NEWINGTON, CT, Jul 1, 2003--Despite some technical problems, youngsters at the Challenger Learning Center of Northwest Indiana got answers to more than a dozen questions via ham radio from NASA International Space Station Science Officer and Flight Engineer Ed Lu, KC5WKJ. The direct 2-meter contact took place June 26 between Lu, at the controls of NA1SS, and W9PUC, the call sign of the Purdue Calumet Amateur Radio Society, whose members assisted in setting up the Earth station equipment. The contact was arranged as part of the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) program.
One youngster asked Lu if astronauts still drink Tang--the orange drink made from powder--while in space. "Actually, we do have an orange drink, I'm not sure if it's actually Tang or not--actually, I think it might be--but it's labeled as 'orange drink.'" Lu said. "When you add water to it, it tastes pretty good."
Despite the February 1 shuttle Columbia disaster, Lu told another Challenger Center camper that he was not worried about having to pass through Earth's atmosphere when the crew returns from space in October. "Obviously, space flight can be risky, but our ship is totally different than the shuttle," he said, noting that the Russian Soyuz now being used to transport ISS crew members doesn't even have wings. "I think it will go just fine," Lu predicted.
 Tang or something like it: Astronaut Ed Lu, KC5WKJ, gets ready to prepare a meal in the ISS galley. Lu celebrates his 40th birthday today, and Hawaii Gov Linda Lingle has proclaimed July 1 "Edward Tsang Lu Day" in Hawaii. Lu considers Honolulu his hometown, and he and Yuri Malenchenko received a supply of colorful aloha shirts earlier this month. Mission Control flight control team members will wear Hawaiian shirts July 1 to honor Lu's birthday. [NASA Photo] |
The Expedition 6 crew experienced a bit of a bumpy landing this spring in its Soyuz spacecraft and also undershot their landing zone. The NASA shuttle fleet remains grounded as the space agency continues its investigation into the Columbia tragedy.
Taking off from Earth was quite an experience, Lu told another youngster, saying it felt as if "a giant hand" were pushing him back into his seat aboard the Soyuz. Lu has been maintaining a Web site that describes his perspective on life in space.
The Expedition 7 crew of Lu and Expedition 7 Commander Yuri Malenchenko, RK3DUO, has another four months left on its duty tour. Lu--who turns 40 years old in space today--told the youngsters--who were in grades three through eight--that the two-man crew has been involved in hundreds of experiments, some of which involve observing the Earth and others the crew members themselves, he said.
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The contact was plagued at various points by a poor downlink signal reception. "There were quite a few times where Ed was pretty rough copy, although he said he heard us just fine," said Charlie Sufana, AJ9N, the ARISS mentor for the contact. Local AM radio station WJOB aired the contact.
Sufana said some 150 to 175 people were in attendance for the event. Ed Perosky, K9TZT, was the Amateur Radio coordinator for the contact, while Mark Skowronski, K9MQ, serves as the control operator. Members of the Lake County Amateur Radio Club also assisted in the contact's success.
ARISS is an international program with
participation by NASA, ARRL and AMSAT.
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