Nelson school talks to space today

Nelson school talks to space today

Students at Nelson¹s Victory Primary School will put their questions to the astronauts on the International Space Station today. (Friday March 4) Using amateur radio, twenty students will put pre-prepared questions to the astronauts ¬ and it¹s hoped one of the Christchurch children who¹ve enrolled at Victory since the earthquake will be included in the group.

Victory School volunteer Scott Smithline, says everything is ready and he¹s optimistic the scheduled contact with the in-orbit crew on the International Space Station will go to plan and they are able to include a question from a Christchurch child.

³It would provide a ray of sunshine and some hope as these children settle into a new school - given the catastrophe that we have had over the past week,² he said.

School Board of Trustees Chair, Helen Watson says the Victory Primary School children are the youngest group in New Zealand to be involved in the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station programme.

³The students are very excited and have been practicing asking their questions,² she says. ³Because the space station will only be in range of Nelson for ten minutes, everything must be timed precisely and we have to follow a strict countdown checklist.²

The whole school will be able to listen to the astronauts answering the children¹s questions. The school has also invited Nelson MP Nick Smith, Labour MP Maryann Street, city councillors and the Mayor. The contact is scheduled to commence at 12.33pm from the Victory Primary School Hall.

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