Chiddix students talk to astronauts on International Space Station

Posted on October 24, 2017

Students at Chiddix Junior High talked with astronauts on the International Space Station on Monday. (Photo courtesyWMBD-TV)

By Breanna Lee/WMBD-TV

NORMAL – A Unit 5 school made radio contact with astronauts on the International Space Station on Monday.

Chiddix Junior High School is one of 11 schools in the U.S. that’s been given the chance to talk to the space station through ham radio this year.

They were given the opportunity through the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station Program.

One student applied for the opportunity many times until Chiddix was finally approved.

“I think it went amazing today because we got all 16 students in and we got all of round two questions in with two minutes to spare,” said eighth grader Dhruv Rebba. “So it went really good.”

Rebba said he will still experiment in ham radio even though the project is over.

“I think it went better than I’d hoped because we were able to, all of our students got a chance to ask their questions, and we had a few extra questions in store, just in case there would be some time left,” Grant Zehr, Team Lea dor ARISS HAM Radio. “And we got all those questions asked. And Mrs. Hopper got a chance to thank the astronaut.”

Every question the students asked the astronaut had to be submitted to the space station ahead of time.

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year. It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city. Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University. We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk. Going to work every day for some people means…