BBCHS CONTACT WITH THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION

Contact Date:  March 28th, 2006 @ 12:01pm

The archived broadcast is now available.  Watch and enjoy!

Click on the following link if the video does not start in the above window:  ISS CONTACT

After a three year waiting period, James Schreiner, a science teacher at Bradley-Bourbonnais High School received word in January of 2006 that BBCHS had been accepted for a March 2006 contact with crewmembers aboard the International Space Station.  Schreiner, along with a team of volunteers from the Kankakee Area Radio Society and his ARISS mentor, Charlie Sufana (call sign AJ9N), are working closely with the school in preparation for the momentous occasion.  They will be essentially importing a full amateur radio station into the school to facilitate direct communication.

Mr. Schreiner believes that giving students first-hand experience with the space program invigorates their interest in science and technology -- a goal championed by NASA and something the entire nation can appreciate, Schreiner added.

Over one hundred students were recommended from various teachers throughout the building.  These students filled out applications that required the students to compose a few questions to ask the astronauts aboard the ISS.  A committee of teachers then went through the applications and finally picked 15 students who will be representing BBCHS.  These students will actually be able to talk to the astronauts thanks to a program called "Amateur Radio on the International Space Station," or ARISS for short.  ARISS was created in 1996 to design, build, and operate "Ham radio" equipment that connects ISS crewmembers in space with eager students on Earth.  ARISS is sponsored by the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT), and NASA.

The first Ham radio "rig" in space flew on board the Space Shuttle Columbia in 1983, under the watch of astronaut-ham Owen K. Garriott.  Since then, astronauts with amateur radio licenses have flown on more than 24 shuttle missions and a Ham radio station is currently a permanent fixture on the ISS.  "Hams", who must be licensed by the FCC, number more than 1.5 million worldwide.  Each Ham operator is given a unique call sign for identification purposes.  Mr. Schreiner's call sign is K9BIG and he has been licensed as a Ham operator for approximately five years.  Mr. Schreiner hopes that this contact will stimulate an interest in ham radio at BBCHS.  Bradley-Bourbonnais High School has already has been granted an official FCC Club Station License.  The school's amateur radio call sign is K9BHS.

Left: This is U.S. Astronaut Owen K. Garriott - W5LFL - aboard the U.S. Space Shuttle Columbia STS-9. He is holding a Motorola two meter FM Ham radio walkie talkie.

"There is much enthusiasm and support from all the teachers, the parents, and the community. I would personally like to thank our administration who has been very supportive and all the people involved in making this happen.  We are getting close to about 200 man-hours of preparation for this contact.  I'm very appreciative of everyone's efforts," remarks Schreiner.
 

Left: The arrow indicates an amateur radio antenna on the International Space Station that astronauts are using to chat with students on Earth. [more]     To receive an ARISS application simply visit this URL.  Fifty schools are currently waiting for a contact date.  In the meantime, schools with hams can participate by eavesdropping on other schools as they talk to the astronauts; and teachers can coordinate relevant lesson plans.