South Essex Amateur Radio Society
© SEARS 2010 Webmaster Dave Speechley G4UVJ...Last update 23 Mar 2010
Left to Right. Howard Long G6LVB, Dave Speechley G4UVJ, Carlos Eavis G0AKI and the Students of Furtherwick Park School..
Expedition 12 Crew
William McArthur, Commander and ISS Science Officer
Valery Tokarev, Flight Engineer 1 and Soyuz Commander
List of Questions that was asked by the Students of Furtherwick Park School,
Canvey Island, Essex. GB2FPS
1. Does lack of gravity have an impact on the movement and retention of fluids in the body? If it does, how do you prepare yourself for this
2. Do chemical reactions in a micro-gravity or gravity free situation change their rate of reaction?
3. Can weather systems such as lightening, hurricanes and tropical storms be seen from space and does lightening move vertically from the cloud layer towards the upper atmosphere?
4. What is your favorite music and who chooses what gets played in the space station?
5. Here is a question on behalf of the Tunisian Scouts. What is the most marvellous phenomenon one can observe only from space?
6. Does the weight (mass) of the shuttle affect the station orbit when it locks on and does it have an effect upon any artificial gravity system in place?
7. What things have you taken with you from home and why?
8. When do you need to wear a space suit and what is the material made of and is it heavy?
9. If your radio system failed, do you have anything to use to contact the Earth?
10. If you looked out of the window for one minute what things would you see?
11 What exercises do you do in space?
12. Who has been your role model or inspiration?
13. If you lit a candle, would the flame remain vertical if you turned the candle on its side and does the colour of the flame alter?
14. What is the daily routine on the space station?
15. How long does it take to get used to the loss of gravity?
16. When you're in space, how do you cope with all the water that escapes from your body?
17. Do you feel it will be hard to adjust when you come back to Earth?
On the 9 November 2005 at 17:47hrs, Students from Furtherwick Park School ,Canvey Island, Essex were able to chat with Commander Bill McArthur orbiting the earth aboard the International Space Station, thanks to South Essex Amateur Radio Society and Carlos Eavis G0AKI of the R.S.G.B and Howard Long G6LVB of ARISS/ Amsat uk, . the pupils used Amateur Radio to ask the Astronauts 17 questions as they passed 250 miles above the earth traveling at 17500mph, Despite a nail biting 30 secs when contact was temporarily lost half way through the contact it turned out ok in the end, a great contact ,its not everyday you get a chance to speak to someone orbiting the earth .The School intends to keep there science education lessons ,The Radio Society of Great Britain's GB4FUN communications and demonstration vehicle also attended the event, providing a full backup station.
International Space Station Contact