Norwich School Ground Control Day

International Space Station - Image Credit NASA

International Space Station – Image Credit NASA

Ahead of the amateur radio link up with ISS astronaut Tim Peake GB1SS, later this month, 120 pupils aged 10 to 18, from 21 schools across Norfolk and Suffolk, gathered at City of Norwich  (CNS) for a special Ground Control Day.

Tim Peake KG5BVI preparing for his spacewalk in January

Tim Peake KG5BVI preparing for his spacewalk in January

The Eastern Daily Press report:

As well as a keynote speech from Helen Mason, a reader in solar physics at Cambridge University, the event covered the technical side of the radio link itself, and issues to do with physics and space more generally.

Tim Hare M6HTJ, a Year 10 pupil at CNS who is himself a radio ham enthusiast, will lead the space linkup, said: “It’s going to be incredible. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity that very few people will be able to have.”

Maddy Flett, a Year 8 pupil at CNS, said science is “not a subject I would jump to first”, but she really enjoyed Ground Control Day.

She is one of 10 pupils chosen to question Mr Peake, and will ask what astronauts do if they cut themselves.

Read the full EDP story and watch the video at
http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/education/ground_control_day_sees_pupils_prepare_for_space_station_link_up_with_astronaut_tim_peake_1_4417620

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

UK ARISS scheduled schools
http://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/