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 Previous: An Out of this World Effort |  Next: The K7RA Solar Update |
 Monroe student Vincent Martinez asks a question of ISS commander Mike Foale, KB5UAC. Control op Winnie Hennigan, KA6OFZ, is at the right. |
NEWINGTON, CT, Dec 23, 2003--ISS Expedition 8 crew commander Mike Foale, KB5UAC, told pupils at Monroe Elementary School in Santa Barbara, California, that he believes there's life on other planets. The comment came in response to a question during an approximately 10-minute direct 2-meter Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) school group contact December 17 between KA6OFZ at the school and NA1SS in space.
"Absolutely!" Foale said in reply to a youngster who asked if he thought there was life on other worlds. "I think there's life on other planets--maybe not in this solar system, but I'm sure there are many many planets in our galaxy, the Milky Way, where there will be life. We just have to go there or listen on the radio to find out."
Replying to
another youngster's question, Foale enthusiastically and gracefully described
his view of the heavens from the ISS. "I love looking at other planets from the
space station," he said. "They have different colors, especially here in
space." Foale said he can see red, green, blue and yellow planets. "They're
very bright. They're like pointed jewels in the dark, dark sky."
 The ham radio Earth station for the Monroe contact: Dennis Schwendtner, WB6OBB, is at the left and Marv Johnston, KE6HTS, is at the right, while Joe Heumphreus, K6DXW, kneels to secure some wiring with tape. The main transceiver was a Yaesu FT-847. |
Responding to another youngster's question, Foale said books he read as a child likely inspired him to become an astronaut. "I think it was because I read books about going to the moon by Wehrner von Braun, and I tried to make a rocket in my back yard," Foale said to some giggling on the part of the Monroe pupils.
Foale said the crew will do a space walk next year to retrieve some experiments on the exterior of the ISS.
As the NA1SS signal began to fade, Foale complimented the youngsters, who had managed to fit in approximately 30 questions. "Thank you, everybody," he said. "You were very professional." The pupils loudly thanked Foale en masse in response.
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The Amateur Radio contact with the Monroe Elementary schoolers garnered attention from at least two television stations, which aired reports on their evening newscasts. An article on the QSO, "Astro-chat brings space to school" also ran in the December 18 edition of The Santa Barbara News-Press. (This article is available only to newspaper subscribers.)
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: An Out of this World Effort | Next: The K7RA Solar Update |
