Live Link to International Space Station
Posted on 14. Aug, 2009 by admin in Latest News
A group of crew members and trainees that had just taken part in the Tall Ships Atlantic Challenge race across the Atlantic from Halifax to Belfast, took part in a live link with the International Space Station today. The International Space Station orbits the earth at an altitude of about 220 miles every 90 minutes, travelling at a speed of 27,000 km an hour, so the time was carefully chosen to coincide with the time that the Space Station passed overhead in Russia where the communication link was located.
Speaking to Astonauts
The conversation lasted around 20 minutes and included questions from the young crew members that reflected their own experience on living on board a small craft for a long period of time. The astronauts answered many questions about how they navigate, what their living quarters are like, whether they are able to listen to FM radio and whether space sickness is like seasickness.
They revealed that they have a beautiful view of the stars both from the northern and southern hemisphere and that the stars do not twinkle as they do from earth because there is no atmosphere at that altitude. They also told the young crews that they have a small space to call their own which is about the same size as a freezer although they said it was a comfortable and great place to live.
The astronauts told the young crews that they do not have FM radio but have an amateur radio so they can make contact with ham radio operators around the world and also class rooms. They have music on board so can enjoy their favourite music at any time.
The Brazilian Tall Ship Cisne Branco passed on a special message to the astronauts inviting them to come aboard the ship any time they are in Rio de Janeiro.
Six astronauts are currently on the International Space Station and one of the goals of the link is to help raise awareness and understanding of space technology among young people and the general public. At first it was expected that only two astronauts would be available but they were so interested in taking part in the link that in the end all six of them managed to free up some time to take part. The astronauts involved were: Commander Gennadiy Padalka from Russia, Roman Romanenko from Russia, Mike Barratt from USA, Tim Copra from USA, Robert Thirsk from Canada, and Frank de Winne from Belgium.
The Tall Ships involved were Belle Poule (France), Cisne Branco (Brazil), Etoile (France), Europa (Netherlands), Rona II (UK), Urania (Netherlands) and Xsaar (Belgium). The Belgian crew were particularly excited to be able to talk to their fellow Belgian, Frank de Winne, from space!
Nathalie Pottier, who works with the Space Station and is hoping that one day she too can visit the Space Station, acted as liaison manager for the conversation and said that the key message resulting from the link was that all crews from the Tall Ships Atlantic Challenge are the real winners and that participation is the most important thing. “I heard from the technical staff of the Moscow Control Centre after the link who said that they were pleased with the way the link worked, as it was obvious that there was great enthusiasm on both sides.” See also link to Nathalie’s own website: www.nathaliepottier.com.
A film of the link, including all the questions and answers, is available on Youtube via this link.
The group who spoke to astronauts
Information about the events in Belfast can be found on www.gotobelfast.com. A special helpline has been created to answer all questions about the Belfast activities: 028 9024 6609.
The provisional results on corrected time can be viewed in the Vessel Positions Update
Further images are available from the Picture Gallery.
The Tall Ships Atlantic Challenge is organised by Sail Training International with the American Sail Training Association.
With thanks to 
Freight forwarding agents to Tall Ships Atlantic Challenge 2009
and 
Weather forecast providers to Tall Ships Atlantic Challenge 2009.
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