What does it feel like when you come back from space? Is it difficult to communicate with your family? How long do you spend in space? Inquiring minds would like to know and Monday morning at West Ferris Secondary School, grade 8 science students had the opportunity to seek the answers to their questions in a conversation with an astronaut orbiting the Earth on the International Space Station (ISS).
Under the tutelage of teachers Jason Henstridge and Kelly Shulman, the grade 8 science students submitted questions to be posed via radio transmission to astronaut Dr. Koichi Wakata, who received the transmission onboard the ISS. Wakata is a member of the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) with three decades of experience as an astronaut. Wakata began his career in space in 1996 as a crew member of the Endeavour Space Shuttle.
The students have been preparing for this radio contact with the ISS since October. This event was organized through the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) program and Henstridge made it a point to thank the organization for its partnership in making the connection with the ISS possible. ARISS lets students worldwide experience the excitement of talking directly with crew members of the International Space Station, inspiring them to pursue interests in careers in science, technology, engineering and math, and engaging them with radio science technology through amateur radio.
"The students are really excited," said Henstridge ahead of the transmission with Wakata. "Out of 160 students, we only have the opportunity for about 18 questions to be read by them."
As it turns out, after several minutes of fun back-and-forth with the West Ferris students, the connection with Wakata was suddenly lost. However, the few students at the tail end of the line were good sports despite the missed opportunity to ask the astronaut their questions.
Perhaps one day, this experience as grade 8 science students will spur them to aspire to be the astronaut on the other end of the radio answering questions from young, inquiring minds.
