Altamonte Elementary School student Jasmine Autry asks her question of ISS Crew Chief Frank Culbertson, while teacher Susan Kindy hold the microphone. [Joe Ellis Photo]
NEWINGTON, CT, Sep 28, 2001--Students at schools in Florida and Virginia got to talk with International Space Station Expedition 3 Crew Commander Frank Culbertson, KD5OPQ, this month. The contacts with NA1SS were arranged as part of the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station program.
On September 14, 15 youngsters and their teacher at Altamonte Elementary School in Altamonte Springs, Florida, questioned Culbertson about life in space and how he and his crew are coping. Given that the contact came just days after the World Trade Center and Pentagon terrorist attacks, Culbertson told one pupil that, for a change, he and the crew wished they had direct television aboard the ISS.
Altamonte Elementary School student Jasmine Autry asks her question of ISS Crew Chief Frank Culbertson, while teacher Susan Kindy hold the microphone. [Joe Ellis Photo] |
"This is the only week that I have been up here that I wish I could have watched TV, because of all the things that are happening down there which obviously touch all of us very deeply," he said. Culbertson added that the crew can watch DVD movies and pre-recorded programs "if we have the time."
Culbertson told another student that he had decided when he was about 13 that he wanted to become an astronaut. "I realized then that was the most exciting frontier we had ahead of us, and it will always be our frontier, and there would always be a need for people willing to go and to learn and discover."
One youngster asked about the tools used in space. Culbertson said the crew uses some special tools to deal with the weightless environment. "For example, if we have to do any drilling or sawing, we use clear shaving cream to put on the metal before we do it, so the filings don't go anywhere," he explained.
Teacher Cricket Scheer, KG4EGW, said her pupils wished they could do it all over again. "This was an experience of a lifetime, and a happy, positive one during a very frightening time," she said.
Students at Western Albemarle High School in Crozet, Virginia, got their turn on September 19. "The contact with the ISS went beautifully," said teacher Michael Brittingham. "We had answers to 16 questions."
Culbertson told the high schoolers that the crew members first learned about the World Trade Center and Pentagon attacks from a doctor on Earth while they were involved in a medical conference. "Obviously it was quite a shock, and it took a while to get me the details," he said. "Of course, it was hard to believe, at first."
Culbertson said the crew was doing "really, really well." He said that he and Russian pilot Vladimir Dezhurov, a former Mir commander, are the best of friend and that Dezhurov has been very supportive in the wake of the attacks on the US.
On the lighter side, Culbertson said the crew members exercise at least two hours every day. Asked about refreshments in space, Culbertson quipped, "We don't open Coke up here--it would go all over the place."
Another student asked about how the ISS smells. "We think it smells pretty good, but I bet you'll have to ask the next crew what they think when they get here," Culbertson replied.
Culbertson said the crew's biggest concern is depressurization. "We check things very closely, of course. It's very well built," he said. "All the segments are performing very well," including a new module that just arrived.
Culbertson told the students that his favorite recreation is looking out of the window. He said the crew can see many manmade objects and lots of effects of humanity on Earth.
In an emergency, he said, the crew could get someone down to Earth in about a half a day, if necessary, and could abandon the station in about 20 minutes using the Russian Soyuz escape vehicle.
Stacey Mills, W4SM--who's also a member of the AO-40 ground team--handled the earthbound side of the contact for Western Albemarle High School.
 These first and second-grade pupils at Ladysmith Primary School in Virginia spoke with Culbertson September 25. Their T-shirts--arranged for by Becky Day, KS4RX, say, "Ladysmith Primary School is Out Of This World." |
Early on the morning of September 25, Culbertson was quizzed by 13 first and second graders at Ladysmith Primary School in Ruther Glenn, Virginia. Among other things, the pupils there wanted to know what the crew did with its dirty clothes, how they got rid of garbage (both are burned up in Progress rockets sent zooming into Earth's atmosphere) and how they washed dishes (they don't use dishes). Before the contact, teachers had collected youngsters' suggestions from the entire school and compiled a list of 30 questions to ask the day of the QSO. Students also were eager to find out about sleeping, cooking and eating on the ISS as well as what the crew did in its spare time, what it looked like out the window and whether floating around in microgravity made crew members sick.
Involved in organizing the contact--which the school first applied for some five years ago--were kindergarten teacher Carolyn Whitaker, KF4RXJ, her husband Jim, KQ4RH, and Tony Day, KC4AUF, and his wife Becky, KS4RX. Jim Whitaker and Tony Day set up the station, and Day served as control operator and used his own call sign for the contact.
The earthbound ham radio team set up three antennas and three radios just to be on the safe side and even had an emergency generator at the ready in case power was lost.
"It was a tremendously positive experience," said Jim Whitaker. "Frank Culbertson was wonderful! You can tell he understands children and wanted to make this special for the kids."
For more information on the ARISS program, visit the ARISS Web site.
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