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 Previous: The Amateur Radio Crossword Puzzler |  Next: ARRL-National Weather Service SKYWARN Recognition Day is December 3 |
 Roy Welch, W0SL (left), operates the station at KC0JYV, while Nora prepares to ask the first question. |
 Part of the audience in the Hermann Middle School library, awaiting the start of the ARISS QSO. |
CLICK HERE to listen to the ARISS school group contact with Hermann Middle School in Missouri |
 Youngsters crowd around the 8N3A microphone during the contact with Hyoshidai Elementary School in Takatsuki City, Japan. |
CLICK HERE to listen to the ARISS school group contact with students at Takatsuki Education Center in Japan |
 ISS Expedition 12 Commander Bill McArthur, KC5ACR, with a US EMU spacesuit. [NASA Photo] |
NEWINGTON, CT, Nov 23, 2005--International Space Station Expedition 12 Commander Bill McArthur, KC5ACR, told middle schoolers in Missouri and elementary schoolers in Japan that he's enjoying his stay in space. McArthur spoke November 16 with youngsters at Hermann Middle School near St Louis, and the following day with students at Takatsuki Education Center in Japan. The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) program arranged both direct VHF contacts. McArthur told one youngster in Missouri that lost items typically turn up sooner or later.
"I haven't lost any tools outside, but I have lost things inside the spaceship because it's so big and things float away," said McArthur, a veteran of three space walks. "So when they're lost inside, I just wait and always keep and eye out, and eventually I have found almost everything."
McArthur told both groups of students that he did not consider becoming an astronaut until he was in the US Army flying helicopters. "I really enjoyed math and science in school, and so I did pretty well in them," he told the Missouri students. "As you can imagine, they've been very helpful because being in space is all about math and science and engineering."
On November 17, McArthur talked told youngsters at Takatsuki Education Center that he and crewmate Valery Tokarev will remain aboard the ISS for a total of 182 days--until next April. He also said he misses his family and friends while orbiting 220 miles above Earth's surface.
"The hardest thing about living in space is not being with your family and friends on the earth," McArthur said in answer to one youngster's question. "Fortunately, my crewmate Valery and I are very good friends, and so we keep each other company."
In Missouri, some 100 parents, teachers and fellow students were in the audience, while the rest of the school was able to monitor the proceedings between the school's KC0JYV and NA1SS via the public address system, said Richard Lionberger, KB0WCY, who said he expected to see a few of the youngsters become ham radio licensees as a result of the experience. Two St Louis TV stations also showed up to cover the ARISS event. Roy Welch, W0SL, and Mike Koenig, N0PFF, served as the control operators for the Hermann QSO. MSNBC carried live video of the contact, which was somewhat curtailed due to technical problems.
In Japan, 18 questions were asked and answered during the contact between 8N3A at Hiyoshidai Elementary School and NA1SS. McArthur explained that size does count when it comes to being an astronaut. "We worry most about an astronaut being too large," said McArthur, who is 185 cm tall--just over six feet. "An astronaut cannot be any taller than I am and be on the space station, and we think maybe being a smaller person helps because then it takes less fuel to get you to space."
He remarked that being able to float in microgravity is a special pleasure for himself and for Tokarev--as is being able to look out the ISS window at Earth below. He also said he sleeps "very, very well" in space.
ARISS-Japan mentor Satoshi Yasuda, 7M3TJZ, said reporting crews from two TV stations and three newspapers covered the event. The control operator was Tamotsu Ando, JK3NSD. Some 300 people, including parents, visitors and news media, were on hand for the contact.
"We will never forget this amazing experience," Ando told McArthur as the ISS was going out of range at the contact's conclusion.
ARISS is an international educational outreach, with US participation by ARRL, AMSAT and NASA.
| Previous: The Amateur Radio Crossword Puzzler | Next: ARRL-National Weather Service SKYWARN Recognition Day is December 3 |
