Essex school pupils to talk to International Space Station astronaut via amateur radio

Students from Furtherwick Park School, Essex, ask the astronauts questions about life in space

Students, teachers, parents and members of the local community will be gathered at Furtherwick Park School at Canvey Island, Essex on Wednesday, 9 November 2005 to have the unique experience of talking to the astronauts as they orbit the Earth.

ISS Commander Bill McArthur KC5ACR will be talking to students at Furtherwick Park School on Wednesday

Passing at 400km above the school in space and travelling at 26,000km/h, the International Space Station will rise above the horizon at 5:47pm, and for ten minutes the students will ask their questions and they will receive live answers from Commander Bill McArthur KC5ACR on board the International Space Station.

The opportunity to speak to the astronauts is organised by the ARISS organization together with NASA, and the equipment is prepared and operated by Amateur Radio enthusiasts.

John Houghton, Assistant Headteacher at Furtherwick Park School said: “The Students at Furtherwick Park School have spent much of the last eighteen months studying all aspects of space technology and its impact on every area of their lives. It has been a pleasure to witness the excitement and enthusiasm that this unique experience has afforded them.”

Howard Long of ARISS said: “This is the chance of a lifetime for the students to speak to the astronauts in their working environment. We are delighted to be able to have the opportunity to encourage the students to consider space, science and telecommunications as their chosen careers. We might even have a future astronaut here with us today”.

Bruce Sexton, a key volunteer on the space mission said: "Although I will be star struck, my feet will be firmly on the ground for the ten minutes of contact with the space station!” His employer, Essex & Suffolk Water, have an initiative to enable employees to give at least 12 hours a year of paid work-time to improve their local community and environment.

• Furtherwick Park School ISS Contact - Questions for ISS Commander Bill McArthur

• ARISS (Amateur Radio on the International Space Station) is a global organization comprised of representatives from international space agencies such as NASA and Energia, as well as national Amateur Radio groups throughout the world.

• The primary goal of ARISS is as an educational tool, promoting space and science in the classroom. In addition, ARISS provides backup emergency communications for the ISS crew as well as day-to-day contact for the crew to talk to their families on Earth.

• ARISS is funded by the space agencies as well as donations derived from national Amateur Radio groups and Amateur Satellite (AMSAT) special interest groups worldwide.

• Four million Amateur (or ‘Ham’) Radio operators worldwide enjoy a global friendship through their pastime. The Amateur Radio Service is recognized by governments and international regulatory bodies and must obtain technical qualifications in order to be granted a government issued license and unique callsign.

• Very recently Amateur Radio operators have been at the forefront of disaster relief operations providing vital life saving emergency communications such as the Asian tsunami and hurricane Katrina when conventional communications infrastructure failed.

FURTHER INFORMATION:

ARISS-EU and AMSAT-UK, Howard Long (+44) (0)771 076 3670
g6lvb@amsat.org

Furtherwick Park School, Marion Walford (+44) (0)1268 682157

ARISS-EU, Gaston Bertels
gaston.bertels@skynet.be

AMSAT-UK, office (+44) (0)1258 453959
g3wgm@amsat.org