 As an audience looks on, students at the Challenger Learning Center in Bloomington, Illinois, take turns asking questions of astronaut and NASA ISS Science Officer Mike Fincke, KE5AIT, in space. [Donna Able Photos] |
 The Central Illinois Radio Club in Bloomington set up the Amateur Radio station to make the ARISS contact a reality for the youngsters visiting the museum. |
 After the ARISS contact, a reporter interviews 14-year-old Roxie Able, KC9CSV, who handled the W9AML microphone for the event. |
NEWINGTON, CT, Aug 19, 2004--Now four months into a six-month tour of duty aboard the International Space Station, astronaut Mike Fincke, KE5AIT, says he's developed a craving for fried chicken. Fincke spoke August 16 via Amateur Radio with youngsters gathered at the Challenger Learning Center at Prairie Aviation Museum in Bloomington, Illinois. The direct 2-meter contact between W9AML on Earth and NA1SS in space was arranged by the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) program. Fincke told the students that although he misses his family--he has a baby daughter whom he has not yet seen--and his home, there are some foods that he misses as well.
"Lately I've really been missing some fried chicken, and I don't know why, because I don't eat it very often on the planet," Fincke said. "But, boy, what I wouldn't give for a nice box of fried chicken at this time." The astronauts' diet consists primarily of reconstituted freeze-dried foods, Fincke explained in another answer, and he said he's especially fond of the vegetables.
Responding to a question about experiments under way aboard the ISS, Fincke mentioned that one involved how to use a soldering iron in space. Although Fincke did not elaborate in his answer during the ARISS contact, the Science@NASA Web site this week reported a fascinating soldering phenomenon that Fincke encountered: As the temperature increased, a droplet of rosin clinging to the outside of a molten blob of solder began to spin around--seemingly orbiting the solder globule. (The Science@NASA site includes a video of the phenomenon.)
Fincke's experiment was part of NASA's In-Space Soldering Investigation, which aims to discover how solder behaves in a weightless environment--important information should astronauts need to repair electronic gear on a long space journey. Fincke also mentioned ongoing ultrasound experiments to help determine the effects of long-term stays in space on the human body.
Another youngster wanted Fincke to explain the importance of the ISS. "What we're really doing is working really hard to explore the future, not just for you kids but so you and your kids and your kids' kids can all have a better future," he said. Fincke described humans as "a race of explorers" and noted that he and ISS Commander Gennady Padalka, RN3DT, were "the only two human beings not on the planet right now." (Padalka recently completed an ARISS school group contact with students at the ARTEC International Children's Center.)
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In all, the youngsters asked Fincke 13 questions during the nearly 10-minute QSO. Near the contact's conclusion, the Challenger Center's Director Janet Moore took the microphone to thank Fincke for giving the students at the museum the opportunity to speak with him. "You are truly an inspiration for all of us," she said.
Fincke exhorted the students to "be a good person, always do the right thing if you can." He also told the youngsters to study hard and not give up on their dreams.
"I never gave up on my dreams," he said, "and now every day I'm flying aboard the space station and I couldn't be happier."
Members of the Central Illinois Radio Club set up the equipment for the VHF contact, and the club loaned its call sign for the occasion. Fourteen-year-old Roxie Able, KC9CSV, was at the W9AML microphone for the contact. She had assistance from Grant Zehr, AA9LC, who served as the control operator.
ARISS is an international educational outreach with US support
from ARRL, AMSAT and NASA.
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