17-November-2008
ARISS Comes to New Zealand
The number of School contacts with the ARISS reached 385 over last weekend with a successful contact with Newcomers Club in Saitama, Japan direct via JK1ZAM.
The next ARISS contact scheduled is number 386 with St Teresas School in Featherston on Thursday 20-November-2008 at 5.30 pm NZDST. NASA has given this a 90% chance of taking place at this date and time. The Contact will be with Mike Finke KE5AIT. Twentyone pupils will ask 21 questions of Mike in the 10+ minutes contact window.
Peter Norden ZL2SJ....
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FROM ARISS
Richard Garriott, W5KWQ, to communicate with Students and Ham Radio Operators World-wide through the Amateur Radio Station on-board the International Space Station (ISS....
ARISS
A small group of dedicated Amateur’s world wide have run the ARISS program since 2001, which is sponsored by NASA, ARRL, and AMSAT to give students and young people a chance to speak live with the crew on board the International Space Station as it circles 370 kilometres above the earth at a speed 27,000 kph.
NZARThas received an invitation to join this program and is enthusiastic about this activity, the project will be part of the recruitment process to encourage new Amateurs and perhaps a career in radio and electronics.
This is a wonderful opportunity for our branches to become involved in a project that includes your local school, Scout group, Amateur Radio and the International Space Station.
Many schools around the world have taken part in this project with a great deal of success. Can your branch appoint a spokesperson to explore the interest at your local school, and or scout group.
It is a Science and Technology Education program with community and Amateur Radio participation.An ideal way to promote Amateur Radio.
At present ARISS is arranging one to two contacts most weeks world wide. There are exceptions, the ISS is not available when there is a crew change, Extra Vehicular Activity or visits with the space shuttle to name a few. There is a waiting period of some months at present, but there is no time like the present to “test the water” for interest.
The contact period can last from about 5 to 15 Minutes, pupils generate there own questions to ask the astronauts as the ISS moves across the sky.
A Coordinator for New Zealand has been appointed and is well on the wayplanning for future school contacts, he is Peter Norden ZL2SJ. Peter is able to advise interested people, clubs, schools, how to go about registering for an ARISS contact here in New Zealand.
The official web page for ARISS is, http://www.rac.ca/ariss
ARISS-ZL coordinator
write to the Callbook address ZL2SJ or Phone 06 308 6970.
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