Backdropped by a blue and white Earth, the International Space Station is seen from Space Shuttle Atlantis on Feb. 18, 2008. Photo credit: NASA

ARISS event - Scuola Media Statale Donato Forlani, Conversano, Italy

An International Space Station Expedition 17 ARISS school contact has been planned with participants at Scuola Media Statale Donato Forlani, Conversano, Italy on 07 October.
The event is scheduled to begin at 1129 UTC.

The contact will be a direct contact between stations OR4ISS and IZ7MKW. The contact should be audible over Europe. Interested parties are invited to listen in on the 145.80 MHz downlink. The participants are expected to conduct the conversation in English.

The Scuola media D. Forlani is a middle school in the suburb of Conversano, a small town located 30km from Bari in South-east Italy

The school has 30 classrooms and various laboratories, including an astronomy lab. About 250 pupils attend the school, aged from 11 to 14. Extracurricular activities include English conversation, sport, theatre, the environment and other research activities.

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

1. What is the most ambitious spatial project for the future?
2. What do you see at the moment when you are looking outside the ISS?
3. How does it feel to be in space?
4. Is it difficult to get used to zero gravity?
5. What do you think about extraterrestrial life in the universe?

6. How many years ago did you start your career as astronaut?
7. What studies are necessary to become an astronaut?
8. Where does the electric power come from on board the ISS?
9. Was it your childhood dream to become an astronaut?
10. At what age did you discover your passion for space?

11. What do you miss most from Earth during the mission? 12. How long can a human being stay in orbit without any physical problems?
13. What happens if an astronaut gets seriously ill in space?
14. What do you think about future projects of living on the moon?
15. What systems do you use for the communication to the Earth?

16. Is there any danger for the ISS module to be hit by Space debris?
17. How are the daily astronauts´ duties organized on board the ISS?
18. What kind of optical instruments have you on board to watch the space?
19. What are the main scientific experiments during Expedition 17?
20. What are the minimum and maximum temperatures inside and outside the ISS?

Information about the upcoming ARISS contacts can be found at http://www.ariss.org/upcoming.htm#NextContact .

Next planned event(s):
Colombia Mission Project at Buchanan High School, CA via NN1SS, Sat 2008-10-11 16:10 UTC

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.ariss.org/ (graciously hosted by the Radio Amateurs of Canada).

Thank you & 73,
Kenneth - N5VHO