Contacting an Astronaut - Primary School Class Project

Trotter

Hi all,

This is a long long shot but you might be able to help me. Im a primary teacher and my 6th class have been following the STS130 mission for the last few days. Ive been up the walls thinking of way to do English/Irish/Maths etc, all through Space Shuttle themes!

In a bit of a twist, the class have given me a project. They want to use skype and a webcam to talk to an astronaut. Anything for an easy life, but I'm actually thinking of ways I could make this happen. They dont for a second believe I'll manage it.

I know Dan Tani has Irish links, but are there any ways of actually contacting Dan or any astronaut who'd give me 5 minutes of his/her time?

Sincere thanks for any help/ideas you might have! I'd love to see their faces if/when I say I've managed to sort it.

Thanks a lot!

Dinner

Twitter might be a good place to try. For example Mike Massimino, who went up on STS-125 to fix Hubble, is fairly active. It might be worth asking and seeing if he replies.

lord lucan

Here's the info for the Astronaut office,they don't give out individual info for Astronauts. This page may be of some help.

http://www.nasa.gov/about/speakers/astronautappearances.html

lord lucan

Another idea would be to try organise a session talking to the astronauts/cosmonauts aboard the ISS. It'd be pretty cool for kids to talk to astronauts who are whizzing around the planet at 1000's mph.It's usually done through ham radio. Try this site for info;

http://www.issfanclub.com/

And this site too:http://ronhashiro.htohananet.com/am-radio/spacecomm/getting-started-iss.html

lord lucan

Hauk

Probably no good to you, but your class might be interested in this:

http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Education/SEM0LW4KXMF_0.html

And ESA's youtube channel:

http://www.youtube.com/esa

Also, although a former astronaut, you could try Leroy Chiao. He was expedition 10 commander on the ISS From 2004-2005. He does a lot of speeches and outreach programs.

http://leroychiao.com/

Good luck with it. And I hope the class enjoy the project.

Hauk

Beeker

Trotter wrote: »

Hi all,

This is a long long shot but you might be able to help me. Im a primary teacher and my 6th class have been following the STS130 mission for the last few days. Ive been up the walls thinking of way to do English/Irish/Maths etc, all through Space Shuttle themes!

In a bit of a twist, the class have given me a project. They want to use skype and a webcam to talk to an astronaut. Anything for an easy life, but I'm actually thinking of ways I could make this happen. They dont for a second believe I'll manage it.

I know Dan Tani has Irish links, but are there any ways of actually contacting Dan or any astronaut who'd give me 5 minutes of his/her time?

Sincere thanks for any help/ideas you might have! I'd love to see their faces if/when I say I've managed to sort it.

Thanks a lot!

Hi Trotter good to see you here. I see you are from Waterford like myself so good chance we know each other. Would you be teaching in a NS just west of the city by any chance?:) I'm involved with aviation myself!!

Like LL said try http://www.nasa.gov/about/speakers/a...pearances.html
Its the best shot unless you find someone with a contach, perhaps a teacher from Kinsale who might know the family of Dan Tani's wife?

Trotter

Beeker wrote: »

Hi Trotter good to see you here. I see you are from Waterford like myself so good chance we know each other. Would you be teaching in a NS just west of the city by any chance?:) I'm involved with aviation myself!!

Like LL said try http://www.nasa.gov/about/speakers/a...pearances.html
Its the best shot unless you find someone with a contach, perhaps a teacher from Kinsale who might know the family of Dan Tani's wife?

Im NS alright, but not at that location. I've no contacts with Dan Tani but if anyone had an angle there I'd be delighted to hear it! With his contacts with Ireland he'd be the ideal guy for the job. I know nothing at all about Ham Radio so Skype would be the ideal route.

Thanks for all the help!

ynotdu

Trotter i really admire what You are trying to do,Like others here i dont know what you can do about direct contact with endevour at this stage{may'be a few strings could be pulled for you somehow before the end of the year by someone?}

This video contains a reference to a fourteen year old who discovered a Supernova,It was a night of fun, Astronomy, and VERY special guests at the White house last october,it can only help you to further inspire!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cE7zoFvEEw0

and this one is a live press conference from the ISS with Obama and schoolkids from around America,If nothing else it should give the kids a laugh at the effects of weightlesness:

Sorry 2nd Video would not embed: Link to it is below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch#playnext=1&playnext_from=TL&videos=MiryQnrcVqA&v=o5rzbaC-xZ4

ynotdu

ynotdu wrote: »

Trotter i really admire what You are trying to do,Like others here i dont know what you can do about direct contact with endevour at this stage{may'be a few strings could be pulled for you somehow before the end of the year by someone?}

This video contains a reference to a fourteen year old who discovered a Supernova,It was a night of fun, Astronomy, and VERY special guests at the White house last october,it can only help you to further inspire!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cE7zoFvEEw0

and this one is a live press conference from the ISS with Obama and schoolkids from around America,If nothing else it should give the kids a laugh at the effects of weightlesness:

Sorry 2nd Video would not embed: Link to it is below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch#playnext=1&playnext_from=TL&videos=MiryQnrcVqA&v=o5rzbaC-xZ4

failing all that may,be this guy can get it across

http://www.youtube.com/watch#playnext=1&playnext_from=TL&videos=X4eIatsucQE&v=KeCBxL_zBzo

Beeker

Trotter wrote: »

Im NS alright, but not at that location. I've no contacts with Dan Tani but if anyone had an angle there I'd be delighted to hear it! With his contacts with Ireland he'd be the ideal guy for the job. I know nothing at all about Ham Radio so Skype would be the ideal route.

Thanks for all the help!

Ok sorry I thought you might be someone else that I know who teaches in Co Waterford.
I don't have any contacts with Dan Tani or his family but I do know he married a girl from Kinsale. If through your school you contacted the NS in Kinsale someone there might have a contact with her family and might be willing to help. It's worth a shot!
However I may be able to help with Astronaut Winston Scott, he flew on the Shuttle twice. I have a contact who has a contact etc and I can hopefully get a Number for you latter today.
Keep your fingers crossed.

Trotter

Beeker wrote: »

Ok sorry I thought you might be someone else that I know who teaches in Co Waterford.
I don't have any contacts with Dan Tani or his family but I do know he married a girl from Kinsale. If through your school you contacted the NS in Kinsale someone there might have a contact with her family and might be willing to help. It's worth a shot!
However I may be able to help with Astronaut Winston Scott, he flew on the Shuttle twice. I have a contact who has a contact etc and I can hopefully get a Number for you latter today.
Keep your fingers crossed.

PM Sent