AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS-032
The AMSAT News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and infor-
mation service of AMSAT North America, The Radio Amateur Satellite
Corporation. ANS publishes news related to Amateur Radio in Space
including reports on the activities of a worldwide group of Amateur
Radio operators who share an active interest in designing, building,
launching and communicating through analog and digital Amateur Radio
satellites.
The news feed on
http://www.aus-city.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/r/RADIOCOMM_LIST/774205292701/list.admin/aus-city.com/ publishes news of Amateur
Radio in Space as soon as our volunteers can post it.
Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to:
ans-editor at amsat.org.
In this edition:
* Fox-1 "In The Bag"!
* 15 Schools Move Forward Into The Next Stage of ARISS Selection
* iCubeSat 2015 - 4th Interplanetary CubeSat Workshop
* January/February 2015 AMSAT Journal is Complete
* Design The Next AMSAT Satellite!
* SSTV transmissions from the International Space Station
* Dick Flagg, AH6NM, Receives YASME Award
* NASA OSSI Online Career Week
* ELaNa-X Cubesats Launched From Vandenberg on January 31
*
* ARISS News
* Satellite Shorts From All Over
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-032.01
ANS-032 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 032.01
From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD.
DATE February 1, 2015
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-032.01
Fox-1 "In The Bag"!
Fox-1, the first Fox-1 series satellite (a.k.a. Fox-1A to the AMSAT
Engineering Team) completed the final required testing January 16
through 23.
The tests included the launch provider required "DITL" (Day In The
Life) and "environmental testing" subjecting the CubeSat to Vibration
and Thermal Vacuum Bakeout, the latter two sometimes referred
together as "shake and bake".
DITL is required to show that Fox-1 will not deploy her antennas nor
transmit any signals prior to a minimum of 45 minutes after she is
deployed from the PPOD into orbit. The test was conducted at the
"Fox Labs" QTH of Jerry Buxton NØJY on January 16. Bob Fitzpatrick
KB5SQG assisted on site with Jonathan Brandenburg KF5IDY and Kevin
Bishop KG7NSD supporting via GoToMeeting. It was a somewhat suspense
filled test waiting for 45 minutes hoping nothing will happen,
followed by another 11 minutes hoping something will happen.
Everything performed as expected and the test was a success, with
transmit antenna deployment at 56 minutes 21 seconds, receive antenna
deployment at 56 minutes 32 seconds, and first transmission at 59
minutes 12 seconds.
On Monday January 19 Fox Engineering Team members Bob Davis KF4KSS,
Burns Fisher W2BFJ, and Jerry Buxton NØJY traveled to Orlando FL to
conduct the "shake and bake" at Qualtest.
Upon arrival Fox-1 was tested, inspected, and integrated into the
TestPOD at the hotel and then the team traveled to Qualtest.
Assisted by Lou McFadin W5DID, photographed by Dave Jordan AA4KN and
observed by Ed Krome K9EK the vibration testing took place on
Wednesday January 21 with frequencies and amplitudes that simulate
the ride Fox-1 will be experiencing on the Atlas V rocket during
launch, tested in all three (X,Y,Z) axes. After the "shake" a Short
Functional Test and Aliveness Test were conducted, and Fox-1 worked
like a charm!
Thursday January 21 Fox-1 was put into the thermal vacuum bell jar
to be subjected to a 12 hour pre-soak at high altitude and
temperature near the required test temperature in order to remove any
rough contaminants that might harm the ion pump used during the
"bake" procedure. Friday the 22nd Fox-1 went through the launch
required Thermal Vacuum Bakeout which sustains a vacuum <1E-4 torr at
a specified temperature for 6 hours in order to thoroughly remove any
contaminants that might be left over from construction and handling
and which could cause problems once the satellite and materials are
exposed to the vacuum of space. Given the vacuum actually achieved
during the process, we are very happy that Fox-1 was a "clean
machine" even prior to the start of the procedure! Once the "bake"
was complete Fox-1 was allowed to cool to near room temperature and
then subjected to the same Short Functional Test and Aliveness Test
as done on arrival in Florida and after the vibe test. Once again,
Fox-1 worked as it should and was officially declared ready for
launch!
While it is somewhat anti-climactic, Fox-1 was then carefully placed
in an anti-static bag and will remain there until delivery and
integration into the PPOD which is scheduled for mid-March 2015.
Battery will be charged by the umbilical but no other handling,
changes, testing, or function can be performed as once she passed the
environmental testing Fox-1 officially became "hands off".
As previously announced launch is scheduled for late August 2015.
Official photos and more information will be included in an upcoming
AMSAT Journal. If you are on Facebook, the AMSAT North America
Facebook page has some photos that were uploaded during the
environmental testing.
[ANS thanks NØJY and the Fox-1 Engineering Team for the information.]
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15 US Schools Move Forward Into the Next Stage of ARISS Selection
Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT) and the American Radio
Relay League (ARRL), US managing partners of Amateur Radio on the
International Space Station (ARISS), are pleased to announce that 15
of the schools/organizations that submitted proposals during the
recent proposal window have been accepted to move forward into the
next stage of planning to host a scheduled contact with crew on the
ISS during 2015. This is a significant step in ARISS' continuing
effort to engage young people in Science, Technology, Engineering,
and Math (STEM) activities and raise their awareness of Human Space
Flight. ARISS-US was encouraged by the high level of interest in the
education community evidenced by the significant number of submitted
proposals and the quality of the submissions.
The ARISS program anticipates that NASA will provide 12 scheduling
opportunities for US host organizations for the May - December 2015
time period. These 15 schools/organizations must now complete an
acceptable equipment plan that demonstrates their ability to execute
the ham radio contact. Once their equipment plan is approved by the
ARISS technical team, the final selected schools/organizations will
be scheduled as their availability and flexibility match up with the
scheduling opportunities offered by NASA. ARISS does not expect to be
able to schedule all 15 schools on the list.
The schools and organizations are:
Bay View Elementary School, Burlington, WA
Corpus Christi Catholic School, Chambersburg, PA
Daggett Montessori School K-8, Fort Worth, TX
Dearborn Public Schools, Dearborn, MI
Grady High School Robotics Team, Atlanta, GA
Kopernik Observatory & Science Center, Vestal, NY
Maconaquah School Corporation, Bunker Hill, IN
Moon Day/ Frontiers of Flight Museum, Dallas, TX
New Mexico Military Institute, Roswell, NM
Pima County 4H/Vail Vaquero's 4H Club, Tucson, AZ
Space Jam 9, Rantoul, IL
Ste. Genevieve du Bois Catholic Elementary School, Warson Woods, MO
Tulsa Community College, NE Campus, Tulsa, OK
United Space School, Seabrook, TX
West Michigan Aviation Academy, Grand Rapids, MI
[ANS thanks ARISS-US for the above information]
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iCubeSat 2015 - 4th Interplanetary CubeSat Workshop
26 - 27 May 2015, Imperial College London, United Kingdom
iCubeSat 2015, the 4th Interplanetary CubeSat Workshop, will address
the technical challenges, opportunities, and practicalities of
interplanetary space exploration with CubeSats. The workshop provides
a unique environment for open wide ranging practical collaboration
between academic researchers, industry professionals, policy makers
and students from around the world developing this new and rapidly
growing field.
Technical Program
Talks and round tables will focus on three themes: technology,
science, and open collaboration. The program will also include
unconference sessions to provide additional opportunities to engage
with the interplanetary CubeSat community and potential
collaborators. Talks and supporting material will be streamed and
archived on the conference website. A lively social program in and
around summertime London will be arranged for participants and their
guests.
Abstract Submission and Dates
Talks on astrodynamics, attitude control and determination systems,
citizen science, communications, landers, launch opportunities, open
source approaches, outreach, payloads, policy, power systems,
propulsion, reentry systems, ride-shares, science missions, software,
standardization, structures, systems engineering and other related
topics are all welcome.
1st June 2014 Registration opens at
http://www.aus-city.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/r/RADIOCOMM_LIST/702146588171/list.admin/aus-city.com/1st April 2015 Abstract upload deadline via
http://www.aus-city.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/r/RADIOCOMM_LIST/803574482358/list.admin/aus-city.com/15th April 2015 Notification of abstract acceptance
22nd May 2015 Presentation (and optional paper) upload deadline
Please confirm your interest in presenting or attending as soon as
possible (to assist us size the venue) by completing the registration
form at
http://www.aus-city.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/r/RADIOCOMM_LIST/702146588171/list.admin/aus-city.com/Exhibition
CubeSat specialists and other vendors are invited to contact
exhibit@iCubeSat.org for details of exhibition opportunities.
Location
The fourth Interplanetary CubeSat Workshop will be held on the
Imperial College South Kensington campus, London, United Kingdom on
Tuesday, May 26th and Wednesday May 27th, 2015.
For more details please visit the conference website at
www.iCubeSat.org[ANS thanks CubeSat mailing list for the above information]
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January/February 2015 AMSAT Journal is Complete
The January/February 2015 AMSAT Journal is complete and has been
sent to the
print shop.
In this issue you'll find ....
+ AMSAT Announcements - 2015 Symposium in Dayton, Ohio
+ Apogee View by Barry Baines, WD4ASW
+ Fox-1A Flight Model Passes Environmental Testing (with photos)
+ There's an App for That: Smart Phone Applications for Satellites
by Mark D. Johns, K0MDJ
+ New Column: Orbital Debrief for January/February
by Paul Stoetzer, N8HM
+ 4M: a Moon mission by Ghislain Ruy, LX2RG
+ Ballistically Reinforced Communications Satellite (BRICSat-P):
The Enhancement of the APRS Amateur Radio Network Through
Micropropulsion by Ensign Christopher Dinelli, et al
+ Report from the 2014 AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual Meeting
in Baltimore
+ Support our 2014 Prize Donors!
+ The AMSAT Space Symposium Photo Gallery
+ Recognition and Thanks to Our Dedicated Volunteers in 2014
Look for this issue to arrive in your mailbox in the next few weeks.
As always, please send your articles, operating photos, and
announcements to
the Journal mailbox at journal@amsat.org or to k9jkm@comcast.net.
[ANS thanks the AMSAT Journal Team, Bernhard, VA6BMJ; Douglas,
KA2UPW/5;
Howard, K3JPH; Joe, KB6IGK; JoAnne, K9JKM for the above information]
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Design The Next AMSAT Satellite!
At the 2014 AMSAT Space Symposium AMSAT Vice President - Engineering
Jerry Buxton announced the plan for the next generation of AMSAT
satellites. "The door is open for everyone, to submit their ideas.
AMSAT Engineering has a long term strategy and this is the first
step."
The Engineering long term strategy includes the following goals
* Advancement of amateur radio satellite technical and communications
skills
* Enhance international goodwill
* Grow and sustain a skilled pool of amateur radio satellite engineers
* Establish and maintain partnerships with educational institutions
* Develop a means to use hardware common to all opportunities
With respect to the last goal Jerry said "Within the bounds of the
type of satellite it takes to achieve any of the various orbit
opportunities, let's consider in those plans the possibility of
developing a platform that can suit any and all orbits. Perhaps a
modular CubeSat, using a common bus as we did in Fox-1, which gives
great flexibility in building and flying different sizes and
configurations of CubeSats with simple common-design hardware
changes."
Submissions should be thorough and contain the following
information. The purpose of the proposal is not just in suggesting
an idea; being an all-volunteer team AMSAT needs your help in
carrying out the idea.
Design
Implementation - CubeSat platform
Estimated timeline
Cost - volunteer resources, commercial (COTS) units
Launch - how does it get to orbit
Strategy - how it fits into AMSAT's Engineering long term strategy
As mentioned above the idea should be based on the CubeSat platform.
This is the standard through which we will look for launches in the
foreseeable future.
In considering your proposal, Jerry encourages you to contact him,
(n0jy@amsat.org using Subject: Design the Next AMSAT Satelleite), for
more details on the criteria.
A guidebook to the criteria is now available for download at
http://www.aus-city.com/cgi-bin/dad...T/854993456269/list.admin/aus-city.com/.In particular, if you plan to include a university as a partner to
provide experiments or other support and you are not representing
that university, please contact Jerry for assistance in working with
our existing partners or establishing a new partnership.
"Being amateur radio operators, it is easy for us to fall into a
particular trap because of our history of communicating with other
amateurs throughout the world" says Jerry. "Specifically, most people
who are not already involved in the world of satellite technology are
unaware of or simply overlook the provisions of the current ITAR and
soon to be EAR export rules particularly with regard to deemed
exports which requires governmental permission to discuss satellite
projects with foreign nationals."
While all amateurs are invited to submit ideas, U.S. amateurs must
take particular care of they choose to become involved in a
collaboration which includes individuals from other countries. It is
permissible to receive ideas and proposals from outside the U.S., but
it is not permitted for U.S. Persons to export or share design ideas
with other countries unless they have taken the proper steps to
insure compliance with ITAR and deemed export rules.
Additionally, those wishing to work on proposals should use care in
presenting themselves in their contacts. While the goal is for AMSAT
to build and launch the satellite, it is not an AMSAT project until
it is accepted by the AMSAT Board of Directors. It is acceptable to
represent yourself as members of a project team that plans to submit
a proposal to AMSAT for a future satellite project, as the AMSAT name
is well known.
"It is not our intention that ideas be submitted to AMSAT-NA which
would be more appropriately handled by an AMSAT organization in a
country where AMSAT is established. AMSAT-NA is seeking ideas from
amateurs in North America and will certainly consider ideas from
amateurs in countries which do not have an established AMSAT
organization or relationships with an existing AMSAT organization."
The deadline for submissions is May 30, 2015. After the submission
date the ideas will be screened for completeness and then reviewed by
a board consisting of the AMSAT Engineering Team, AMSAT Senior
Officer and Board of Directors representatives, and aerospace
industry members. The review board may modify or consolidate ideas
and will consider which meet the criteria to become a project based
on feasibility, cost, and the ability to bring value to the amateur
satellite community. The review process is expected to be completed
in September 2015.
For those ideas selected to become a project which satisfy the
requirements for an ELaNa launch, the idea authors will be asked to
work with the AMSAT Engineering Team on an ELaNa proposal.
The Engineering Team will then work on the details of execution for
the selected project(s) and present a proposal to the AMSAT Board of
Directors in October 2015 for final approval to begin work. Once
approved, any ELaNa proposals will be submitted in November 2015 and
the project(s) will move forward.
Now is the time for YOU to begin working on the next AMSAT satellite!
[ANS thanks AMSAT Engineering for the above information]
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SSTV transmissions from the International Space Station
The Russian ARISS team plan to activated SSTV from the ISS on
Saturday January 31 and will cintinue on Sunday February 1, 2015.
Expected SSTV mode will be PD180 on 145.800 MHz with 3 minute off
periods between transmissions. A total of 12 different photos will be
sent during the operational period. This is the second series of
pictures to be transmitted.
Start time would be around 10.00 UTC on January 31 and 9.00 UTC on
February 1. The transmissions should terminate around 21:30 UTC each
day.
[ANS thanks Gaston ON4WF for the above information]
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Dick Flagg, AH6NM, Receives YASME Award
Champion of integrating Amateur Radio and space science is honored
for achievements
ARISS (Amateur Radio on the International Space Station) is pleased
to share the news that the 2015 Yasme Excellence Award has been
presented to Dick Flagg, AH6NM, for his contributions to the success
of the ARISS program and other efforts in support of Amateur Radio
and space science-related initiatives.
The Yasme Award is given to outstanding individuals who have served
the Amateur Radio community in areas of technical advancement,
operating arts and good will. Recipients are chosen by the not-for-
profit Yasme Foundation. ARISS, which gives students the opportunity
to ask questions of astronauts on board the ISS (International Space
Station) via Amateur Radio, aims to spark an interest in science,
technology, engineering and math (STEM) subjects and careers among
young people while simultaneously serving as an introduction to
Amateur Radio.
Flagg first supported the SAREX (Shuttle Amateur Radio Experiment)
program, the pre-cursor of ARISS, on the 1990 STS-35 mission, with
Astronaut Dr. Ron Parise, WA4SIR (SK), on board. Flagg helped pioneer
the telebridge concept for Dr. Parise's mission, which is now an
operational capability for ARISS. The telebridge enables school
students to talk to on-orbit crew members through amateur radio
ground stations that are not co-located at the school but are linked
to the school through a phone line connection. His pioneering work on
the telebridge concept has allowed hundreds of schools to contact the
ISS when conditions, such as ground obstructions or high buildings,
would have prevented the contact. Flagg provided critical SAREX
support by helping students communicate with Dr. Parise and other
astronauts on STS-35 using the telebridge ground station he pioneered
in Hawaii. Since then, Flagg has been involved in more than 115
contacts to the Shuttle and ISS from the ARISS Hawaii telebridge
ground station located at Sacred Hearts Academy in Honolulu, an all-
girls school where he emphasized STEM through student involvement in
the contacts.
The award also recognized Flagg's contributions to the NASA Radio
Jove educational outreach program, which has introduced radio
telescope kits to nearly 2,000 student groups and radio amateurs
around the world.
"While it was indeed an honor for me to receive this award from the
Yasme Foundation," says Flagg, "I feel that I am accepting it for
both the ARISS and Radio Jove teams. Congratulations to all of you."
For more on the Yasme Foundation and the Yasme Award, visit
www.yasme.org.For more on the ARISS program, visit
www.ariss.org. You may also
join ARISS on Facebook and follow it on Twitter: @ARISS_status.
[ANS thanks Dave AA4KN and YASME for the above information]
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NASA OSSI Online Career Week
The NASA One Stop Shopping Initiative, or OSSI, is hosting the NASA
OSSI Online Career Week Feb. 10-12, 2015. This online event will
connect you with NASA, science, technology, engineering and
mathematics, or STEM, employers and top graduate programs nationwide.
Engage with representatives from all 10 NASA centers to learn about
internship, scholarship and fellowship opportunities available at
NASA. Interact with recruiters from top STEM employers, and explore
internship and job opportunities in the private sector. Learn about
highly ranked STEM graduate programs and network with admissions
officers from the comfort of your home, dorm, smartphone or tablet.
Register for one or all events and launch your career today!
NASA OSSI Online Career Week Live Events
-- NASA Internships, Fellowships and Scholarships Day -- Feb. 10,
2015 (1-5 p.m. EST)
-- STEM Industry Day -- Feb. 11, 2015 (1-5 p.m. EST)
-- STEM Graduate Programs Fair -- Feb. 12, 2015 (1-5 p.m. EST)
Starting on February 9, you will be able to research participating
organizations and explore opportunities listed. Complete your
profile, and prepare a few questions for the centers, companies or
graduate programs you are interested in. During the live events, you
will engage in one-on-one text-based conversations directly with a
recruiter or admissions officer at those organizations. You can share
your background, experience and resume and ask questions. Maximize
your time in the event by getting in line to chat with
representatives from more than one center, company or university at a
time.
To attend, please register at
http://www.aus-city.com/cgi-bin/dad...T/490245756965/list.admin/aus-city.com/.For more information, please contact nasaossi at hsf dot net.
[ANS thanks NASA Education Express Message for Jan. 29, 2015 for the
above information]
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ELaNa-X Cubesats Launched From Vandenberg on January 31
Mike Rupprecht, DK3WN, reported on his SatBlog
(
http://www.aus-city.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/r/RADIOCOMM_LIST/474110027245/list.admin/aus-city.com/) that the Saturday, January 31 Delta II launch
from Space Launch Complex 2 at Vandenberg Air Force Base carrying the
Soil Moisture Active Passive, or SMAP, satellite also included a
secondary payload with ELaNa cubesats. The main payload and secondary
payload were deployed successfully.
Cubesat Downlink
----------------- -------------------
Firebird-II FU3 437.405 MHz 19k2 FSK
Firebird-II FU4 437.230 MHz 19k2 FSK
GRIFEX 437.485 MHz 9k6 FSK
Exocube (CP-10) 437.270 MHz 9k6 FSK
(source DK3WN
http://www.aus-city.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/r/RADIOCOMM_LIST/781391152071/list.admin/aus-city.com/)
Jan, PE0SAT described his receiving and decoding configuration on his
website:
http://www.aus-city.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/r/RADIOCOMM_LIST/271627945911/list.admin/aus-city.com/The University of Michigan released updated software to decode GRIFEX
packets:
http://www.aus-city.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/r/RADIOCOMM_LIST/502182368930/list.admin/aus-city.com/Mike, DK3WN shows screen captures of receiving Firebird-II FU3 and
FU4 at:
http://www.aus-city.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/r/RADIOCOMM_LIST/046172627534/list.admin/aus-city.com/[ANS thanks Mike, DK3WN and Jan, PE0SAT for the above information]
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ARISS News
+ A Successful contact was made between Japan Broadcasting
Corporation (NHK)"Masakame event" Tokyo, Japan event and Astronaut
Samantha Cristoforetti IZØUDF using NA1SS. The contact began 2015-01-
24 14:21 UTC and lasted about nine and a half minutes. Contact was
direct via JK1ZRW. ARISS Mentor was 7M3TJZ. 8 questions were
answered and approximately 200 people were in attendance. The event
was covered by NHK TV station.
+ A Successful contact was made among Istituto Salesiano "G.
Bearzi", Udine, Italy; Intercultura Onlus, Milano, Italy and
Astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti IZØUDF using NA1SS. The contact
began 2015-01-31 08:38:59 UTC and lasted about nine and a half
minutes. Contact was telebridged via K6DUE.
ARISS Mentor was IKØWGF. 13 questions were answered. 400 were in
attendance at Salesiano "G. Bearzi" and 100 at Intercultura Onlus.
Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule
Scuola Media Locatelli-Oriani, Milano, Italy and Scuola Secondaria
di Primo Grado "Bachelet", Cernusco sul naviglio, Italy are expected
to make contact with Astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti IZØUDF on 2015-
02-05 10:37:35 UTC. The contact is scheduled as a Telebridge via
W6SRJ. The ISS downlink should be audible over portions of the
Western United States.
Presentation Scuola Media Locatelli-Oriani
The middle school Locatelli Oriani is located in the center of
Milan, just a few steps from the planetarium. It's part of the
comprehensive institute Pisacane and Poerio: two buildings with
primary school and middle school. All the activities, both from
educational and didactical point of view are primarily focused on
well-being of students. The educational proposal, following the
ministerial indication, has been enriched by educational trips,
schools trips, sports days, concerts, music, theatre and dance as
well as themed initiatives in science, languages and art. Among these
there are KET and PET (in-depth courses about foreign languages),
summer holidays abroad, participation to the math games held by
Bocconi university and "Scatti di scienza" (photographs and movies
competition about science made by students).
The school was involved also in Mission X 2012 and, together with
Rai Scuola (the national TV), have been realized a documentary movie
for the ministerial project "Salute".
There is the student council, two students per class elected by the
others. They meet monthly to discuss and propose new ideas and
initiatives on how to improve the school and develop solidarity,
community spirit and recognition of human and civil rights. Since
several years the council is taking care of children remote adoption,
together with humanitarian organizations.
Presentation of Scuola Secondaria di Primo Grado "Bachelet"
The school V. Bachelet is a natural continuation of the educational
work begun in 1981 by some parents and teachers, founding the
Elementary School "The Aurora", they were attempting to create a
school in a cooperative solidarity-based education. Since 2006 the
Institute Aurora-Bachelet is twinned with the Little Prince Primary
School in Nairobi and since September 2012 is based in the brand new
facility located in Via Buonarroti in Cernusco S/N.
The students from the third classes followed, over the last few
years, an articulated astronomy course marked by significant moments:
realization of a book to celebrate the 40th Moon landing anniversary,
visit the astronomical observatory in Cernusco S/N, see the live
event between Pope Benedict XVI and the ISS, meet ESA astronaut Paolo
Nespoli, meet the professor Amalia Ercoli Finzi from Milan
University, meet mr. Valerio Nassi and his hand-made space models and
meet eng. Marco Molina (Selex ES) who introduced in several lessons
the human space exploration and robotic space exploration (specially
focused on Rosetta mission).
Preparing for the school contact with ESA astronaut Samantha
Cristoforetti, eng. Marco Molina introduced to students all the
details about her Futura mission and provided an autographed
Samantha's potrait picture.
The schools will alternate questions during the contact. The English
translation of the anticipated questions include:
1. Elena: We know that in space is possible to grow plants, but how
do you put water and how do you prevent topsoil from floating
around?
2. Diana: Is, the precise schedule on the ISS, a constraint or a
needs for you?
3. Gaia: Thanks to microgravity, the ISS is a barrier-free
environment: do you think space could be considered the new
frontier especially for people with disabilities?
4. Maria: Looking at the Sun rising so many times a day is affecting
in some way your body and mind? Which are the most important body
modification you feel in microgravity?
5. Andrea: Are the computer used in space different from what we use
on earth? Which operating system do they have?
6. Davide: How did you discover your passion for astronomy? Did you
remember people or events that helped to?
7. Alessandro: Node 2 and 3 have been built in Italy. Do you feel
home moving inside these modules?
8. Lia: How do you spend your free time, if you have it, on the ISS?
9. Rebecca: Would you take part in a trip to Mars and back?
10. Andrea: Which people and things do you miss most while living on
ISS? How is the life in orbit with just a few people? Do you feel
alone?
11. Filippo: We see that you share your experience from the
beginning and you still do from there: do you plan to write a book
at your return to Earth?
12. Laura: Despite your very long training, did you see things on
the ISS that you would never imagined?
13. Filippo: What will you bring back to Earth both physically and
mentally?
14. Daniela: Which activities and experiments are you performing on
the ISS?
15. Alessia: What was the detail that impressed you most on the ISS?
16. Sergio: How and what do you eat in space? Which are your
favourite foods and what is the flavour?
17. Vincenzo: Is it more difficult doing activities without the
effect of weight?
18. Claudia: Did you see the historical landing of Rosetta on a
comet? If yes, what was your feeling?
19. Loredana: Coming back to Earth, wow are you going to get back
used again to weight and gravity, coming back to Earth?
20. Anishta: Do you think it would be possible living in space for
normal people like us as students?
21. Anna: What was your feeling after the launch, as soon as you
realized of being in space?
22. Matteo: Did you have troubles on the ISS up to now? If yes, what?
[ANS thanks ARISS, Charlie AJ9N, David AA4KN for the above
information]
Television Report about ARISS, Produced by Italian RAI-3 TV
The ARISS contact performed Friday January 9, 2015 with three
Italian schools was reported extensively by the "Spaziolibero"
television program, sponsored by the Italian parliament.
Emanuele D'Andria I0ELE, President AMSAT Italia, Francesco De Paolis
IK0WGF, secretary AMSAT Italia and Piero Tognolatti I0KPT did an
outstanding job presenting ARISS and Amateur Radio to the general
public.
The program - in Italian - is presently available at:
http://www.aus-city.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/r/RADIOCOMM_LIST/728207778065/list.admin/aus-city.com/The video narration gives visibility to the ARISS program, ARISS
school contacts and HAMTV.
Congratulations to our Italian colleagues for outstanding public
relations!
[ANS thanks Gaston, ON4WF, for the above information]
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Satellite Shorts From All Over
+ Upcoming NASA Educator Professional Development Webinars
NASA Educator Professional Development (EPD) presents free webinars
open to all educators. Join NASA Education Specialists to learn about
activities, lesson plans, educator guides and resources to bring NASA
into your classroom. Visit the NASA EPD website for more information
and to register for any upcoming webinars at
http://www.aus-city.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/r/RADIOCOMM_LIST/290562109466/list.admin/aus-city.com/[ANS thanks NEON - NASA Educators Online Network for the above
information]
+ Test Flight for Privately Funded LightSail Spacecraft
Lightsail flies in May...
Planetary Society Blog Page:
http://www.aus-city.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/r/RADIOCOMM_LIST/940337056208/list.admin/aus-city.com/ Planetary Society Press Release
http://www.aus-city.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/r/RADIOCOMM_LIST/398242906250/list.admin/aus-city.com/ [ANS thanks the Planetary Society for the above information]
+ This homebrew satellite antenna project looks quite do-able:
http://www.aus-city.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/r/RADIOCOMM_LIST/087285329308/list.admin/aus-city.com/[ANS thanks JoAnne K9JKM and DXZone for the above information]
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/EX
