Archived ARISS status reports *********************** 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