[ARRL-OK] TULSA KIDS TALK DIRECTLY TO SPACE STATION ASTRONAUTS

[Mark D. Conklin N7XYO]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

June 25, 2004

CONTACT:
Katheryn Pennington
(918) 834-9900
kpennington at tulsamuseum.com

TULSA KIDS TALK DIRECTLY TO SPACE STATION ASTRONAUTS

Tulsa, OK - The Tulsa Air and Space Museum (TASM) aspires to inspire
possibilities by stimulating imaginations while valuing knowledge. With the
help of Amateur Radio Clubs and ham radio operators, area youth will be
inspired on Wednesday, June 30, 2004. Students from the museum's aerospace
summer camp will ask questions of the Expedition 9 astronauts on the
International Space Station. USA Flight Engineer Mike Fincke and Russian
Commander Gennady Padalka will speak to ten students while circling the
earth every 90 minutes from 250 miles above the earth. The actual audio link
will last approximately ten minutes and will begin at 9:11AM CST. The museum
will be open free to the public from 9:00AM to 10:00AM.

ARISS is a program where the astronauts talk directly with large groups of
the general public, showing teachers, students, parents, and communities how
Amateur Radio energizes youngsters about science, technology, and learning.
Previously known as SAREX, the Space Amateur Radio Experiment is now called
ARISS, Amateur Radio on the International Space Station. The National
Association provides sponsorship for this program for Amateur Radio, the
American Radio Relay League (ARRL), the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation
(AMSAT), and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
Information on ARISS is available at http://www.rac.ca/ariss/oindex.htm.

TASM is working in cooperation with members of the Tulsa Repeater
Organization, and AMSAT to arrange this contact between students at the
museum and the Space Station via amateur radio. Kim Jones, the Museum
Curator, and Mark Conklin, TRO President and ARRL-Oklahoma Public
Information Coordinator, have been working on this project for over two
years. The ISS contact will establish a connection between the children and
astronauts and stimulate their imaginations as to the possibilities of space
exploration and scientific discovery. TRO website is www.TulsaHamRadio.org.

Katheryn Pennington, TASM Executive Director, said, "Statistics prove
learning and retaining knowledge improve for children when they are
personally involved. The audio linkup will broaden their horizons, giving
them a new perspective of space living and exploration. Teachers can expand
this experience by relating it to science, geography, history, and physics.
Children can explore the relationship of life on earth and how it relates to
life in space."

Participating students are Courtney Merrill, Joey McCullough, Aaron
Pittinger, Kyle Pittinger, Levi Pittinger, Josh Cole, Landon Merrill, Nick
Berry, Ryan Mayfield, and Jared Bennett. Each student will ask two
questions. For more details and student's questions, go to
http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.txt.

TASM is housed in one of the original Tulsa Municipal Airport hangars
provided by Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology. The museum is
dedicated to preserving not just Green Country's aviation history, but Tulsa
's rich aerospace history as well. The Tulsa Air and Space Museum will
relocate to a new state-of-the-art facility on 17.8 acres on the north side
of the Tulsa International Airport in 2005. Included will be an electric sky
planetarium theater to emphasize science and space.

The museum is open daily, but closed major holidays. For times of operation
and admission fees, visit the website at www.TulsaAirAndSpaceMuseum.com for
details.