Published: November 4, 2013 | Last Modified: November 4, 2013 01:05AM
WALLINGFORD — With more than 150 students’ eyes on him, Paul Ciezniak, an amateur radio operator, stood in front of a table in the gymnasium of the Parks and Recreation building with a microphone in one hand and a switch in the other.
“N-A-One-S-S calling. N-A-One-S-S calling. This is K-One-S-E-Z. How copy?” he asked.
As the static from the airwaves blared out of the speakers, Ciezniak repeated the same line numerous times in an attempt to make a connection with astronauts on the International Space Station.
Last week’s event was organized by NASA and Christopher Stone, a fifth-grade teacher at Pond Hill School, who is also in charge of the STEM Academy based out of the Spanish Community of Wallingford. Through the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station program, students can communicate with astronauts using amateur radio.
The gymnasium was filled with students from the academy, as well as fifth-grade students from Hanover School in Meriden. Some students from the STEM Academy lined up next to Ciezniak, prepared to ask the astronauts questions.
But each time Ciezniak pressed down on the switch in his hand and called out to the International Space Station, the only thing that could be heard was static. It was important to establish a connection as soon as possible because the astronauts would only have a few minutes to talk as the space station passed over Wallingford.
For five minutes, it was tense in the gymnasium as teachers, students and parents waited to hear anything from the space station. There was a brief moment of relief when an astronaut was heard. But just when everyone thought a connection was established, static again was the only thing that could be heard.
“There was miscommunication,” Ciezniak said. “It should be easy (to get a connection). They’re only 250 miles up.”
As soon as the space station moved on and out of range, Stone received a call from NASA and was told to try again during a second pass over the United States. As they waited for an hour, most of the students returned to their respective schools. But even as the International Space Station made another pass, and Stone and the rest of his staff eagerly waited, Ciezniak was still unable to establish a connection.
“I’m completely disappointed,” said Stone. Town Council Chairman “Bob Parisi summed it up well. Sometimes in science, it doesn’t go the way you want it to go. This is a very good example of persevering.”
Stone said he’s going to continue communicating with NASA to determine if another event could be scheduled. However, Alison Gibertoni, a fifth-grade teacher at Rock Hill, said the program is competitive and many schools reserve a date a year in advance.
While the students were unable to communicate with the astronauts, the event was still successful, Gibertoni said. The gymnasium was divided into two different sides. One side was used as the gathering area to make contact with the astronauts, while the other was used to showcase a number of different exhibits. From creating paper helicopters to launching a foam rocket using compressed air, the students learned a variety of things.
Sheila Cohen, president of the Connecticut Education Association, said she was glad to see students participating in the STEM Academy and believes it could expand to the national level. Maria Harlow, director of SCOW, said she was excited for the students.
“It’s not every day you get to talk to astronauts,” she said.
Although the event didn’t go exactly as planned, the teachers were optimistic and looking forward to the future.
“You fail more than you succeed in science,” Gibertoni said. “But this was successful because the kids got a lot out of it and learned a lot.”
