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 Previous: ARRL In Action: What Have We Been Up To Lately? |  Next: The K7RA Solar Update |
 Students, parents and visitors eagerly await the start of the ARISS contact at Upper St Clair High School. |
NEWINGTON, CT, Sep 3, 2004--NASA International Space Station Science Officer Mike Fincke, KE5AIT, told students at Upper St Clair High School August 27 that life in space is both fun and, at times, challenging. The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) school group contact between NA1SS in space and WB4GCS in Western Pennsylvania represented a homecoming of sorts for Fincke, who was born in Pittsburgh and whose parents live in Emsworth, where he grew up. Fincke said problems with an onboard gyroscope system that occurred just as the Expedition 9 crew arrived aboard the ISS presented the most unexpected challenge of his six-month tour of duty.
"Our biggest challenge was to get some spacesuits and get outside and fix it, and it turned out that the American spacesuits were broken, and we had to go to our backup plan with the Russian spacesuits," Fincke recounted. "That took a lot of work. That was a big challenge, but we were successful on the Fourth of July weekend, and we fixed that gyroscope's power source." The challenge aside, Finck said, the experience was "really exhilarating."
While he's missed his wife and children while in space
since April, Fincke said he's also enjoying his time aboard the ISS, although
he noted, "it's really tough to live with the same person for six months," a
reference to Expedition 9 Commander Gennady Padalka, RN3DT.
 Student Jordan Kunz asks his question, while Luke Walker waits his turn. |
"We have to work really well together, and I think one of the secrets is that we don't look for fault in each other," Fincke said.
"The most fun I've ever had in space has been every day
since I got here," he said in reply to another youngster's question. "I've been
waiting my whole life, and every day aboard the space station has been a great day. There's always something new,
something new to learn, something new to see."
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Fincke said the ISS doesn't cost much in the greater scheme of things, and he believes the space station's overwhelming value is as a stepping stone to populating other parts of the universe. "In order to protect the survival of the species, it's better not to have all our eggs in one basket and have humans populate the solar system," Fincke reasoned. "That way, one disaster shouldn't wipe us out."
He also said he'd like to see the human space flight
program focus on again landing on the moon, journeying to Mars and eventually
to the stars. "We need to explore who we are and our potential as human
beings."
 Happy campers: Teacher Pat Palazzolo (center) with students Alex Maruca and Anna Gorman. Their shirts bear ARISS, WASH and WACOM logos. |
Fincke also philosophized in response to a question about the perspective he's gained from living in space. "Every piece of history, everything we've ever talked about, every poem that was ever created, every heart that was broken, every joy that was felt is just on that ball of rock that's below us right now, and that really puts things into perspective."
The Expedition 9 crew is scheduled to return to Earth in about six weeks.
Mentoring the ARISS contact was Howard Ziserman, WA3GOV. Jim Sanford, WB4GCS, served as the control operator. Setting up the Earth station for the contact were the Wireless Association of South Hills (WASH) and Washington Amateur Communications (WACOM), with assistance from local AMSAT members.
ARISS is an
educational outreach with US participation by ARRL, AMSAT and NASA.
| Previous: ARRL In Action: What Have We Been Up To Lately? | Next: The K7RA Solar Update |
