Community Corner
Parkside Students Talk To The Astronauts
The whole Parkside Middle School in San Bruno CA student body watched the event
Article Source: San Bruno Park School District - San Bruno CA
PARKSIDE STUDENTS TALK WITH ASTRONAUT IN SPACE
On March 7 2018, students at Parkside Middle School made school history when they talked directly through amateur radio with astronaut Captain Scott Tingle on board the International Space Station. The contact was assisted by members of the San Bruno Amateur Radio Volunteers, the Millbrae Amateur Radio Club, and the students' own Parkside Radio Club, in cooperation with NASA and ARISS. Beginning on time at 10:05 a.m. PST, the International Space Station had contact with the students for about ten minutes as it passed overhead. Students had been preparing their questions to ask the astronaut which included asking what meals he has in space. While the students asked their questions, 800 plus of their classmates sat with them in the school gym, captivated by the once in-a-life time experience.
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Parkside is one of just 13 educational organizations in the United States to have an ARISS (Amateur Radio on the International Space Station) contact this season after the school’s proposal was accepted by NASA. Parent Nick Hart authored the proposal, organized the activity, and is co-advisor with teacher Linda Ballentine for the Parkside student radio club.
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In preparation for Parkside’s conversation with Astronaut Tingle, students in the school’s new radio club quickly caught on to using radio frequency spectrum for purposes of non-commercial exchange of messaging. With the assistance of volunteer amateur radio operators from the community, students have made and are using several special antennas which required them to learn new skills including soldering. After learning how to tune the antennas they have been able to communicate with other amateur radio operators as far as 20 miles away. Their conversation with the astronaut on Wednesday was over 250 miles away with the space station in its 10,272nd orbit.
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Robert Riechel
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Photo Credit: San Bruno Park School District
Source Credit: Superintendent Kemp - San Bruno CA Park School District
