UK astronaut Tim Peake KG5BVI / GB1SS

The Bury Times reports The Derby High School GB1DHS will be one of only two schools in the North West to hold an amateur radio contact with UK astronaut Tim Peake GB1SS. The contact is scheduled for Monday, April 25 at 12:02 GMT (1:02 pm BST).

The newspaper says: The call from The Derby High School to the International Space Station will take place on the week commencing April 25, but because the link is dependent on the exact orbit of the ISS and the crew schedules, the exact dates and times for possible calls will not be known until around 10 days before the link up is scheduled.

The Derby was selected to host a call after applying to take part in the Amateur Radio competition, a collaboration between the UK Space Agency, the Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB) and the European Space Agency (ESA).

Read the full story at
http://www.burytimes.co.uk/news/14392824.High_school_chosen_to_make_special_radio_call_to_astronaut_Tim_Peake/

The Derby High School
https://twitter.com/derbyhighbury
http://www.derby.bury.sch.uk/

ARISS Principia site https://principia.ariss.org/

UK ARISS shortlisted schools schedule
https://amsat-uk.org/2016/02/03/all-uk-ariss-shortlisted-schools-are-now-scheduled/

What is Amateur Radio? http://www.essexham.co.uk/what-is-amateur-radio

Find an amateur radio training course near you https://thersgb.org/services/coursefinder/

A free booklet is available aimed at introducing newcomers to the hobby that can also be used as a handy reference while getting started, see
http://rsgb.org/main/get-started-in-amateur-radio/alex-discovers-amateur-radio-2/

UK astronaut Tim Peake KG5BVI / GB1SS

The Wharfedale Observer reports Otley school has been chosen for ‘out of this world’ talk using amateur radio to British astronaut.

Children in Otley are set to enjoy an ‘out of this world’ talk with British astronaut Tim Peake GB1SS.

Ashfield Primary School pupils will be put in direct contact with Major Peake, who is on a mission with the International Space Station, in May.

The event is a coup for the school which is the only one in Yorkshire to be selected for the Amateur Radio on ISS link-up.

Ashfield was chosen following a lengthy application process involving schools across the country, and will be put in touch with the space station at some point between May 3 and 6.

Its bid was led by staff member Michael Ross M6FFK, through his links with Otley Amateur Radio Society (OARS) and supported by BBC One Show scientist – and Otley resident – Dr Marty Jopson.

Read the full story at
http://www.wharfedaleobserver.co.uk/news/14347948.Otley_school_chosen_for__out_of_this_world__talk_to_British_astronaut/

Dates of future Tim Peake amateur radio school contacts are at
https://amsat-uk.org/2016/02/03/all-uk-ariss-shortlisted-schools-are-now-scheduled/

Listening to the ISS on a handheld radio https://amsat-uk.org/2016/01/10/listening-iss-on-handheld/

What is Amateur Radio? http://www.essexham.co.uk/what-is-amateur-radio

Find an amateur radio training course near you https://thersgb.org/services/coursefinder/

A free booklet is available aimed at introducing newcomers to the hobby that can also be used as a handy reference while getting started, see
http://rsgb.org/main/get-started-in-amateur-radio/alex-discovers-amateur-radio-2/

In this video, UK astronaut Tim Peake KG5BVI / GB1SS talks about the opportunities ARISS offers and the impact it can have on the next generation of explorers.

Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (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.

On Thursday, March 10, 2016 astronauts on the International Space Station logged their 1,000th educational contact with the ground. No matter how many times it happens, talking directly with someone orbiting above the Earth remains a thrill for students.

Watch ARISS: Talking to Astronauts

Read more at http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/news/ariss_students/

Follow Tim Peake during his stay in space at: https://twitter.com/astro_timpeake

For more on ARISS, visit: http://www.ariss.org/

What is Amateur Radio? http://www.essexham.co.uk/what-is-amateur-radio

Find an amateur radio training course near you https://thersgb.org/services/coursefinder/

A free booklet is available aimed at introducing newcomers to the hobby that can also be used as a handy reference while getting started, see
http://rsgb.org/main/get-started-in-amateur-radio/alex-discovers-amateur-radio-2/

The Enquirer newspaper report on the educational outreach by Essex Ham

ISS school contacts provide an opportunity for radio amateurs across the country to get publicity for the hobby in their local newspaper.

Simply hearing Tim Peake using amateur radio from the ISS is in itself a newsworthy event which can be used to promote your local amateur radio club and the hobby in general.

Leigh Times newspaper reports Essex Ham helped school students listen to the Tim Peake Norwich contact

Essex Ham have made the most of the publicity and educational outreach opportunities presented by receiving the school contacts.

When Essex Ham’s Pete Sipple M0PSX received a signal from ISS astronaut Tim Peake talking to Sandringham School students in Hertfordshire he contacted his local newspaper, the Southend Echo, and told them about it. The newspaper was very interested to hear that someone in their local area had actually received the ISS and published the story.

Subsequently Sarah M6PSK and Pete M0PSX, both members of Essex Ham, took amateur radio into St Michael’s School in Leigh-on-Sea to enable the pupils to listen in to Tim Peake’s transmission from space to a school in Norwich. As well as receiving the astronaut, Year 4 and Year 5 pupils were able to send greetings messages through the ISS digipeater. They were successfully digipeated and received in Norway, Germany and The Netherlands.

Southend Echo Tim Peake newspaper story

At the time of writing Essex Ham have generated four separate stories about the Tim Peake contacts in different newspapers. Additionally they were able to explain about amateur radio to many young people some of whom may one day go on to become part of a new generation of radio amateurs.

The RSGB produce a handy Media Guide and Template press release, see
http://rsgb.org/main/clubs/media-guide-for-affiliated-societies/

Press release used to report reception of Tim Peake download here.

Essex Ham Educational Outreach http://www.essexham.co.uk/news/essex-school-tunes-in-to-iss.html

Local newspaper reports reception of Tim Peake on ISS https://amsat-uk.org/2016/01/13/local-paper-tim-peake-iss/

Dates of future Tim Peake amateur radio school contacts are at
https://amsat-uk.org/2016/02/03/all-uk-ariss-shortlisted-schools-are-now-scheduled/

Listening to the ISS on a handheld radio https://amsat-uk.org/2016/01/10/listening-iss-on-handheld/

Essex Ham – What is Amateur Radio? http://www.essexham.co.uk/what-is-amateur-radio

Find an amateur radio training course near you https://thersgb.org/services/coursefinder/

A free booklet is available aimed at introducing newcomers to the hobby that can also be used as a handy reference while getting started, see
http://rsgb.org/main/get-started-in-amateur-radio/alex-discovers-amateur-radio-2/

Pete M0PSX and Sarah M6PSK set up the equipment at St Michael’s School

Builth Wells High School Head Girl Gwen Davies talking to Tim Peake – Credit Ionwen Spowage

An amateur radio contact between students from Powys Combined Schools GB4PCS and UK astronaut Tim Peake GB1SS took place at 1053 GMT on Saturday, March 5, 2016.

Susan Buckle UK Space Agency Astronaut Flight Education Programme – Credit Ionwen Spowage

The video starts with an introduction by the head teacher and is followed by the schools giving presentations of their activities and studies in Space and STEM subjects.

The ARISS portion of the video starts at approximately 26 minutes with Susan Buckle from the UK Space Agency giving an introduction before handing over to Ciaran Morgan M0XTD, the ARISS Operations Lead in the UK.

The contact with Tim Peake GB1SS starts at approximately 51 minutes.

After the contact has finished, the Head Girl from Builth Wells High School, Gwen Davies, introduces Jeremy Curtis and Susan Buckle from the UK Space Agency for an explanation of the science on board the ISS and a general Q&A session with the audience.

After the Q&A session, Gwen concludes the contact with thanks to all involved and gives a traditional Welsh goodbye.

Watch Video of ARISS Contact between Powys Combined Schools and Tim Peake

News reports of Powys schools amateur radio contact with Tim Peake
https://amsat-uk.org/2016/03/05/news-powys-schools-tim-peake/

ARISS contact planned for Mid Wales schools
https://amsat-uk.org/2016/03/01/ariss-contact-planned-for-school-in-mid-wales-uk/

ARISS Principia site https://principia.ariss.org/

What is Amateur Radio? http://www.essexham.co.uk/what-is-amateur-radio

Find an amateur radio training course near you https://thersgb.org/services/coursefinder/

A free booklet is available aimed at introducing newcomers to the hobby that can also be used as a handy reference while getting started, see
http://rsgb.org/main/get-started-in-amateur-radio/alex-discovers-amateur-radio-2/

Beccy Bowen 2W0YLL (right) led the contact between Powys school students and Tim Peake GB1SS