{"id":115881,"date":"2024-10-19T08:38:45","date_gmt":"2024-10-19T01:38:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/?p=115881"},"modified":"2024-10-19T08:38:45","modified_gmt":"2024-10-19T01:38:45","slug":"oregon-teens-quest-to-contact-international-space-station-reaches-milestone","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/?p=115881","title":{"rendered":"Oregon teen\u2019s quest to contact International Space Station reaches milestone"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"fluid\"\r\n     data-ad-layout-key=\"-fb+5w+4e-db+86\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"7910942971\"><\/ins>\r\n<script>\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p class=\"article__paragraph article__paragraph--left\" id=\"3U3SVPYPBVCPVIUTFCPOT2D34M\">A dash of cosmic curiosity has given a 13-year-old Portlander and his online schoolmates the chance to chat Friday with one of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.oregonlive.com\/nation\/2024\/08\/nasa-says-spacex-will-bring-stranded-astronauts-home-from-the-international-space-station-in-february.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">astronauts stranded aboard the International Space Station<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__paragraph article__paragraph--left\" id=\"NZTEH57P4JCQVFOTPZNUT56A4E\">Ezekiel Wheeler\u2019s journey to this moment began in 2020, during the pandemic, when he asked his dad how someone might contact someone orbiting Earth. A quick Google search revealed that a ham radio sits on the International Space Station, igniting a family project that would span more than four years.<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__paragraph article__paragraph--left\" id=\"426G2PU26RGEDM4KXRXUE3VZKA\">Determined to make contact, the teen earned his ham radio license at age 8. His dad and grandfather also earned theirs. Together they built antennas and satellite trackers to catch the space station as it passed over Portland. Despite numerous attempts, they never managed to reach an astronaut. But Ezekiel didn\u2019t let the setbacks dampen his spirits.<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__paragraph article__paragraph--left\" id=\"WAQZ7HETR5FK7JNGIRV7UKIHH4\">Ezekiel documented his journey on a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@KJ7NLL\/streams\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">YouTube channel<\/a>, sharing troubleshooting tips and insights, and his reputation grew along the way.<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__paragraph article__paragraph--left\" id=\"HMXTQ3SFFBEELIL4NZBT2IYADI\">\u201cHe\u2019s always been a little curious about technology, and I really wanted to encourage that,\u201d said Eric Wheeler, Ezekiel\u2019s dad. \u201cWhen he was about a year and a half he had this little contraption that was made up of a switch, a battery holder and a lightbulb screwed to a piece of 2&#215;4.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__paragraph article__paragraph--left\" id=\"BW74SVAQUBAPFIZCLF66I3M2BI\">Ezekiel chimed in: \u201cI used to run around shouting \u2018battery, switch, lightbulb.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__paragraph article__paragraph--left\" id=\"KGLWEDVWNFFH7MFKM6JYHUYSJQ\">\u201cHe treated it like it was his teddy bear,\u201d his dad said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__paragraph article__paragraph--left\" id=\"IW7P6I2PNRA5PLQQTFTOPHUUK4\">In April 2024, Ezekiel took his project to new heights by designing and programming a 3D-printed satellite tracker, which earned him first prize in the engineering division and Best of Show for a middle school student at the Oregon State Science Fair.<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__paragraph article__paragraph--left\" id=\"WZRMZROLBVG2LHA7GT76456SSU\">He was also named a top 30 finalist in the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge, giving him a shot at up to $100,000 in scholarships when he heads to Washington, D.C., later this month.<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__paragraph article__paragraph--left\" id=\"MXUATOUS5JELHKG6A2QA6SRNYE\">Ezekiel\u2019s big break came when one of NASA\u2019s educational outreach programs approved a proposal submitted by his online charter school, TEACH-NW, for a ham radio call between Sunita Williams, the astronaut whose eight-day mission aboard the space station has stretched into almost a year, and TEACH-NW students.<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__paragraph article__paragraph--left\" id=\"LNVNOFVRRBG2JKEH6TBINEYHTY\">Ezekiel will make the 11-minute call and facilitate the event where classmates will ask 20 pre-approved questions submitted to NASA, as OPB has also reported.<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__paragraph article__paragraph--left\" id=\"TR3GMEOGOFE4NGM4GIDQ3LTMH4\">\u201cWe didn\u2019t know we would be talking to Sunita Williams,\u201d Eric Wheeler said. \u201cOtherwise we might have had more questions to ask her.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__paragraph article__paragraph--left\" id=\"P3225VCBHZCLNKH2R3PPOWZRJE\">Williams has been trapped at the International Space Station for months with co-pilot Barry Wilmore after a technical failure delayed their return and extended their mission.<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__paragraph article__paragraph--left\" id=\"LO3WXAO6ENEW7B3Y2RCDFCXPW4\">The call will take place at the future site of the Carlton Observatory in McMinnville, located on the grounds of the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum.<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__paragraph article__paragraph--left\" id=\"CLFZTFTH5VEI7JD5J4ZFQBZUEM\">TEACH-NW contacted leaders of the <a href=\"https:\/\/carltonobservatory.org\/\"><u>Carlton Observatory<\/u> <\/a>to help organize the event, which needed a venue that could accommodate the anticipated crowd.<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__paragraph article__paragraph--left\" id=\"TUQX7S35RZHTTK6FVOSQPL5Z2M\">Janet Zuelke, one of the leaders, praised the teen\u2019s incredible perseverance.<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__paragraph article__paragraph--left\" id=\"QOVCGFODTRHRNJAHD7MRGK6BXU\">\u201cHe is absolutely the most incredible young human being I think I\u2019ve ever met,\u201d said Zuelke. \u201cHe\u2019s been interested in science his entire life and at 8-years-old took the ham radio test three times to get it, and I don\u2019t think people even realize how much of a challenge that is for an adult.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__paragraph article__paragraph--left\" id=\"UPSG3JPPZBEODOXEO6CRWJUNGQ\">She added: \u201cThere\u2019s something special about this kid. You wanna stand next to him because you know he is going to do something special in this world and you want to be able to look back and say \u2018I stood next to that kid once.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__paragraph article__paragraph--left\" id=\"BYQETGSRQNCAHAC6PWFA4XMRZQ\">The educational outreach program that allows students and amateur radio operators to communicate with astronauts aboard the ISS is called Amateur Radio on the International Space Station. Founded in 1996, ARISS promotes STEM education by providing a direct link to space exploration.<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__paragraph article__paragraph--left\" id=\"CFF75CYOPRFNFDUPJSXFRHCLUI\">Ezekiel said that he hopes his journey is a reminder that a little curiosity and creativity can take you places \u2014 including outer space.<\/p>\n<div class=\"related-articles-container\" id=\"recommended-articles\">\n<p class=\"related-articles-affiliate\">RECOMMENDED<span class=\"affiliate-spacer dot__oregonlive\">\u2022<\/span><span class=\"affiliate-site\">oregonlive<!-- -->.com<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"article__paragraph article__paragraph--left\" id=\"GELDHH4TFRGAFA4A5EH6HITYVM\">\u201cI want to inspire more kids to get interested in what they want to do, and follow through on what they do and never give up,\u201d said Ezekiel.<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__paragraph article__paragraph--left\" id=\"Y3HO73ZGMBBF7DQH52YJRBNASM\">Ezekiel will be streaming the event on his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@KJ7NLL\/streams\">YouTube channel.<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"article__paragraph article__paragraph--left\" id=\"3FBR4LI57ZBY7CA2BSUZP5P4OY\"><i>\u2014 Tyler Brown is a breaking news reporter for The Oregonian\/OregonLive. You can reach him at tbrown2@oregonian.com or 503-221-8243.<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"fluid\"\r\n     data-ad-layout-key=\"-fb+5w+4e-db+86\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"7910942971\"><\/ins>\r\n<script>\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><div data-type=\"_mgwidget\" data-widget-id=\"1660802\">\r\n<\/div>\r\n<script>(function(w,q){w[q]=w[q]||[];w[q].push([\"_mgc.load\"])})(window,\"_mgq\");\r\n<\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.oregonlive.com\/portland\/2024\/10\/oregon-teens-quest-to-contact-international-space-station-reaches-milestone.html\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A dash of cosmic curiosity has given a 13-year-old Portlander and his online schoolmates the chance to chat Friday with one of the astronauts stranded aboard the International Space Station. &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/?p=115881\" class=\"more-link\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8628],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-115881","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-science","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/115881","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=115881"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/115881\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=115881"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=115881"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=115881"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}