The ARISS and NASA organizations have just announced that the All Saints Academy contact with the International Space Station will take place on Friday May 6th.

Both Thursday and Friday will be busy days for the NCRC members working at the event, with equipment tests and walkthroughs the day before, and getting things ready prior to the event start just before noon.

Our orbit will be a descending one, beginning at approximately 12:44 PM local time and continuing until approximately 12:54 PM.  It will rise above the horizon to our northwest, pass to our southwest, then set to our southeast, reaching a maximum elevation of 56 degrees.

ARISS Orbit for All Saints Academy Contact Friday May 6: 12:44 to 12:54 PM Local Time

The NCRC RF Team will be able to practice on an earlier orbit from 11:07 to 11:17 AM local time, so we will know that our gear is good to go before the main event.

NCRC RF Team members should report to ASA at 9:00 AM Friday May 6.

Guests will start arriving at 11 AM, and all guests must be seated prior to 11:56 AM when the official event begins.  The long call to N1ASA “NA1SS this is All Saints Academy, N1ASA, do you copy?” will begin at 12:43 and continue until contact is established.  From that point, RI students will ask as many questions as possible during the 8-10 minute window of communication.

Our Astronaut will be Jeff Williams.  Colonel Williams has many ties to Rhode Island.  He is a 1996 Graduate of the US Naval College, and received an Honorary Doctorate from Johnson & Wales University in 2007.  During this mission aboard the ISS, Expedition 47, Jeff is expected to break the cumulative days in space record currently held by Astronaut Scott Kelly.

Astronaut Jeff Williams, International Space Station Expedition 47