In Vol. 22, No. 08, February 21, 2003
The ARRL Letter and The American Radio Relay League report that pupils at an elementary school in Japan have been the first youngsters to speak to the astronauts aboard the International Space Station since the
shuttle Columbia tragedy. The contact took place February 18 between
8N3HES at the Hirano Elementary School and astronaut Don Pettit, KD5MDT,
at the controls of NA1SS. The direct 2-meter contact was arranged by the
Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) program, which
has been on hold since the shuttle catastrophe.No one asked any questions about the Columbia tragedy during the
approximately 10-minute contact that was marred by some communication
difficulty. An audience of approximately 180 people--essentially the
entire school plus several reporters--was on hand for the ARISS contact.
Pettit managed to answer eight of the nine questions put to him by the
fifth and sixth graders

One student wanted to know what Pettit would bring with him if he had to
live in space for the rest of his life. "I would hope to bring my whole
family," Pettit responded. "I would bring my wife and my children and we
would live in space together."

Because of the Columbia disaster, the mission of the Expedition 6 crew
members already has been extended until at least June. It had been
scheduled to end next month.

Other students asked questions relating to everyday life aboard the space
station, including how the crew gets rid of its trash. Pettit explained
that after putting the trash into airtight bags, it's loaded on an empty
Progress cargo supply rocket and sent back into Earth's atmosphere. "It's
the ultimate means of recycling your garbage," he said.

Pettit told the youngsters that it's "nice and warm" aboard the space
station--about 22 degrees Centigrade--but that the crew could set the
temperature to whatever they desired.

One student asked what the crew would do if someone became ill.
"Fortunately no one has become sick on our mission, so we haven't had to
worry about that," Pettit replied. He said that in the case of sickness
among the crew, the crew would contact flight surgeons on Earth to get
advice. He also explained that the crew has a medical kit on board for
those kinds of situation.

ARISS is an international project with participation by ARRL, AMSAT and
NASA.