396/St-Paul-students-talk-with-astronaut-aboard-space-station 2. AMSAT News Service on ARISS On May 13, the AMSAT (Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation) News Service bulletin (ANS-134) posted an item about the recruitment of ARISS mentors and ground station operators. Mark Hammond, N8MH will give presentations at Dayton Hamvention on Friday and Saturday, May 18 and 19, at 4pm in the ARRL stage area. See: http://amsat.org/pipermail/ans/2012/000618.html 3. ARRL Covers New ISS Ham Crew The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) posted an article about the new crew members headed to the ISS on May 14/15. The story, “Three Hams Venture to ISS Next Week,” may be found at: http://www.arrl.org/news/three-hams-venture-to-iss-next-week 4. Astronaut Training Status A preflight session is planned for Chris Hadfield, KC5RNJ/VA3OOG and Thomas Marshburn, KE5HOC on May 14. Both are scheduled to fly with Expedition 34 in November 2012. Kevin Ford, KF5GPP is also scheduled for a preflight session on May 22. He is slated to launch with the Expedition 33 crew in October 2012. *********************** May 7, 2012 1. Upcoming School Contact An Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact has been scheduled for Farnsworth Aerospace PK-8 Magnet School in St. Paul, Minnesota on Monday, May 7 at 16:14 UTC. The ARISS contact will complement a curriculum which will pique students’ interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). 2. ARISS - Virginia Contact Successful On Wednesday, May 2, the Mariners’ Museum in Newport News, Virginia experienced a successful Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact with Don Pettit, KD5MDT via telebridge station IK1SLD in Italy. Groups in Virginia, Louisiana, New York, and Michigan were video conferenced together for the event. Approximately 350 students at the four locations got in seventeen questions before ISS went over the horizon. The contact highlighted a comprehensive Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education plan. 3. AMSAT News Service on ARISS The AMSAT (Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation) News Service bulletin (ANS-127) posted on May 6 included information about the upcoming AMSAT Forum at Dayton Hamvention. Mark Hammond, N8MH will give a presentation on education activities that AMSAT is involved with and Gould Smith, WA4SXM will give a talk on “ARISSat-1 Operation in Space.” Both are scheduled for Saturday, May 19. See: http://amsat.org/pipermail/ans/2012/000616.html 4. Ham Nation Features Flabob Contact The ARISS contact with Astronaut Don Pettit and Flabob Airport Preparatory Academy students in Jurupa Valley, California that occurred on April 19, 2012, was featured on the May 1 episode (#46) of the Bob Heil & Gordon West "Ham Nation" video podcast. The video is now available on TwiT TV and Flabob sites. Ham Nation: http://twit.tv/hn Flabob site: http://www.iss-flabob.com 5. Astronaut Training Status An introductory/basic operations session is planned for Alexander Gerst, KF5ONO on Wednesday, May 9. Gerst is scheduled to fly with Expedition 40 in May 2014. *********************** April 30, 2012 1. Upcoming School Contact The Mariners’ Museum, Newport News, Virginia has been scheduled for an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact on Wednesday, May 2 at 16:14 UTC via telebridge station IK1SLD in Italy. The ARISS contact is part of a comprehensive education plan which will pique students’ interest in STEM. 2. Calolziocorte, Italy Contact Successful On Tuesday, April 24, students from Istituto Comprensivo di Calolziocorte – Scuola Media in Calolziocorte, Italy spoke with Don Pettit, KD5MDT via an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact. Telebridge station LU8YY in Argentina provided the radio connection. An audience of 200 students, visitors and media were present for the event and listened as Pettit answered eighteen questions and exchanged greetings with the youth. A presentation on ARISS and amateur radio was also given to the students. The contact highlighted a curriculum covering astronautics, astronomy, radio techniques and English. 3. New Proposal Cycle for ARISS-US Contacts NASA Teaching From Space (TFS) office has announced a new proposal cycle for ARISS-US contacts. Proposals may be submitted through July 2, 2012 for contacts that will be scheduled in the November 1, 2012 - May 1, 2013 timeframe. Four informational sessions will be held to answer any questions concerning the proposal process. To attend a session or to have questions answered, contact TFS at JSC-TFS- ARISS@mail.nasa.gov or call 281-244-1919. For more information, see the TFS Web site: http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/teachingfromspace/students/ariss.html 4. ARRL QST In the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) May QST column titled "Up Front" is a short article about the upcoming Dayton Hamvention. The article features the highlight of last year -- where Doug Wheelock, KF5BOC, participated in ARRL and AMSAT activities at Hamvention, in particular, spending a lot of time with young people to interest them in technology and Amateur Radio. There is a good-sized photo of Doug with a crowd of kids. *********************** April 23, 2012 1. Upcoming School Contact Istituto Comprensivo di Calolziocorte – Scuola Media in Calolziocorte, Italy has been scheduled for an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact on Tuesday, April 24 at 13:32 UTC via telebridge station LU8YY in Argentina. The contact will be integrated into lessons covering astronautics, astronomy, radio techniques and English. 2. Flabob Airport Students Speak with ISS Astronaut Don Pettit On-orbit astronaut Don Pettit, KD5MDT participated in a successful Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact with students from Flabob Airport Preparatory Academy in Riverside, California on Thursday, April 19 via telebridge station IK1SLD in Italy. The contact complemented Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects that the students have been studying such as the history and purpose of the ISS, rocket fabrication, and radio technology among other topics. An audience of over 200 attended including Flabob students, parents, city council members, Gordon West and Don Arnold from Ham Nation, as well as other dignitaries. Several media outlets covered the event and more information is available on Flabob’s site: http://www.iss-flabob.com Ham Nation is working on the contact video for its May 1 broadcast. Photos and video from the Press-Enterprise may be found here: http://www.pe.com/photos/photos-news/20120419-jurupa-valley-students-talk-to-the-international-space-station.ece http://www.pe.com/video/?bcid=1572015764001 3. New Proposal Cycle for ARISS-US Contacts NASA Teaching From Space (TFS) office has announced a new proposal cycle for ARISS-US contacts. Proposals may be submitted from April 23 through July 2, 2012 for contacts that will be scheduled beginning in January 2013. Informational sessions will be held to answer any questions concerning the proposal process. To attend a session or to have questions answered, contact TFS at JSC-TFS- ARISS@mail.nasa.gov or call 281-244-1919. For more information, see the TFS Web site: http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/teachingfromspace/students/ariss.html 4. ARISS-International Meeting Held The ARISS International Team monthly teleconference was held on Tuesday, April 17. World Amateur Radio Day and the HamTV status were discussed. Minutes have been posted to the ARISS site: http://ariss.rac.ca/arisstel2012-04-17.htm 5. AMSAT News Service on ARISS The AMSAT (Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation) News Service bulletin (ANS-113) posted on April 22 included a status on three recent ARISS contacts with students in Quito, Ecuador, Iruma, Japan and Riverside, California. See: http://amsat.org/pipermail/ans/2012/000611.html *********************** April 16, 2012 1. Upcoming School Contact Flabob Airport Preparatory Academy in Riverside, California has been scheduled for an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact on Thursday, April 19 at 17:03 UTC via telebridge station IK1SLD in Italy. The ARISS contact will complement a comprehensive education plan which will pique students’ interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). For more information about the event, see: http://www.iss-flabob.com 2. Astronaut Don Pettit Radios Ecuadorian School On Friday, April 13, an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact was held between students from Academia Cotopaxi in Quito, Ecuador and on-orbit astronaut Don Pettit, KD5MDT via station IK1SLD in Italy. Cotopaxi, an international American school with students in grades pre-K to 12, has a strong relationship with Ecuador’s astronaut, Ronnie Nader, and the Ecuadorian Civilian Space Agency (EXA). It utilized several NASA resources in its curriculum covering space, technology and radio. Approximately 500 students and visitors were present for the event. 3. Iruma Contact Successful Scouts from the Troop 2nd & 3rd Iruma Group, Saitama Scout Council, Scout Association of Japan participated in an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact on Saturday, April 14. An audience of 70 people, including one magazine representative, turned out for the contact and listened as the Scouts had their questions about living on the ISS answered by on-orbit astronaut Dan Burbank, KC5ZSX. The Scouts have their own radio club, JQ1YWJ and many of the Scouts have been attending amateur radio classes to become licensed. 4. Amateur Radio Newsline Covers ARISS The April 13 Amateur Radio Newsline report #1809 included an item on the upcoming ARISS contact with Flabob Airport on Thursday, April 19. The article, “Ham Radio in Space: ISS Contact to Historic Flabob Airport” may be found at: http://www.arnewsline.org/storage/scripts/nsln1809.txt 5. AMSAT News Service on ARISS The AMSAT (Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation) News Service bulletin (ANS-106) that was posted on April 15 included a few ARISS-related items. The first piece is a reminder that during the Dayton Hamvention 2012, to be held May 18 – 20, informational sessions will be provided for those interested in becoming ARISS mentors. The second item covers the upcoming ARISS contact with Flabob Airport. For more information, see: http://amsat.org/pipermail/ans/2012/000609.html *********************** April 9, 2012 1. Upcoming School Contacts An Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact has been scheduled for Academia Cotopaxi, located in Quito, Ecuador on Friday, April 13 at 17:52 UTC via station IK1SLD in Italy. Cotopaxi is an international American school with 600 students in grades K-12. Students are learning about space technologies that revolve around the International Space Station as well as amateur radio fundamentals using the educator and student portions of the NASA Web site. The school already uses interactive technology such as SMART Boards and Document Cameras and using the ISS interactive on the NASA Web site helps make connections between curriculum objectives and real-life learning. NASA’s Digital Learning Network (DLN) regarding ham radios may also be used in the classroom. An Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact has been scheduled for Troop 2nd & 3rd Iruma Group, Saitama Scout Council Scout Association of Japan, Iruma, Japan, on Saturday, April 14 at 09:15 UTC. The Scouts have a ham radio club, JQ1YWJ and will learn about space through this activity. 2. Australian Students Radio ISS On Tuesday, April 3, St. Anthony's Parish Primary School in Canberra, Australia established an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact with Dan Burbank, KC5ZSX on the ISS via Australian telebridge station VK5ZAI. The contact was integrated into the school space curriculum. In addition to the contact, students participated in hands-on activities such as creating space-related posters and designing their own space stations. 3. Astronaut Training Status An introductory/basic operations session is planned for Alexander Gerst, KF5ONO on Wednesday, May 9. Gerst is scheduled to fly with Expedition 40 in May 2014. 4. Amateur Radio Newsline Covers ARISS On April 6, Amateur Radio Newsline report #1808 included a story about the sessions that will be held at Dayton Hamvention to recruit ARISS mentors. The article, “Ham Radio in Space: ARISS Mentor Introduction at Dayton 2012” may be found at: http://www.arnewsline.org/storage/scripts/nsln1808.txt *********************** April 2, 2012 1. Upcoming School Contact St Anthony's Parish Primary School in Canberra, Australia has been scheduled for an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact on Tuesday, April 3 at 08:15 UTC. This will be a telebridge contact via station VK5ZAI in Australia. The contact will be integrated into the school curriculum. For those students who have already taken the unit on space, the contact will reinforce those space concepts. For those students who have not yet learned about space, the contact will be used to spark an interest in the subject. Students will participate in a poster contest and will design their own space stations. 2. California Students Contact ISS Astronaut The amateur radio club at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, California arranged for an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact for elementary school students, 4H-club members and Scouts on Tuesday, March 27. The connection was made by telebridge station AH6NM in Hawaii. Approximately 150 students were in attendance. Local news station KSBY and the Cal Poly newspaper Mustang Daily covered the event; NASA-TV replayed the contact audio on March 28. The ARISS event complemented the science fair held to get students interested in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). To view the article, see: http://mustangdaily.net/radio-club-makes-contact-with-international-space-station/ and the news clip: http://www.ksby.com/videos/cal-poly-connects-with-outer-space/ 3. Amateur Radio Newsline Covers ARISS On March 30, Amateur Radio Newsline report #1807 ran an item on NASA’s new Web site and app. The article, “The Final Frontier: NASA Announces ISSLive! App” may be found at: http://www.arnewsline.org/storage/scripts/nsln1807.txt 4. AMSAT News Service on ARISS The AMSAT (Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation) News Service bulletin (ANS-092) posted on April 1 included a few items about ARISS. The first piece talks about the Dayton Hamvention 2012 which will be held May 18 – 20. AMSAT will have an ARISSat prototype on display and will hold sessions for those interested in becoming ARISS mentors. Also covered were the contacts held with Salem Elementary School in North Carolina and with the Swiss Air Force Base museum in Payerne. For more information, see: http://amsat.org/pipermail/ans/2012/000606.html *********************** March 26, 2012 1. Upcoming School Contact An Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact has been scheduled for California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, California on Tuesday, March 27 at 20:13 UTC via telebridge station AH6NM in Hawaii. The ARISS contact is part of a comprehensive education plan which will pique students’ interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). 2. Swiss Contact Successful An Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact was held between on-orbit astronaut André Kuipers, PI9ISS and electronic students at the museum "Clin d'Ailes," located on the Payerne Swiss Airforce Base on Wednesday, March 21. The museum’s ham radio club HB9SPACE connected with the ISS and the president of the Museum Foundation, Mr. Claude Nicollier, HB9CN, who is also the first Swiss astronaut, greeted Kuipers before the Q&A session. Approximately 100 guests were in attendance. After the contact, the students gave presentations on their payload consisting of video cameras, sensors and beacons which was launched in a stratospheric weather balloon on March 15. After the balloon burst, a search team retrieved the payload and students analyzed the data. More on the event and activities may be found at: http://www.hb4fr.ch/english/our-activities/ariss/index.php 3. North Carolina Students Radio ISS On Wednesday, March 21, students from Salem Elementary School in Apex, North Carolina and Don Pettit, KD5MDT on the ISS participated in an ARISS contact via station VK5ZAI in Australia. Approximately 650 students attended the event. The contact was the culmination of space-related lessons and activities incorporating NASA materials to interest students in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). It received media attention. See: http://www.newsobserver.com/2012/03/21/1949225/apex-school-phones-nasa-250-miles.html http://triangle.news14.com/content/top_stories/655325/apex-school-kids-talk-to-international-space-station-astronaut Listen to an interview with some of the students: http://www.wcpss.net/podcast/2012_march22_salem/index.mp3 4. ARISS International Team Meeting Held The ARISS International monthly teleconference was held on Tuesday, March 20. The HamTV discussion covered the meetings that ESA and NASA are engaging in to ensure coordination of the project. Minutes have been posted. http://ariss.rac.ca/arisstel2012-03-20.htm 5. AMSAT News Service on ARISS Mentors The March 25 AMSAT (Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation) News Service bulletin (ANS-085) included an item about the recruitment of ARISS mentors. An information session will be held at the Dayton Hamvention 2012 on May 18 and May 19. For details, see: http://amsat.org/pipermail/ans/2012/000604.html *********************** March 19, 2012 1. Upcoming School Contacts Centre de Formation de la Base Aérienne de Payerne, Switzerland has been scheduled for an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact on Wednesday, March 21 at 08:39 UTC. The contact will be held in the museum "Clin d'Ailes", located on the Payerne Swiss Airforce Base that has on display military aeronautics exhibits from the second half of the 20th century. Mr. Claude Nicollier, HB9CN, who is the first Swiss astronaut and president of the Museum Foundation, plans to attend the event. The Clin d’Ailes Swiss Air Force Museum Ham Radio Club, holding callsigns HB4FR and HB9SPACE, will set up its radio for the contact. Students plan to launch a stratospheric balloon equipped with video and photo cameras and sensors and beacons two weeks prior to the event. After the ARISS contact, they will present the videos, photos and the analysis of the recorded sensor data. Salem Elementary School in Apex, North Carolina has been scheduled for an ARISS contact on Wednesday, March 21 at 14:09 UTC via station VK5ZAI in Australia. This contact is part of a comprehensive education plan which will pique students’ interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). 2. Liberty Junior High Radios Don Pettit on ISS Students attending Liberty Junior High School in Burbank, Illinois experienced a very successful Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact on Wednesday, March 14. Over 800 students, teachers and guests were present as students put their questions to astronaut Don Pettit, KD5MDT on ISS. The ARISS contact highlighted the school’s comprehensive education plan covering Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) subject matter. Other activities students participated in included investigating thermal properties of different materials, building models of the ISS and exploring the cast distances of space and the effect of distance and radio waves. 3. Belgium Contact Successful An Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact was held on Friday, March 16 between Middenschool de Regenboog Bree in Bree, Belgium and on-orbit astronaut André Kuipers, PI9ISS. A newly licensed 14 year girl operated the radio during the event while students had all 15 of their prepared questions answered. The contact was carried out as part of a curriculum covering the micro-gravity environment, history of manned spaceflight, commercial spaceflight and the construction of the ISS. 4. Leone Acciaiuoli Students Question ISS Astronaut On Sunday, March 18, Dan Burbank, KC5ZSX fielded ten questions from youth attending the Istituto Tecnologico Statale Trasporti e Logistica “Leone Acciaiuoli” in Ortona, Italy via an ARISS contact. Approximately 200 people were in attendance, including representatives from two television stations. AMSAT-Italia also provided coverage, streaming video on the Internet. The contact complemented science courses taught at the school such as Navigation, Astronomy, Mathematics, Physics and Satellite Communications and was a featured activity during the International Day of Planetaria. 5. ARISS-U.S. Schools Selected The NASA Teaching From Space office received 27 U.S. proposals for ARISS contacts that will be scheduled during the second half of this year. The U.S. Selection Committee reviewed the proposals and selected 18 schools for these contacts. The schools will be notified of their status early this week. *********************** March 12, 2012 1. Upcoming School Contacts An Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact has been scheduled for Liberty Junior High School in Burbank, Illinois on Wednesday, March 14 at 18:14 UTC. The ARISS contact is part of a comprehensive education plan which will pique students’ interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). An Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact has been scheduled for Middenschool de Regenboog Bree, Bree, Belgium on Friday, March 16 at 10:10 UTC. Students are learning about the micro-gravity environment and how the human body is affected. They are also learning about the history of manned spaceflight, commercial spaceflight, the construction of the ISS, and safety concerns. This contact is planned in the Dutch language with Astronaut André Kuipers. An ARISS contact has been scheduled for Istituto Tecnologico Statale Trasporti e Logistica “Leone Acciaiuoli”, Ortona, Italy on Sunday, March 18 at 11:31 UTC. The Ortona Maritime Institute “Leone Acciaiuoli” (I.T.N) is a technical high school that prepares the student for a career as a merchant ship officer or to continue his university studies in the field of engineering disciplines. Among the subjects taught at the school are navigation, astronomy, celestial navigation, satellite navigation, telecommunications (including satellite telecommunications), mathematics and physics. Since 1991, the Institute has taken part in the "International Day of Planetaria” which provides an opportunity for educating the public in the areas of planetaria, science and technology. On this day, the public is able to visit the Planetarium, laboratories, astronomical telescope and other astronomical equipment. The ARISS contact will be held as part of the day’s activities. 2. California Students Radio Dan Burbank on Space Station On Monday, March 5, Dilworth Elementary School in San Jose, California participated in an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact with Dan Burbank, KC5ZSX. Burbank fielded 19 questions put to him by the students about the challenges encountered while living in space. The contact took place during the NASA Destination Station exhibit at The Tech Museum located nearby and complemented lessons on Science Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). 3. Astronaut André Kuipers Answers Children’s Questions via ARISS An Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact was held between André Kuipers and school children at the Space Expo in Noordwijk, Netherlands on Tuesday, March 6 via station ON4ISS in Belgium. The radio activity was part of an educational program around Kuipers’ mission Spaceship Earth which targets youth who are 10-14 years of age. Part of this program consists of mission assignments that Kuipers gives to Dutch schoolchildren. The winners of each challenge were invited to the radio contact. Other activities included lessons and experiments. 4. Hams who Experimented with ARISSat Make the News Farrell and Jeff Winder, the father and son who helped in the development of SuitSat-1, made the news recently when they used ARISSat’s transponder and after several tries, successfully sent and received a picture of Farrell Winder's automobile license plate. Community Press posted the story, “Father, son team up in 'outer space'.” See: http://communitypress.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/C2/20120301/NEWS/303010057/ 5. NASA Web Site Supports STEM Education A new NASA Web site and application, “ISS Live,” supports Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) education. The site provides live data from the ISS and includes lessons that can be used in the classroom, with more to be added in the near future. Also coming is a blog where educators may share their ideas and experiences. See: http://spacestationlive.jsc.nasa.gov/ 6. Amateur Radio Newsline Covers ARISS On March 9, Amateur Radio Newsline report #1804 talked about Richard Garriott’s documentary covering his flight in space and use of amateur radio. Another story talked about Canadian ham astronaut Chris Hadfield, VAOOG who will become the first Canadian commander of the ISS. “Names in the News: W5LFL and W5KWQ – Man on a Mission – The Movie” and “Ham Radio in Space: VA3OOG to be First Canadian to Command the ISS” may be viewed at: http://www.arnewsline.org/storage/scripts/nsln1804.txt 7. AMSAT News Service on ARISS The March 11 AMSAT (Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation) News Service bulletin (ANS-071) included a link to a HamRadioNow interview, posted on Southgate Amateur Radio Club’s Web site, with Lou McFadin, W5DID at the Orlando HamCation where he talked about ARISSat-1. To view the video, see: http://tinyurl.com/LouMcFadin *********************** March 5, 2012 1. Upcoming School Contacts Dilworth Elementary School in San Jose, California has been scheduled for an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact on Monday, March 5 at 18:33 UTC. The ARISS contact is part of a comprehensive education plan which will pique students’ interest in Science Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). An Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact has been scheduled for ESA ESTEC in Noordwijk, Netherlands on Tuesday, March 6 at 13:11 UTC via station ON4ISS in Belgium. The radio activity will be part of an educational program around André Kuipers' mission Spaceship Earth which targets children who are 10-14 years of age. Part of this program consists of mission assignmentsKuipers gives to Dutch schoolchildren. The winners of each challenge will be invited to the radio contact. Other activities include lessons and experiments. 2. ESA Awards ARISS Contact to Winners of Competition Students from three schools, the American School of the Hague, the International School of Amsterdam and the British School in the Netherlands, took part in an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact on Monday, February 27 via station IK1SLD in Italy. This ARISS contact with astronaut André Kuipers was offered as a prize by the European Space Agency (ESA) to those schools who submitted the best suggestions for experiments or demonstrations that could be performed in microgravity on board the ISS using common everyday items. The youth were given lessons on radio signals and communications which involved local radio ham experts. 3. Atlanta, Georgia Youth Radio ISS Astronaut On Friday, March 2, an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact was held between astronaut Don Pettit, KD5MDT on the ISS and Parkside Elementary School in Atlanta, Georgia. The radio link was provided by station K6DUE in Greenbelt, Maryland. Questions were asked concerning the education and training needed to become an astronaut and about how space affects one’s appetite and sleep. The contact was part of a comprehensive education plan using NASA related activities to pique students’ interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). Audio was carried live on the NASA TV hour. East Atlanta Patch posted an article on the contact. http://eastatlanta.patch.com/articles/parkside-elementary-to-international-space-station-over#video-9240102 4. Pettit Chats with Greek Students via ARISS Students attending the 5th Geniko Lykeio Katerinis in Katerini, Greece experienced a successful Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact on Friday, March 2. The youth spoke with Don Pettit about the experiments onboard the ISS and asked how he communicates with his family during his mission. The contact complemented lessons covering astronomy and amateur radio with special attention given to the ISS regarding its role in humanity and science, its orbit and the every day life of the astronaut. ISS courses were based on ESA’s education tool “ISS Education Kit.” Five hundred were in attendance and another hundred connected to the internet to view the streaming video. Media coverage included two television stations. 5. Amateur Radio Newsline Covers ARISS On March 2, Amateur Radio Newsline report #1803 carried an article about the recent ARISS contact held during the John Glenn Event in Perth, Australia. The event celebrated the 50th anniversary of John Glenn’s orbit of the Earth, when the population of Perth turned on its lights and Glenn observed the city was visible from space, leading to Perth’s nickname, “City of Lights.” To view, “Ham Radio in Space: Amateur Radio Celebrates John Glenn over Perth Australia,” see: http://www.arnewsline.org/storage/scripts/nsln1803.txt *********************** February 27, 2012 1. Upcoming School Contacts An Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact has been scheduled for Parkside Elementary School in Atlanta, Georgia on Friday, March 2 at 16:42 UTC via station K6DUE in Greenbelt, Maryland. The ARISS contact is part of a comprehensive education plan which will pique students’ interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). An article about this contact appears on the NASA Talk Web site where ideas are shared about the contact and lesson plans. Contact audio may be available on NASA-TV. http://nasatalk.com/component/resource/article/bylines/164-nasa-and-stem-resources-for-k-4/1722-parkside-elementary-school-to-connect-to-iss.html The 5th Geniko Lykeio Katerinis in Katerini, Greece has been scheduled for an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact on Friday, March 2 at 17:03 UTC. This activity has been integrated into the school curriculum covering astronomy and ham radio issues. Special attention has been given to the ISS regarding its role in humanity and science, its orbit and the every day life of the astronaut. ISS courses were based on ESA’s education tool, “ISS Education Kit.” 2. ARISS Contact Featured at John Glenn Event On Monday, February 20, an ARISS contact was held during the John Glenn Event at the State Records Office of Western Australia in Perth, via telebridge station AH6NM in Hawaii. The contact was held in celebration of the 50th anniversary of John Glenn’s orbit of the Earth, when the population of Perth turned on its lights and Glenn observed the city was visible from space, leading to Perth’s nickname, “City of Lights.” The event opened with a pre-recorded video address given by Senator Glenn. Speeches from Australia's leading scientists were also given, followed by the ARISS contact with Dan Burbank, KC5ZSX on the ISS. The event was streamed live on the internet and was covered by television stations and ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) Radio. 3. Italian Students Experience ARISS Contact An Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact was held between 1° Circolo Didattico Nicola Fornelli located in Bitonto, Italy and on-orbit astronaut Don Pettit, KD5MDT on Friday, February 24. The students had all their questions addressed concerning what it takes to become an astronaut and what it is like to live on the ISS. The contact highlighted their studies covering life in space, communications, space conquests and research, artificial satellites and the ISS. Approximately 300 people turned out for the event, including Italian Air Force officers and media representatives. 4. ARISS International Team Teleconference Held The monthly ARISS International Team teleconference was held on Tuesday, February 21. Topics of discussion included a World Radiocommunication Conference 2012 (WRC-12) abstract concerning nano- and picosatellites, the status of Ham TV and an update on the replacement VHF Ericsson. Minutes have been posted: http://ariss.rac.ca/arisstel2012-02-21.htm 5. Astronaut Training Status Astronaut Alexander Gerst, who passed his amateur radio license exam on February 13, has been given the callsign KF5ONO. He is scheduled to fly with Expedition 40 in May 2014. An introductory session is planned for Gregory Wiseman, KF5LKT (Expedition 40, May 2014) on Monday, February 27 and a preflight session is scheduled for Expedition 32 astronauts Sunita Williams, KD5PLB and Akihiko Hoshide, KE5DNI on Monday, March 5. Williams and Hoshide will fly later this year. *********************** February 20, 2012 1. Upcoming School Contact 1° Circolo Didattico Nicola Fornelli located in Bitonto, Italy has been scheduled for an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact on Friday, February 24 at 14:01 UTC. The contact will be an integral part of student studies covering life in space, communications, space conquests and research, artificial satellites and the ISS. 2. Kochi Youth Radio ISS Astronaut Kochi Gakuen Kochi Junior High School in Kochi, Japan experienced a successful Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact on Monday, February 13. Students asked Dan Burbank, KC5ZSX, 11 questions about living in space. The contact was integrated into the science curriculum. Media coverage included three television stations and three newspapers. 3. Astronaut Dan Burbank Speaks with Louisville Students On Tuesday, February 14, youth attending The Academy @ Shawnee participated in an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact with on-orbit astronaut Dan Burbank, KC5ZSX via telebridge station ON4ISS in Belgium. The contact took place at the Challenger Learning Center in Louisville, Kentucky with the assistance of the Louisville Astronomical Society. Approximately 40 people were in attendance and listened as Burbank chatted with students about experiments onboard the ISS and the effect space has on the human body, among other topics. The Academy, an inner city high school of 500 students, has been designated as the Aerospace Magnet School for Jefferson County Public Schools. The contact was part of a comprehensive education plan to pique students’ interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. 4. Astronaut Training Status Astronaut Alexander Gerst passed his amateur radio license exam on February 13 and is waiting for his callsign to be assigned. He is scheduled to fly with Expedition 40 in May 2014. An introductory session is planned for Gregory Wiseman, KF5LKT (Expedition 40, May 2014) on Monday, February 27 and a preflight session is scheduled for Expedition 32 astronauts Sunita Williams, KD5PLB and Akihiko Hoshide, KE5DNI on Monday, March 5. Williams and Hoshide will fly later this year. *********************** February 13, 2012 1. Upcoming School Contact The Academy @ Shawnee has been scheduled for an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact on Tuesday, February 14 at 20:15 UTC via ON4ISS in Belgium. The contact will take place at the Challenger Learning Center in Louisville, Kentucky with the assistance of the Louisville Astronomical Society. This ARISS contact is part of a comprehensive education plan which will pique students’ interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. 2. Iqaluit Students Experience Successful ARISS Contact On Wednesday, February 8, an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact was held between Inuksuk High School in Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada and on-orbit astronaut Don Pettit, KD5MDT via telebridge station AH6NM in Hawaii. Approximately 600 students and some VIPs were in attendance, including a number of dignitaries from government and private corporations, as well as the Premiere of Nunavut, who spoke a few words at the end of the contact. A talk was given on the Northern lights and the ARISS team gave a presentation on the International Space Station, Robotics and Amateur Radio. CBC North (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) and local media reported on the event and NASA TV broadcasted the contact audio. 3. Soumuta Elementary School Students Radio ISS Students from Soumuta Elementary School in Kagoshima, Japan participated in a successful Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact on Saturday, February 11. Approximately 90 students and guests gathered to listen as Dan Burbank, KC5ZSX fielded 11 questions from the youth. The contact highlighted lessons covering the Space Station and amateur radio concepts. Media representatives from three television stations, one radio station and four newspapers attended. 4. ARRL Article On Astronaut Janice Voss The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) ran an article in the February 9 ARRL Letter about astronaut ham Janice Voss, KC5BTK who passed away last week. The story talks about her missions and mentions her participation in SAREX (Space Amateur Radio Experiment) contacts. See: http://www.arrl.org/news/astronaut-janice-voss-kc5btk-sk 5. AMSAT News Service on ARISS The February 12 AMSAT (Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation) News Service bulletin (ANS-043) included an item about the death of astronaut Janice Voss, KC5BTK, who participated in several SAREX contacts during her NASA missions. Another story talked about the upcoming ARISS contact with Perth, Australia to celebrate John Glenn’s flight over Perth in a Mercury-Atlas 6 spacecraft that was launched on February 20, 1962. To view the articles, see: http://amsat.org/pipermail/ans/2012/000592.html 6. ARISS on Twitter ARISS news is available on Twitter. The ARISS twitter account ARISS_status has just surpassed the 1000 followers mark. See: http://twitter.com/ARISS_status *********************** February 6, 2012 1. Upcoming School Contacts An Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact has been scheduled for Inuksuk High School, Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada on Wednesday, February 8 at 15:18 UTC via telebridge station AH6NM in Hawaii. The school has formed a space club through which students are learning about the ISS via videos, the internet and guest speakers. They are learning how to track the ISS and are completing space-related projects. Radio usage and protocol have been discussed. First Air and the Makivik Corporation are the sponsors that ensure ARISS contacts are supported in the remote areas of Northern Canada. Soumuta Elementary School, located in Kagoshima, Japan has been scheduled for an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact on Saturday, February 11 at 10:33 UTC. The school was established in 1972 and has a current enrollment of 479 students. Students are learning about the mission of the ISS and will experience amateur radio concepts through their contact. 2. Polish Students Experience Successful ARISS Contact On Saturday, February 4, students attending the Zespol Szkol nr 8 in Walbrzych, Poland participated in an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact with Don Pettit, KD5MDT on the ISS. Radio station W6SRJ in California provided the telebridge connection. Greetings were exchanged and students were able to get through all the space-related questions they had prepared. The contact was integrated into a curriculum covering electronics, microprocessor systems and English and drew interest from the school’s robotics and amateur radio clubs. Contact audio was fed into EchoLink and IRLP (Internet Radio Linking Project). Representatives from radio and television stations provided media coverage. 3. ARISS-U.S. to Review Proposals Submitted The NASA Teaching From Space office received over 100 inquiries about the U.S. proposal process for ARISS contacts that will be scheduled during the July 2012 – January 2013 time frame. Twenty-three schools met the January 30 deadline and submitted proposals. The next step is for the U.S. Selection Committee to review the proposals and select the U.S. schools in about one month. Another window of opportunity for U.S. schools and organizations to submit proposals will open later in the year. 4. AMSAT News Service on ARISS The February 5 AMSAT (Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation) News Service bulletin (ANS-036) included an item about the successful amateur radio satellite, SuitSat, titled, “Remembering Mr. Smith - SuitSat-1 February 3, 2006.” Another piece covered the recent ARISS contact with El Dorado County students. To view the articles, see: http://amsat.org/pipermail/ans/2012/000589.html 5. Amateur Radio Newsline Covers ARISS On February 3, Amateur Radio Newsline posted the winners of the ARISSat Chicken Little Contest in its report #1799. To read, “Ham Radio in Space: Winners of ARISSat-1 Chicken Little Contest Announced,” see: ftp://ftp.arnewsline.org/quincy/News/news.txt *********************** January 30, 2012 1. Upcoming School Contact Zespol Szkol nr 8, Walbrzych, Poland has been scheduled for an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact on Saturday, February 4 at 12:40 UTC via telebridge station W6SRJ in California. The school has a Walbrzych Robotics Club and operates an amateur radio club, SP6PBA. The club has been running for 60 years and its operators have established communications with several radio amateurs from all continents. The contact will be integrated into the curriculum covering electronics, microprocessor systems and English and will be held as part of the XXIII Lower Silesian Science Festival. 2. Successful ARISS Contact with El Dorado County Students On Tuesday, January 24, on-orbit astronaut Dan Burbank, KC5ZSX participated in an ARISS contact with students from El Dorado County in Placerville, California. The students, who came from several schools within the county, were able to get answers to many of their questions about space. Approximately 250 people were in attendance and another 160 watched as the contact was streamed over the internet. The radio connection was provided by telebridge station W6SRJ in California. The station, located on the campus of Santa Rosa Junior College (SRJC), hosted another 15 observers. In addition, the college sent a reporter and photographer from its newspaper, The Oak Leaf, to cover the event. The ARISS contact was part of a comprehensive education plan used to pique students’ interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). More on the event, including video and photos may be found on the El Dorado County Web site. See: http://general.edcoe.org/nasaqa/default.html 3. AMSAT News Service on ARISS The January 29 AMSAT (Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation) News Service bulletin (ANS-029) included an item about ARISSat-1 and its greetings and voice messages, as well as their English translations. To hear the messages, go to “ARISSat-1/KEDR Legacy Lives on in the DK3WN SatBlog” at: http://amsat.org/pipermail/ans/2012/000587.html . *********************** January 23, 2012 1. Upcoming School Contact An Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact has been scheduled for El Dorado County Office of Education in Placerville, California on Tuesday, January 24, at 18:12 UTC via telebridge station W6SRJ in California. The ARISS contact is part of a comprehensive education plan which will pique students’ interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). 2. Andre Kuipers Radios Belgian Students On Wednesday, January 18, Vrije Technische Scholen (VTS), a technical and professional secondary school located in Sint-Niklaas, Belgium participated in an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact with Andre Kuipers, PI9ISS. Kuipers fielded the students’ questions about what it is like to live in space. The session underscored lessons covering electricity, mechanics, antennas and space. The event was covered by television and radio stations. 3. ARISS International Teleconference Held The ARISS monthly teleconference was held on Tuesday, January 17. Topics of discussion included the ITU notification of ARISS frequencies, an update on the Columbus module and a status report on ARISSat-1. Minutes have been posted: http://ariss.rac.ca/arisstel2012-01-17.htm 4. ARISSat-1 Used to Interest Students in STEM The amateur radio satellite ARISSat-1 was used by Polk County, Florida schools to interest students in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). An estimated 800 students were exposed to the ARISSat-1 project from 4 Polk County elementary schools. Over 800 students attended career day presentations on the satellite in October 2010 and broadcast information on ARISSat on local school TV in October 2011. Nearly 50 students in the Sleepy Hill Elementary gifted program made several attempts to communicate with the satellite in September 2011, although unsuccessfully (more time, better equipment and experienced help were needed). Those students are currently participating in ham radio classes to prepare for their amateur radio technician class exams. ARISS volunteer Dave Jordan, AA4KN plans to follow up by giving a post-mission presentation on ARISSat in the near future. 5. ARRL QST Covers ARISS News The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) February 2012 QST coverage of ARISS items include the following: In the "In Brief" column was a piece about how the ARISS Delegates and team members from all over the world met together in Houston for the ARISS Annual Meeting. There was a 3-page article about how ham radio operator, Doug Cook, KD5PDN, set up a low-power inexpensive ham station and antenna with the aim of making ARISS contacts, and was successful. He cited getting useful information on the web from ARISS, NASA, AMSAT, ISS Fan Club, and from ARISS team member Clint Bradford. The article sported a beautiful NASA photo of the ISS in addition to photos showing aspects of his ham station and antennas. 6. AMSAT News Service Covers ARISS The January 22 AMSAT (Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation) News Service bulletin (ANS-022) included the following ARISS-related stories: “NASA Launches STEM connector Website” “Winners in the ARISSat-1/KEDR Chicken Little Contest” “Winners of the ARISSat-1/KEDR Grab the Last Telemetry Contest” All items may be found at: http://amsat.org/pipermail/ans/2012/000586.html 7. Amateur Radio Newsline on ARISS On January 20, Amateur Radio Newsline report #1797 noted the upcoming ARISS contact opportunities under the heading “Ham Radio in Space.” “Plan Your Late 2012 ARISS Schoolroom Contact Now” may be viewed at: ftp://ftp.arnewsline.org/quincy/News/news.txt *********************** January 16, 2012 1. Upcoming School Contact Vrije Technische Scholen (VTS), located in Sint-Niklaas, Belgium has been scheduled for an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact on Wednesday, January 18 at 09:47 UTC. VTS is a technical and professional secondary school for students ages 12 - 18. Lesson plans associated with this contact have been adapted for the different age and skill levels of the students and cover electricity, mechanics, antennas and space. 2. Burbank Participates in ARISS Contact with Descartes High School Descartes High School in Montigny-Le-Bretonneux, France participated in an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact with Dan Burbank, KC5ZSX on Monday, January 9. Burbank talked about how astronauts from different cultures get along on the ISS and fielded questions about the various experiments performed onboard the Space Station. About three hundred students and visitors were present for the event, including Astronaut Leopold Eyharts who exchanged greetings with Burbank. Presentations were given before the contact and a Question and Answer session followed. The ARISS contact was a featured activity for students who have been studying life and work on the ISS and through collaboration with the town’s amateur radio club, have also been learning about radio and wireless technology. NASA has posted video of the event on its Web site. See: http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/videogallery/index.html?media_id=128483501 3. Belgian Students Radio Andre Kuipers On Friday, January 13, an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact was held between students from Atheneum Borgloon in Belgium and Astronaut Andre Kuipers, PI9ISS on the ISS. The radio connection was provided by telebridge station K6DUE in Greenbelt, Maryland. The ARISS event highlighted a science curriculum covering the history of space travel, the solar system and the ISS. Other activities included space workshops and a field trip to the Eurospace Center in Transinne. Approximately 100 people tied into the contact through streaming video on the internet. 4. ARISS Contact Article in Canadian Magazine The January/February 2012 issue of the Canadian Amateur Magazine (TCA) has a great article on an ARISS contact held in Thetford Mines, Québec on November 14, 2011. The contact was arranged by a fourteen year old at the school. The story, written by ARISS Delegate Maurice-André Vigneault, VE3VIG, is titled, “Quebec Youth Masters ISS Contact.” A photo and the table of contents may be viewed at: http://www.rac.ca/tca/ 5. KPARC ARISS Presentation ARISS volunteer Dave Jordan, AA4KN gave a talk on the ARISS program during the Sun City, Florida Kings Point Amateur Radio Club (KPARC) monthly meeting on January 9. His presentation covered basic operations of the ARISS organization, a brief history of ARISS beginning with SAREX and a section discussing the ARISSat-1 mission during which he showed released photos and others that illustrated the assembly, testing and general development efforts that took place in the Orlando lab. In concluding his talk, Jordan suggested that the club members form a group to meet with local schools and encourage them to submit proposals for future ARISS contacts. Some photos from the presentation are available here: http://www.kparc.org/archive/aa4kn.htm 6. Astronaut Training Status Astronaut Alexander Gerst is interested in earning his amateur radio license and will be participating in training sessions in February. He is scheduled to fly with Expedition 40 in May 2014. *********************** January 9, 2012 1. Upcoming School Contact An Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact has been scheduled for Atheneum Borgloon in Borgloon, Belgium on Friday, January 13 at 12:35 UTC via telebridge station K6DUE in Greenbelt, Maryland. The contact will be integrated into science lessons covering the history of space travel, the solar system and the ISS, including the Columbus module. ESA ISS Education kits will be utilized. Students will take a trip to the Eurospace Center in Transinne and will participate in space workshops and other hands-on activities. The radio talk is planned with on-orbit Astronaut Andre Kuipers and Astronaut Frank DeWinne has also been invited to speak with the children. 2. Poland Contact Successful A successful Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact was held on Monday, January 2 between Zespól Szkól nr 2 in Zuromin, Poland and Dan Burbank, KC5ZSX on the ISS. Students asked questions to learn what an ordinary day on the ISS is like. Over 300 students and guests gathered for the event including several distinguished visitors: Head of Zuromin District, Mayor of Zuromin City, Head of Education Department Municipal Office of the City of Zuromin, Headmaster of junior grammar school in Biezun, Headmaster of Polish secondary school in Zuromin, Headmaster of ZS nr 2 in Zuromin and Headmaster of SSP in Kliczewo. Another 140 people watched streaming video of the event on the internet. The contact highlighted the curriculum at the school covering modeling, telecommunications and robotics. 3. ARISSat-1 Re-enters Earth’s Atmosphere The ARISSat-1 satellite re-entered Earth’s atmosphere sometime early on January 4. The last telemetry reported was from stations in Japan at 06:02:14 UTC with telemetry indicating high temperatures. AMSAT reported the news in a special report on January 4 and in the January 8 AMSAT News Service weekly bulletin (ANS-008). See: http://amsat.org/pipermail/ans/2012/000582.html The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) covered the news in its January 5 ARRL Letter: http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter?issue=2012-01-05#toc03 Amateur Radio Newsline also picked up the story in its article, “Ham Radio in Space: ARISSat One Mission Comes to a Close.” It may be viewed in the January 6 report #1795: ftp://ftp.arnewsline.org/quincy/News/news.txt 4. New Proposal Cycle for ARISS-US Contacts NASA Teaching From Space (TFS) office is accepting proposals for ARISS-U.S. contacts to be held in the July 15, 2012 – January 15, 2013 timeframe. The deadline for submitting proposals is January 30, 2012. The last informational session will be held on Wednesday, January 11 at 3 pm CST to answer any questions concerning the proposal process. To attend the session or to have questions answered, contact TFS at JSC-TFS-ARISS@mail.nasa.gov or call 281-244-1919. For more information, see the TFS Web site: http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/teachingfromspace/students/ariss.html *********************** January 2, 2012 1. Poland Contact Successful On Saturday, December 31, an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact was held between on-orbit Astronaut Dan Burbank, KC5ZSX and students visiting the Historical Museum of Gdansk in Gdansk, Poland. Burbank fielded approximately twelve questions from the students, including those about experiments conducted on the ISS and how micro-gravity affects the human body. The contact was one of the activities the museum held in celebration of the 400th anniversary of the birth of astronomer Johannes Hevelius. The museum displayed exhibitions which represent Hevelius' achievements and research instruments. It also showcased exhibits of modern space exploration. 2. ARISS Presentation at Ham Club ARISS volunteer Dave Jordan, AA4KN will give a presentation on the ARISS program during the Kings Point Amateur Radio Club (KPARC) monthly meeting on January 9 at 2 pm ET. The club is located in Sun City Center, Florida. 3. AMSAT News Service Covers ARISS The January 1 AMSAT (Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation) News Service bulletin (ANS-001) talks about ARISSat-1 and when it may re-enter Earth’s atmosphere; current predictions are between December 30 and January 16. And with the pending re-entry, an update was given on the Chicken Little Contest, with potential winners listed at www.amsat.org/amsat-new/ARISSat/ARISSatContest . Also included in the bulletin this week are “Highlights of ARISS International Delegates Annual Meeting.” All items may be found at: http://amsat.org/pipermail/ans/2011/000579.html