4th Polish Conference of Contributors and Fans of the ARISS Educational Program

4th Polish Conference of Contributors and Fans of the ARISS Educational Program
Since years, schools and educational institutions enjoy conversations with astronauts in space thanks to Amateur Radio. In 2011, several amateur radio clubs and schools in Poland were in the queue for a radio contact with an astronaut. An idea developed - to set up a meeting and to exchange experience with participants from all over Poland.  The first Conference took place in October 2011. It is now part of the World Space Week (WSW).

The 4th of October 2014, the 4th Polish Conference of Contributors and Fans of the ARISS Educational Program, gathered 61 participants. Interested newcomers met with experienced persons in the field of ARISS contacts and learned about space, the International Space Station (ISS) and HAM radio contacts between children and crew members aboard the ISS. This year, the main subject of the WSW was  – “Space: Guiding your Way”. A student  - Błażej Busza -  presented Satellite Navigation Systems and  proper ways to plan and prepare a successful ARISS contact with an astronaut in space were discussed in detail.

ARISS (Amateur Radio on the International Space Station) offers an opportunity for students to experience the excitement of Amateur Radio by talking directly with crew members on board the International Space Station. Teachers, parents and communities can see, first hand, how Amateur Radio and crew members on the ISS can energize youngsters' interest in science, technology and learning. ARISS is an international educational outreach program partnering the space agencies: NASA, Roscosmos, ESA, JAXA, and CSA, with the AMSAT and the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) organizations from participating countries.

The Conference was made possible thanks to international cooperation and the ARISS organization, together with the collaboration of the Polish Amateur Radio Union (PZK), the "ZAP - Edukacja" School Association, the SP3POW HAM radio club, and the "Delta" Amateur Radio Association. Teachers and other participants got information on how to prepare a contact with an astronaut and to collaborate with local amateur radio clubs and with the ARISS organization. The EarthKAM gallery, made by students of the Complex of Schools no. 1 in Koło, was available for participants of the Conference, and also for the public. Moreover, there was a lot of information for teachers about educational programs, covering astronomy and STEM subjects: Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. Several HAM radio topics were included: microwave techniques, HD amateur digital TV, amateur radio communications and APRS – Authomatic Packet Reporting System – an amateur real time network information system.

Finally, all fifteen ARISS contacts performed from Poland were reviewed, during which the Polish schools and educational organizations talked with astronauts from NASA, ESA and JAXA: E. Michael Fincke KE5AIT, Frank De Winne ON1DWN, Soichi Noguchi KD5TVP, Catherine G. Coleman KC5ZTH (twice), Ronald J. Garan KF5GPO, Michael E. Fossum KF5AQG, Daniel C. Burbank KC5ZSX (twice), Donald R. Pettit KD5MDT, Akihiko Hoshide KE5DNI, Luca Parmitano KF5KDP, Koichi Wakata KC5ZTA (twice) and Michael S. Hopkins KF5LJG.

More about ARISS: www.ariss.org and http://www.ariss-eu.org
The Photo gallery from the event is available here: http://ariss.pzk.org.pl/SP/conference/04/galerie/MP
Conference page: http://ariss.pzk.org.pl/SP/conference/04/
World Space Week: http://www.worldspaceweek.org

Report presented by:
Armand Budzianowski SP3QFE
Piotr Skrzypczak SP2JM
Sławomir Szymanowski SQ3OOK
Paweł Zakrzewski SP7TEV

Source directe :  ARISS
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