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ARISS contact planned for Justus-Knecht-Gymnasium, Bruchsal, Germany

An International Space Station radio contact has been planned for Jeff Williams KD5TVQ with Justus-Knecht-Gymnasium, Bruchsal, Germany. The event is scheduled Friday July 1st, 2016 at approximately 08:31 UTC. The amateur radio contact will be a direct operated by DN1JKG. The downlink signals should be audible over parts of Europe. Interested parties are invited to listen in on 145.800 MHz narrowband FM.

Presentation:

The Justus-Knecht-Gymnasium is one of the biggest schools of general education in the administrative district of Karlsruhe in Baden-Wurttemberg. More than 1,300 students are taught by over one hundred teachers. Our focus is on a scientific profile with the succession of languages being English-French or English-Latin. Furthermore, science and technology is a major subject starting in year 8. About 85% of our students opt for this profile.

For four years now the Justus-Knecht-Gymnasium has been one of 44 model schools in Baden-Wurttemberg which allow students to take their A-levels at different speeds – either after eight or nine years of secondary education.

The Justus-Knecht-Gymnasium is also participating in three different educational pilot projects. In the last two years leading up to their A-levels, students may take up Mathematics “plus” (an enhanced version of the subject Mathematics, six lessons a week) or computer science as a major subject as well as science and technology as a minor subject.
Additionally, there are optional subjects for senior students, such as for example psychology, philosophy, drama, and especially natural sciences like geology, computer algebra, computer science, and astronomy.
The Justus-Knecht-Gymnasium cooperates with partners in various fields, especially the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT).

In 2015 the town of Bruchsal organized the “Heimattage Baden-Württemberg” (Homeland Days of Baden-Württemberg). The Justus Knecht-Gymnasium took part in different projects, e.g. “Heimat Erde” (Homeland Earth). Students of different years worked on the topic. Moreover there’s a study team working together with the amateur radio operators of Bruchsal. They established radio communication, built a stratosphere balloon and prepared the radio link to the ISS.

Participants will ask as many of the following questions as time allows:

1. Alexander, 17: (Welcoming speech in English and Russian) Is the space debris a threat for the ISS?
2. Moritz, 11: How long does it take to return to earth in case of emergency?
3. Lars, 18: What do you do with the time saved due to time dilatation?
4. Sebastian, 15: Do you feel the temperature differences between inside and outside during a spacewalk?
5. Lukas, 14: When will it be possible to realize a mission to Mars in your opinion?
6. Dario, 17: How do you lubricate mechanical parts against friction in space?
7. Jonas, 15: How many calories do you need per day?
8. Lennart, 13 : Do you play dart in space?
9. Tim, 15: Have you ever realized experiments with flying animals like birds on the ISS?
10. Fabian, 15: In which way does the 90 minute-day-night-change  influence your life on board?
11. Nina, 17: Are you floating in your dreams, too?
12. Noel, 11: How do you recycle your water on board?
13. Janek, 15: Which buildings can you see from above?
14. Fabian, 15: Are you able to see polar lights from above?
15. Nadine, 17: Which animals are living currently on board?
16. Sandra, 16: Do you miss the weather on the ISS?
17. Tom, 17: What do you think about planet earth from high above?
18. Tom, 15: Did you wear a life vest or parachute during your flight to the ISS?
19. Max, 18: What do you do in your spare time?
20. Michel, 16: Did you get medical training during your preparation on earth?

ARISS is an international educational outreach program partnering the volunteer support and leadership from AMSAT and IARU societies around the world with the ISS space agencies partners: NASA, Russian Space Agency, ESA, CNES, JAXA, and CSA.

ARISS offers an opportunity for students to experience the excitement of Amateur Radio by talking directly with crewmembers on-board the International Space Station. Teachers, parents and communities see, first hand, how Amateur Radio and crewmembers on ISS can energize youngsters interest in science, technology, and learning.

Bertus Husken,

PE1KEH