AMSAT-UK

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TV News: Sandringham school amateur radio ISS contact

Posted: 08 Jan 2016 05:27 AM PST
http://amsat-uk.org/2016/01/08/bbc-t...o-iss-contact/

Sandringham students talk to Tim Peake GB1SS using amateur radio BBC TV
screenshot

The BBC report Sandringham School in St Albans has made history by making
the first amateur radio call from the UK to a British astronaut on the
space station.

Year 10 pupil Jessica Leigh M6LPJ, who has recently passed her amateur
radio exam, led the contact.
Headteacher Alan Gray G4DJX with Jessica Leigh M6LPJ Image Credit
Sandringham School

The BBC story says: It took a few minutes for the crackle and hiss to die
down and allow the students to put some questions to the astronaut, before
the ISS then went over the horizon and out of range.

Jessica called it an amazing experience to be talking to someone 400 km
above them, but said the significance of the days event had yet to sink in:
When I get home, Ill be completely in shock.

Her head teacher, Alan Gray G4DJX, said it had been an extraordinary
opportunity for the school.

Its a way of inspiring young people into science and technology seeing the
opportunities that may be available to them, he told BBC School Report.

What youre seeing is that space has an awful lot to offer. Its not just
about talking to Tim Peake on the space station. There are many other
things that are useful for young people and will help with their learning.

Watch the BBC TV news report Astronaut talks to pupils from space at

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-35261160

Watch the interview with Year 10 pupil Jessica Leigh M6LPJ about the Tim
Peake GB1SS contact
https://twitter.com/BBCScienceNews/s...96737842753536

Watch the BBC TV report on the preparations for the contact

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schoolreport/35251991

Watch the BBC TV report on students reactions after the historic call to
Tim Peake

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-35253917

Watch CBBC Newsround: School kids speak to Tim Peake in space

http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/35261190

Watch SkyNews report with a shot of the Kenwood TS-2000X transceiver

http://news.sky.com/video/1619375/ri...ss-from-school

Ofcom reports the Hertfordshire community radio station Radio Verulam 92.6
FM relayed the school ISS contact
http://consumers.ofcom.org.uk/news/space-broadcast/

Herts Advertiser newspaper report

http://www.hertsad.co.uk/news/st_alb...tion_1_4372999

Sandringham students speak to Tim Peake GB1SS

http://amsat-uk.org/2016/01/08/sandr...m-peake-gb1ss/

The Chair of the RSGB Youth Committee Mike JonesÂ*2E0MLJ and RSGB President
John Gould G3WKL attended the contact and the RSGB videoÂ* ‘Amateur Radio: A
Hobby for the 21st Century’ was shown to the students.

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/
Sky News interview Year 10 pupil Jessica Leigh M6LPJ

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Sandringham students speak to Tim Peake GB1SS

Posted: 08 Jan 2016 01:40 AM PST
http://amsat-uk.org/2016/01/08/sandr...m-peake-gb1ss/

Sandringham students talk to Tim Peake on the International Space Station

On Friday, January 8, students at Sandringham School, St. Albans had an
amateur radio contact with UK astronaut Tim Peake GB1SS who was on board
the International Space Station.

Initial radio contact with Tim was made by Year 10 pupil Jessica Leigh
M6LPJ who, along with two other students, passed her Foundation exam just
before Christmas after training with the Verulam Amateur Radio Club.

The school caters for 1300 students aged 11-19 with 100 teachers including
specialist teachers of computing science and three female physics teachers
all of whom have a specialist interest in space and astronomy. In addition,
the head teacher Alan Gray G4DJX is a very active radio amateur who is
extremely supportive of this contact.

ARISS UK (Amateur Radio on the International Space Station) has provided
and set up all necessary radio equipment such as low earth orbit satellite
tracking antennas and radios, to establish a fully functional, direct radio
link with the ISS from the school premises. In the few minutes when the ISS
was over the UK, an amateur radio contact was established with Tim, and
students were be able to ask him questions about his life and work on board
the ISS.

The Sandringham School Space Festival started on January 5 and culminated
with the live contact with astronaut Tim Peake on Friday January 8 at 08:47
GMT.Â* During the week there was a wide range of activities to engage the
students in space, including a presentation from Spacecraft Engineer Sian
Cleaver, mobile planetariums, an amateur radio buildathon, rocket workshops
and talks on Mars and Cosmonauts.

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/