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UA9FBV > SAT 13.04.03 05:01l 52 Lines 2240 Bytes #999 (0) @ AMSAT
BID : ANS-103.07
Read: DB0FHN GUEST
Subj: ARISS Gets the Spotlight at Science Teachers Gathering
Path: DB0FHN<DB0RGB<OK0PPL<RZ6HXA<UA9FBV
Sent: 030413/0244Z @:UA9FBV.PRM.RUS.AS #:33417 [Perm] GATEWAY $:ANS-103.07
From: UA9FBV@UA9FBV.PRM.RUS.AS
To : SAT@AMSAT
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 103.07 From AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD. April 13, 2003
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-103.07
Student-to-astronaut communication via ham radio got a boost last week
from ARRL Education and Technology Project Coordinator Jerry Hill,
KH6HU, during the National Science Teachers Association national
conference. Hill helped to staff the NASA booth during the gathering
March 27-30 in Philadelphia.
"My function at the conference was to sign up teachers for the Amateur
Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) program, plus
represent the ARRL and talk up ham radio," Hill explained. "We signed
up about 200 teachers and got them on the list. It can take over a year
to get a contact date, but it's well worth it."
Accompanying Hill at the Philadelphia Convention Center was ARRL
Education and Technology Program teacher Jim Kuhl, N2STK. Kuhl is a
"Big Project" pilot program teacher at Central Square Middle School in
New York. "Jim was a big help," Hill said. "He's made an ARISS contact
before and had Amateur Radio right in his classroom. Having him there
lent tremendous credibility to the program."
During the NSTA gathering, more than 14,000 secondary school
instructors had a chance to learn about ARISS, an international project
with participation by ARRL, AMSAT and NASA. Among other benefits,
ARISS provides an opportunity for students to talk directly with crew
members of the International Space Station (ISS)--a unique educational
experience. ARISS also is responsible for the Amateur Radio equipment
at NA1SS, the first permanent ham radio station in space onboard the
ISS.
A former industrial arts teacher, Hill said the teachers he spoke with
were very enthusiastic about the ARISS program, especially once they
realized that direct contact with the ISS was a real possibility. "They
get pretty excited at that point," he said. "It just blows their minds."
Hill says he hopes more Education and Technology Program pilot school
teachers will be able to join him in the NASA-sponsored booth at future
conventions. In the future, he'd also like to see students demonstrate
Amateur Radio.
[ANS thanks ARRL for the above information.]
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