At approximately 9:45 AM EST (1445 UTC) on Tuesday, February 19, the International Space Station (ISS) experienced a loss of communication with the ground. At that time, flight controllers in Houston were updating the software onboard the ISS’s flight computers when one of the ISS’s data relay systems malfunctioned. The primary computer that controls critical station functions defaulted to a backup computer, but it did not allow the ISS to communicate with NASA’s tracking and data relay satellites.

An International Space Station school contact has been planned February 22, 2013 with participants at Uplands Elementary School, Penticton, BC, Canada. The event is scheduled to begin at approximately 19:36 UTC , which is 20:36 CEWT. Chris Hadfield KC5RNJ/VA3OOG will answer students questions.
The contact will be a telebridge operated by IK1SLD, located in Northern Italy. Interested parties in Europe are invited to listen to dowlink signals on 145.800 MHz FM. The contact will be conducted in English.