Texas School Students Have QSO With Space Station

ARISS QSO WITH TEXAS SCHOOL GOES OFF WITHOUT A HITCH

Youngsters at George West Elementary School in George West, Texas, enjoyed the latest in a series of successful Amateur Radio on the International Space Station school contacts. "The contact this morning went without a hitch, with a full 10 minutes of QSO from horizon to horizon!" exulted Gene Chapline, K5YFL, the ARISS Amateur Radio coordinator for the school. "Signals were Q5 all the way."

Chapline says 10 students asked two questions each of Space Station Alpha Commander William "Shep" Shepherd, KD5GSL, with time left over for what Chapline called "a civilized 'thank you, good luck and 73' to Shepherd" before contact was lost. Students asked several questions related to microgravity aboard the ISS, including how it might affect viruses, plant growth and even the dreams the crew might have. Teacher Keith Rogers said Shepherd's replies impressed him and his young charges. "His kind and caring answers really impacted my students," he said. "He will forever be their hero!"


Assisting were members of the Boy Scout Troop 277 Amateur Radio Club. Thirteen-year-old Bradley Henicke, KD5FAL, served as the primary operator, and 16-year-old Alonzo Cuellar, KD5FAM, was the standby operator. "It was perfect," Chapline said of the QSO. A crowd of about 75 teachers and relatives filled the classroom. Two Scouts escorted interested parties outside during the contact to see the ISS pass overhead while listening to the QSO on a hand-held scanner.

Reporters were on hand from several newspapers as well as local TV, and Boy's Life magazine has scheduled a story on the event. For more information on the ARISS program, visit the ARISS Web site, http://ariss.gsfc.nasa.gov

--Gene Chapline, K5YFL

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