Park County Students to Communicate with International Space Station Astronauts

Park County Students to Communicate with Astronauts aboard the International Space Station
April 8, 2019

Fairplay Colorado – April 4, 2019 – The Park County Radio Club (PCRC) and the Park County Public Library (PCPL) today announced that the week of April 15th is set for Park County students to communicate with the astronauts aboard the International Space Station using HAM radio. The specific date and time will be determined by NASA the week of April 7th. The actual time for communicating with the astronauts is subject to change and will be posted on the PCRC and Library website as soon as it is confirmed. There will only be about a 10-minute window as the ISS passes over Park County. The ARISS event will take place at South Park High School in Fairplay, Colorado, 640 Hathaway St.

Through the Library’s STEAM (Science, Technology Engineering, Arts, & Math) program, over 200 students of all ages have spent the last eight months learning about the physics of radio signals, different frequency bands and technology, radio propagation, antennas, equipment and proper operation of amateur (HAM) radios. Both home and public school students have participated in the program lead by Dan Kern, President of the Park County Radio Club and Pat Shepard (PCPL Manager).

After an extensive application process the Park County Radio Club was one of only 7 groups selected to communicate with the ISS in the first half of 2019. Only 13 students have been selected to ask specific questions of the astronauts after submitting their questions to NASA for approval.

Over the course of classes leading up to the event, several students and parents have been studying to obtain their HAM radio license. They will be testing over the next few months. Pat Shepard had also been studying and is now KEØTQT, a licensed amateur radio operator. A few of the schools have inquired about continuing the program with after school HAM radio programs.

Media is invited to attend.

Additional information about the Park County Radio Club can be found on their website at www.ab0pc.org/

Additional information about the Park County Public Library can be found on their website at parkcounty.colibraries.org/

Additional information about the ARISS program can be found on their website at www.ariss.org/

Contact information
Mike Borrego
Park County Radio Club
303-847-8976
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Pat Shepard
Park County Libraries
719-836-4299
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parkco.us/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=473
This YouTube Channel is where they will broadcast it live - please help them get to 100 Subscribers before the 15th! www.youtube.com/channel/UCOrlLJa4rUYuHRD4ce90ptA/featured