 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||
|
|
 Previous: New Antenna Design and Construction Course Registration to Open December 22 |  Next: The K7RA Solar Update |
NEWINGTON, CT, Dec 19, 2003--Sixteen students at Germany's Berufliche Schule des Kreises Nordfriesland (North Frisian District Vocational School) enjoyed a successful ham radio contact December 12 with astronaut Mike Foale, KB5UAC, aboard the International Space Station. The QSO was the second with a German vocational school in as many weeks. The direct 2-meter linkup between NA1SS and the school--in the extreme northwestern German town of Niebüll--was arranged via the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) program. Foale, the commander of the Expedition 8 crew, has been in space since October with cosmonaut and flight engineer Sasha Kaleri, U8MIR. He said he most misses hugging his children. He also said he's not worried that the ISS is in danger from asteroids.
 Students at Germany's Berufliche Schule des Kreises Nordfriesland line up to ask their questions of ISS commander Mike Foale, KB5UAC, at the controls of NA1SS. |
"Asteroids are a potential danger," Foale said in response to one student's question, "although I do not believe they are a very likely danger for the safety of the ISS." A space veteran who earlier this month became the new US space endurance record holder, Foale also discussed how the crew members bathe aboard the ISS and what they eat each day. Foale says he starts his day with a meal of cottage cheese with nuts, which he described as a Russian dish. The rest of the crew's cuisine also has an international flavor, despite the fact that about half of it comes from the US.
"We eat meat and potatoes for lunch--and that's Russian food," he said. "We eat American food, Mexican food or Chinese food in the evenings--that comes from America."
A native of England and a Cambridge graduate, Foale explained that he has contact with his family and friends via e-mail and the space station's communications system. He says he spends part of his approximately five hours of free time each week making videos for those on Earth or looking out the window at the stars and Earth.
Most of the oxygen aboard the ISS comes from the electrolysis of water, Foale explained in response to another question. "We turn water into oxygen and hydrogen," he said. "The hydrogen is thrown away."
Foale also said it takes three to four weeks
for the crew to become comfortable with the zero-gravity environment aboard the
ISS.
 A student at the vocational school checks out the ARISS Earth-station antenna before it's installed on the school's roof. |
The Niebüll school has an enrollment of some 2600 students and focuses on professional education in the fields of economics, computer science, health and nutrition, agriculture, social science and education. It has an Amateur Radio station, DL0NIB. Coordinating teacher Günter Jannsen, DF3LG, used the club's educational call sign, DN0BSN, for the ARISS contact. Jannsen prepared students beforehand with lessons on space technology. He also managed the installation of the amateur satellite station the contact required.
School Principal Bernhard Puschmann joined an audience of about 150 students and parents who gathered for the early afternoon event. News media on hand included one radio station and two newspapers.
"A big success in every respect!" proclaimed ARISS mentor Peter Kofler, IN3GHZ. There's more information (in German) about the ARISS contact on the school's Web site.
ARISS is an
international educational outreach program with US participation from ARRL,
NASA and AMSAT. ARISS school group contacts offer an opportunity for students
to experience the excitement of Amateur Radio by talking directly with ISS crew
members.
| Previous: New Antenna Design and Construction Course Registration to Open December 22 | Next: The K7RA Solar Update |
