 |
ARRL
Products:
History/Adventure(More)
 Hostage in the Woods -- Part of the
Amateur Radio adventure series by popular author Cynthia Wall,
KA7ITT. What starts out as a hospital Christmas party for
children turns into a nightmare of terror for Kim Stafford,
KA7SJP, and ham radio is her only hope. This is the
electrifying sequel to Night Signals.
 Easy Target -- Part of the Amateur
Radio adventure series by popular author Cynthia Wall, KA7ITT.
Kim and Marc are caught in a dangerous mystery when some-thing
or someone is killing gray whales on their pacific migratory
journey.
 Disappearing Act -- Part of the Amateur
Radio adventure series by popular author Cynthia Wall, KA7ITT.
A sailing trip turns into a fight to save a little boy's
life.
 200 Meters & Down -- The Story of
Amateur Radio
 Night Signals -- Part of the Amateur
Radio adventure series by popular author Cynthia Wall, KA7ITT.
Amateur Radio performs a life-saving feat for Marc Lawrence,
snow-bound and injured in the rugged Cascade
Mountains.
| | |
ARISS Contact with Japanese School First Since Columbia Tragedy
Astronaut Don Pettit, KD5MDT, performs some
maintenance in the ISS Zvezda Service Module. [NASA
Photo] |
NEWINGTON, CT, Feb 19, 2003--Pupils at an elementary school in Japan have
been the first youngsters to speak to the astronauts aboard the International
Space Station since the shuttle Columbia tragedy. The contact took place
February 18 between 8N3HES at the Hirano Elementary School and astronaut Don
Pettit, KD5MDT, at the controls of NA1SS. The direct 2-meter contact was
arranged by the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS)
program, which has been on hold since the shuttle catastrophe.
No one asked any questions about the Columbia tragedy during the
approximately 10-minute contact that was marred by some communication
difficulty. An audience of approximately 180 people--essentially the entire
school plus several reporters--was on hand for the ARISS contact. Pettit managed
to answer eight of the nine questions put to him by the fifth and sixth graders
One student wanted to know what Pettit would bring with him if he had to live
in space for the rest of his life. "I would hope to bring my whole family,"
Pettit responded. "I would bring my wife and my children and we would live in
space together."
Because of the Columbia disaster, the mission of the Expedition 6 crew
members already has been extended until at least June. It had been scheduled to
end next month.
Other students asked questions relating to everyday life aboard the space
station, including how the crew gets rid of its trash. Pettit explained that
after putting the trash into airtight bags, it's loaded on an empty Progress
cargo supply rocket and sent back into Earth's atmosphere. "It's the ultimate
means of recycling your garbage," he said.
Pettit told the youngsters that it's "nice and warm" aboard the space
station--about 22 degrees Centigrade--but that the crew could set the
temperature to whatever they desired.
|
Click
here to hear the ARISS contact between students at Hirano
Elementary School in Japan and astronaut Don Pettit, KD5MDT, at
NA1SS: Time: 10:43. | |
One student asked what the crew would do if someone became ill. "Fortunately
no one has become sick on our mission, so we haven't had to worry about that,"
Pettit replied. He said that in the case of sickness among the crew, the crew
would contact flight surgeons on Earth to get advice. He also explained that the
crew has a medical kit on board for those kinds of situation.
The Hirano Elementary School is in Kobe, Japan. The school opened in 1876.
An ARISS contact with students at Oregon State University is scheduled for
February 21.
ARISS is an international project
with participation by ARRL, AMSAT and NASA.
Page last modified: 04:07 PM, 19 Feb 2003 ET
Page author: awextra@arrl.org
Copyright © 2003,
American Radio Relay League, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Previous: Mississippi Ham Radio Antenna Bill Passes State
Senate
