Spacewalks 'Thrilling,' Astronaut Tells Students During Ham Radio Chat:

International Space Station Expedition 12 Commander Bill McArthur, KC5ACR, told students gathered in Geneva, Switzerland, November 22, that taking a spacewalk is a thrilling experience. Speaking the following day with middle schoolers in upstate New York, McArthur described space exploration as the new frontier. Both contacts were arranged by the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) program. During the Geneva contact--part of the "Science on Stage" program for European science teachers--McArthur rhapsodized about the spacewalk experience.

"It's an absolute delight, it's thrilling to be outside, it's being truly in a totally alien environment," McArthur said, "and you realize the only thing between you and vacuum is the small little spaceship that you call your spacesuit. And it is truly the most thrilling thing I've ever done."

Responding to a question involving human physiology in space, McArthur said it's theorized that bone tissue is replaced more slowly in space because it does not get stressed in microgravity.

"On Earth, when you walk, when you run, every time your foot strikes the ground there is stress on your skeletal system, and this aids in bone development," McArthur said. He told another student that getting used to weightlessness was the biggest adjustment for ISS crew members. He noted that he and crewmate Valery Tokarev will have spent some 182 days in space by the time they return to Earth next April. In the meantime, much of the research conducted aboard the ISS will help determine how well human beings will be able to handle long-term space travel beyond Earth orbit, McArthur said.

Some 300 science teachers from 25 countries gathered at the European Nuclear Research Center (CERN) in Geneva for the conference. Eighteen students from Belgium, Denmark, Greece, Italy, Norway and Portugal took part in the space QSO.

NN1SS at Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland served as the Earth station for the CERN event. MCI donated a two-way teleconferencing link between NN1SS in Maryland and the ISS. Gaston Bertels, ON4WF, was the ARISS-Europe mentor.

On November 23, youngsters at Central Park Middle School in Schenectady, New York--a NASA Explorer School--focused most of their questions on spaceflight training, preparation and safety. McArthur told the youngsters that it was hard to get into the space program.

"It was very difficult because there simply are so few astronauts--there are only slightly more than 100 astronauts in the US space program, and each time we ask for new volunteers, we get thousands of applications from very, very qualified people," McArthur explained. "So, to be quite honest, not only do you have to have a good resume, you have to be very, very lucky."

An astronaut for 15 years, McArthur said he trained four and a half years for his current mission onboard the ISS. The most challenging aspect of his job is "to be patient," he said in reply to another question. "I've spent much, much more time training and on the ground than flying in orbit."

McArthur said he believes the most important thing society can gain from missions like his is a continued belief in and commitment to space exploration. "Humans by their very nature want to go to the next frontier," he added, "and we think the next frontier is the one you see when you look straight up."

W6SRJ at Santa Rosa Junior College in California served as the Earth station for the Central Park contact, and MCI donated a teleconferencing link between W6SRJ and the school.

ARISS http://www.rac.ca/ariss is an international educational outreach with US participation by ARRL, AMSAT and NASA.

Source:

The ARRL Letter Vol. 24, No. 47 December 2, 2005

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