Credits: ARISS NEWS RELEASE 22-27
Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has received schedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact between astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and Italian students at the Istituto Comprensivo Tolfa in Tolfa, Lazio. ARISS conducts 60-80 of these special amateur radio contacts each year between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses aboard the ISS.
Istituto Comprensivo Tolfa, an urban primary and middle school (student ages 8-14 years) in Tolfa is about 70 Km north of Rome. The school’s three-year curriculum focuses on the improvement of language skills, both in Italian and in English, and on STEM competencies. During the last three years, students have taken part in the projects: ESA (“Send your drawing into space with Cheops”); ASI (sending mission ARTEMIS-inspired drawings to the Moon); and INAF (learning about the effects of light pollution). In preparation for the ARISS event, students participated in activities drawn from ASI – ESA and NASA materials and were introduced to space-related technology and space exploration. These activities allow students to focus on what it’s like to be an astronaut, and the high-tech fields involved in space exploration and the ISS. One such activity allowed primary school students (age 8-10) to work on ISS-inspired scratch projects and middle school students took part in the Astro Pi Challenge – Mission Zero. Members of the local amateur radio organization involved the students in activities about radio science and demonstrated operation of the radio equipment that will be used in the ARISS contact.
This will be a direct contact via Amateur Radio allowing students to ask their questions of Astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti, amateur radio call sign IZØUDF. Local Covid-19 protocols are adhered to as applicable for each ARISS contact. The downlink frequency for this contact is 145.800 MHZ and may be heard by listeners that are within the ISS-footprint that also encompasses the relay ground station.
The amateur radio ground station for this contact is in Tolfa, Lazio, Italy. Amateur radio operators will use the call sign IKØWGF to establish and maintain the ISS connection.
The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for April 30, 2022 at 10:37:35 am CEST (Lazio, Italy) (08:37:35UTC, 4:37 am EDT, 3:37 am CDT, 2:37 am MDT, 1:37 am PDT).
The public is invited to watch the live stream at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKlOwjvTpt8
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As time allows, students will ask these questions:
1. Da donna che tipo di difficoltà ha dovuto gestire durante il suo percorso professionale?
2. Quando parte per queste missioni, cos’è che la preoccupa di più?
3. Il buio, il vuoto e la profondità dell’universo, che sensazioni trasmettono la prima volta che si va in una missione spaziale?
4. Durante le tue missioni quali sono l’esperienza più emozionante e quella più deludente che hai vissuto?
5. Quali effetti fisici e mentali si riscontrano una volta ritornati sulla Terra?
6. Gli astronauti fanno delle esercitazioni anche per riuscire a mantenere la calma in qualsiasi situazione?
7. A cosa avete rinunciato negli anni per fare gli astronauti?
8. Nello spazio come si percepisce il passare del tempo?
9. La NASA è riuscita ad ascoltare “la voce dello spazio”: cosa si intende con questa definizione?
10. A quale preparazione fisica dovete sottoporvi prima di una missione spaziale?
11. Quanto è evidente dallo spazio la sofferenza del nostro pianeta?
12. Cosa ha provato la prima volta che ha visto la Terra dallo spazio?
13. E’stato portato qualche animale sulla nelle ultime missioni spaziali?
14. Era il tuo sogno fin da bambina diventare un astronauta?
15. L’equipaggio di una navicella spaziale da quanti membri è costituito?
16. Che cos’è per te il coraggio?
17. Il vostro addestramento in astronautica vi tornerà utile per la vita quotidiana ?
18. Quale dieta seguite?
Translation
1. When you go on a mission what are the things that worry you most?
2. What did you feel the first time you witnessed the vastness of space, its darkness and emptiness?
3. On your missions what has been the most meaningful experience and the most disappointing one?
4. What are the physical and mental effects an astronaut can experience once back on Earth?
5. Do astronauts do a specific training to keep calm in any situation?
6. What did you have to give up to become an astronaut?
7. How do you perceive the passing of time on the ISS?
8. NASA could hear the “sound of Space”: what is it?
9. What physical training is necessary before a mission?
10. How evident is Earth’s suffering from space?
11. What did you feel the first time you saw Earth from space?
12. In recent years have any animals been sent on missions?
13. Have you always dreamt of becoming an astronaut?
14. How many people form the crew of a spaceship?
15. What is courage for you?
16. Is your astronaut training useful also in your daily life on Earth?
17. Which is your astronaut diet?