Subj : ARRL Club Grants Fund Hardware for Florida students to make contact with the International Space Station
To   : QST
From : ARRL de WD1CKS
Date : Fri Jan 24 2025 05:34 pm

01/24/2025

Pine View School for the Gifted (PVS) in Osprey, Florida, has an opportunity to
achieve a historic milestone on Tuesday, January 28, at 12:21 PM (EST), when
students and faculty make live contact with astronauts aboard the International
Space Station (ISS). The event marks the first time any school in Sarasota
County has been selected to take part in the Amateur Radio on the International
Space Station (ARISS)[1] program and reflects PVS's commitment to inspiring
future scientists, engineers, and explorers.

Partnering with the Tamiami Amateur Radio Club[2] (TARC), an ARRL Affiliated
Club in Venice, Florida, PVS will use radios, antennas, and expert operators to
facilitate this rare connection. Sixteen students will engage in a live two-way
conversation with astronaut Sunita Lyn "Suni" Williams, asking questions and
receiving answers in real time. The ISS will be in communication range for just
11 minutes, traveling at over 17,500 MPH.

The station's equipment and satellite tracking ground station were funded by a
grant from the ARRL Foundation[3], secured by TARC last summer. TARC members
will assist in assembling the station and training students in its operation.

"Connecting with astronauts on the ISS will inspire these students for years to
come, emphasizing curiosity, exploration, and the limitless possibilities of
science and technology," said TARC president Paul Nienaber, KN4BAR.

Nienaber added that TARC has played a pivotal role in preparing for this event
by training students, parents, and faculty to earn amateur radio operator
licenses. So far, 13 students and five adults at PVS have earned their FCC
licenses, paving the way for the establishment of a school amateur radio club.
With equipment on long-term loan from TARC, the club will soon operate a fully
functional amateur radio station, capable of global communication.

The Sarasota County School District will live stream the event on its YouTube
channel (www.youtube.com/@SarasotaSchools[4]).


[1] https://arrl.informz.net/z/cjUucD9taT0zMjM3MjMxJnA9MSZ1PTUyNTgxODI4NCZsaT0zNjY0NDMyOA/index.html
[2] https://arrl.informz.net/z/cjUucD9taT0zMjM3MjMxJnA9MSZ1PTUyNTgxODI4NCZsaT0zNjY0NDMzMA/index.html
[3] https://arrl.informz.net/z/cjUucD9taT0zMjM3MjMxJnA9MSZ1PTUyNTgxODI4NCZsaT0zNjY0NDMzMg/index.html
[4] https://arrl.informz.net/z/cjUucD9taT0zMjM3MjMxJnA9MSZ1PTUyNTgxODI4NCZsaT0zNjY0NDMyNg/index.html

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