Expedition 9 Commander Gennady Padalka, RN3DT, poses aboard the ISS with an Orlan spacesuit of the type to be deployed as "SuitSat" this fall. [NASA]
ARISS Seeks School Involvement in "SuitSat" Project
NEWINGTON, CT, Jun 3, 2005--Plans are on the fast track to deploy a surplus Russian Orlan spacesuit this fall as a non-traditional satellite. Dubbed "SuitSat," the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) project could become the most unusual Amateur Radio satellite ever orbited. Now, an ARISS-US proposal will provide an opportunity for schools to participate in the SuitSat enterprise. To be launched during a spacewalk, SuitSat will carry an Amateur Radio transmitter that will send voice greetings to commemorate the 175th anniversary of Russia's Bauman Moscow State Technical University. Other message possibilities remain under discussion. ARISS got permission from the ISS Program Office in May to go forward with delivery of the SuitSat project, and schools now will have the chance to take part through what's being called "School Spacewalk." ARISS International Chairman Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, says the idea is to have schools around the globe provide a page of artwork that will fly inside SuitSat.
"The ARISS team has received permission to include a special compact disk onboard this spacesuit with school artwork included," Bauer said. As a result, participating schools will have an opportunity to 'fly' their artwork as part of the spacewalk." From The American Radio Relay League, www.arrl.org.
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Students in the Cambridge third grade took up the challenge to create artwork that will spacewalk. It was decided that the art work that the third grade would submit would consist of a strip of art and the signatures of every third grader. The students submitted art work, and signed their names on the page. The final product looks great and was e-mailed by Mr. K, KG6SJT, to the ARISS project coordinator. Come fall of 2005, the names and artwork of the students in Mr. K's, Ms. King's, Ms. Frederick's, Ms. Carter's, and Mrs. Bennink's classes will be flying high above the earth! Our third graders will be soaring high!
