The cosmic phone call

The students of King George elementary school made contact with the International Space Station this morning. At 10:48 a.m. the crackle of static on the speakers was broken by astronaut Sandra Magnus.
"Station five ISS, NA one, do you copy?" Her voice crackled across the gym.
"Yes NE, I S S this is victor echo five. ISS how do you copy over?" Murray Crandon, the radio operator said.
"I hear you loud and clear! Great to hear from you guys," Magnus said.
Students were able to ask ten questions within a nine minute window when the space station would orbit over Saskatchewan. Questions ranged from what luxuries astronauts take up with them to what man-made structures can be seen from space.
The signal only lasts approximately nine minutes because the station orbits the earth so quickly it gets out of range. It takes about 15 minutes for the space station to travel across Canada.
The students were able to talk to astronauts thanks to Murray Crandon, a local radio enthusiast, who coordinated the project with NASA. The amateur radio on the international space station (ARISS) program was started in 2000. Crandon convinced King George elementary to apply to the program over a year ago.
Rebeca Davies was able to ask the astronauts a question. She was excited after the project ended.
"It was really fun. It was such a great experience," said Davies. "I'm glad I got to be a part of it, I've learned so much."