The International Space Station is viewed from space shuttle Endeavour after undocking. The newly attached Japanese pressurized logistics module rests atop the Harmony Node. Credit: NASA TV

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ARISS Event - European Space Camp 2008

An International Space Station Expedition 17 ARISS school contact has been planned with participants from the European Space Camp 2008 at the Zanka Children and Youth Centre, near Lake Balaton, Zanka, Hungary on 24 July.

The event is scheduled to begin at approximately 19:01 UTC.

The contact will be a direct contact between stations OR41SS and HA5KHC. The contact should be audible in Central Europe. Interested parties are invited to listen in on the 145.80 MHz downlink. The participants are expected to conduct the conversation in English.

This radio contact will be made from the European Space Agency's Space Camp, from Hungary. One hundred-twenty children of ESA staff members from various European countries, between the ages of 8 and 17, interested in science and sports are participating. This year they're learning about Earth Observation. Helped by Hungarian radio amateurs, they would like to know more about astronauts' lives.

Participants will ask as many of the following questions as time allows:

1. What kind of animals have been brought to space?
2. Is it possible to grow food in space?
3. What planet would be the best for farming?
4. What plant would be the hardest to grow in space?
5. What would be the easiest plant to grow in space?

6. Do animals behave differently in space?
7. What are the difficulties of agriculture in space?
8. What is the difference between growing plants on earth and in space?
9. Do plants grow faster in space?
10. What is GPS technology, and how does it affect agriculture?

11. Do animals eat more in space than they do on earth?
12. Do plants grow upward in space?
13. Have you ever tried making bread in space and if so, does it rise differently?
14. What is your favorite farm animal and why?
15. How does GPS technology help farmers reduce the amount of fertilizers they apply in their fields?

16. What planet would be the hardest to grow food on?
17. Does food taste differently in space?
18. Do plants need more water in space?
19. What farm animal is least likely to survive in space?
20. Do things sound different in space, e.g. a dog barking?

Information about the upcoming ARISS contacts can be found at http://www.rac.ca/ariss/upcoming.htm
#NextContact
Packet is transmitted on 145.825 simplex.

Next planned event(s):
United Space School, Seabrook, Texas, USA, telebridge via ON4ISS Thu 2008-07-31 18:42 UTC 69 deg

ARISS is an international educational outreach program partnering the participating space agencies: NASA, Russian Space Agency, ESA, CNES, JAXA, and CSA, with the AMSAT and IARU organizations from participating countries.

ARISS offers an opportunity for students to experience the excitement of Amateur Radio by talking directly with crewmembers on-board the International Space Station.

Teachers, parents and communities see, first hand, how Amateur Radio and crewmembers on ISS can energize youngsters' interest in science, technology, and learning. Further information on the ARISS program is available on the website http://www.rac.ca/ariss (graciously hosted by the Radio Amateurs of Canada).

Thank you & 73,

Stephen H. Ponder, N5WBI