Space station link-up sends students into orbit | News | sonomawest … – Sonoma West

Brook Haven School sent 19 of its best science students into orbit recently when they got the chance to interview astronaut Thomas Pesquet aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

By making the trek to Santa Rosa Junior College, students were able to establish an 11-minute contact via radio from the SRJCs ground up-link station. The activity was part of the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) project, which promotes learning opportunities as part of the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) initiative.

Sebastopols Brook Haven was selected as one of 12 schools to participate in this venture.

We were beyond excited to be chosen by ARISS, said Brook Haven Principal Debbie Hanks. Our team of teachers, volunteers and students worked hard to prepare for this remarkable experience.

Math teacher Jim Mclelland said students, all fifth through eighth graders, were involved in learning about the space station prior to the April 19 event. Students submitted more than 200 questions, and teachers narrowed it down to about 20.

The hard part was picking the best ones, Mclelland said. As the International Space Station traveled at 17,500 miles per hour, our students were able to ask 19 questions and get answers, as well as offer a group appreciation to Thomas Pesquet before we lost contact, when the ISS went over the horizon.

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Space station link-up sends students into orbit | News | sonomawest ... - Sonoma West