Tag Archives: ARISS

Oct 4 2024

Space Station contact with UK Girlguides

2024-10-05 Girlguiding ARISS Contact With Sunita Willams KD5PLBAt 11:29 GMT on Saturday October 5, 2024, an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) radio contact between astronaut Sunita Williams KD2PLB aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and members of Girlguiding Surrey West County, took place at the Brooklands Museum and Brookland Innovation Academy, located in Weybridge, UK.

2024-10-05 ARISS UK Girlguding ContactARISS conducts 60-100 of these special Amateur Radio contacts each year between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses aboard the ISS.

Watch the recording at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxN4VuNj_AY

Girlguiding Surrey West is a charity organization for girls and young women. Girlguiding wants to inspire their members to learn skills in science, technology, engineering and math with fun guiding activities and science-based activities. The Brooklands Innovation Academy, established in 2022, creates inspirational STEM experiences for young people. The age range of the participants for this ARISS contact are 5 to 19 years old. By hosting this ARISS contact they are also demonstrating real-world application of STEM concepts (an important principle at Brooklands Museum) to space missions and are encouraging the girls to complete their space interest badge. The group is being supported by the Radio Society of Great Britain and the ARISS UK Team to establish the radio link.

Duchess of Edinburgh 2024Girlguiding patron, Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh attended the contact to help in promoting the engagement and involvement of girls and young women in STEM. At the start of the contact she greeted Sunita Williams on board the ISS.

This was a direct contact via Amateur Radio allowing students to ask their questions of astronaut Sunita Williams, amateur radio call sign KD5PLB. The downlink frequency for this contact was 145.800 MHz and was heard by listeners within the ISS-footprint that also encompasses the relay ground station.

The amateur radio ground station for this contact is in Weybridge, UK. Amateur radio operators using call sign GB4GGB, operated the ground station to establish and maintain the ISS connection.

The recording of the live stream isat: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxN4VuNj_AY

Evening Standard newspaper: ‘Duchess of Edinburgh contacts ‘inspiring’ astronaut in space during museum visit’ https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/girlguiding-edinburgh-duchess-stem-rangers-b1186075.html

_______________________________

The  Brownies, Guides and Rangers asked these questions:

1. Who or what inspired you to become an astronaut and what advice would you have for any of these girls here today who might want to become an astronaut?

2. Do you have any free time and if so what do you spend your time doing?

3. There are many international time zones so how does time work on the ISS?

4. If you were not an astronaut, what job would you like to have instead?

5. What things do you like to take with you to remind you of home?

6. What is the hardest part of your job?

7. How does the food and drinks do you have in space compare to foods on earth?

8. What do you miss about Earth?

9. How long have you been on the international space station?

10. What was your reaction when you found out you had been selected to fly to the ISS?

11. What stars or other things have you seen in space?

12. Is space hot or cold?

13. Does space smell of anything?

14. How do you sleep in space?

15. What is your favorite planet and why?

16. Have you done a spacewalk? If so, what was it like?

17. The spacesuits look very heavy, are they uncomfortable to wear?

18. What is it like floating in space? Have you ever lost anything from it floating away?

19. What things do you like to take with you to remind you of home?

About ARISS:

Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) is a cooperative venture of international amateur radio societies and the space agencies that support the ISS. In the United States, sponsors are the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC), Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT), NASA’s Space Communications and Navigation program (SCaN) and the ISS National Lab—Space Station Explorers. The primary goal of ARISS is to promote exploration of science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics topics. ARISS does this by organizing scheduled contacts via amateur radio between crew members aboard the ISS and students. Before and during these radio contacts, students, educators, parents, and communities take part in hands-on learning activities tied to space, space technologies, and amateur radio. For more information, see http://www.ariss.org/

Follow ARISS on X at https://x.com/ARISS_Intl

Those satellite enthusiasts thinking of getting their UK Amateur Radio licence may like to know a Free online training courses are available at hamtrain.co.uk

Apr 15 2024

UK School to Contact Space Station

Preparing for ARISS school contact

Preparing for ARISS school contact

An ARISS contact is scheduled with students at Mrs Ethelston’s CE Primary Academy at Axminster Community Academy Trust, Lyme Regis, U.K. at 11:44 BST (10:44 GMT) on Wednesday April 17 on 145.800 MHz FM.

Matthew Dominick KC0TOR

Matthew Dominick KC0TOR

Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has received schedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact between an astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and students at the Mrs. Ethelston’s CE Primary Academy located in Lyme Regis, UK. ARISS conducts 60-100 of these special amateur radio contacts each year between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses aboard the ISS.

Acorn Multi Academy Trust is a small trust of seven schools (Mrs Ethelstons, Axminster, Chardstock, Marshwood, Loders, Thorncombe and Membury) that are situated on the coast of the English Dorset /Devon /Somerset border. Mrs Ethelston’s CE Primary Academy is hosting this ARISS contact and is directly involved in this project, however children involved are from the 7 primary schools within this Multi-Academy Trust and range in ages from 4-11 years.

This will be a direct contact via Amateur Radio allowing students to ask their questions of astronaut Matthew Dominick, amateur radio call sign KCØTOR. The downlink frequency for this contact is 145.800 MHz and may be heard by listeners that are within the ISS-footprint that also encompasses the relay ground station.

The amateur radio ground station for this contact is in Lyme Regis, UK. Amateur radio operators using call sign GB4ACA, will operate the ground station to establish and maintain the ISS connection.

The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for April 17, 2024 at 11:44:48 am BST (UK) (10:44:48 UTC, 6:44 am EDT, 5:44 am CDT, 4:44 am MDT, 3:44 am PDT).

The public is invited to watch the live stream at: https://live.ariss.org

ARISS School Students Contact ISSAs time allows, students will ask these questions:
1. What was the hardest part of getting ready to go to space?
2. If you can make the water from a bottle float, then how can you swallow it without it coming up again?
3. Why do humans want to go to Mars?
4. How will we get loads of water in space without running out?
5. How long does it take to transmit data from Earth to ISS?
6. How do you not get lost in space?
7. Why doesn’t the ISS fall and hit the ground?
8. How much exercise do you need and how do you get it?
9. What temperature is it in the ISS and is that the same outside?
10. What is it like in zero gravity?
11. What is your favorite part of the ISS and why?
12. How fast can you move around in zero gravity?
13. How do you wash your hands?
14. Have you ever seen any astronomical phenomenon?
15. What is your favorite site every time you circle the Earth?
16. How big is the ISS?
17. How do you cook food in space?
18. How do you vote in space?
19. Are the space suits really heavy or light?
20. Which other planets can you see?
School Students ask ISS Astronaut Questions
Dec 14 2023

ISS SSTV 40th Anniversary of Ham Radio in Human Spaceflight

ARISS SSTV Event Dec-16 to Dec19 2023An ARISS Slow Scan TV (SSTV) event is scheduled from the International Space Station (ISS) December 16-19, 2023, on 145.800 MHz FM to celebrate the 40th anniversary of amateur radio in human spaceflight.

The event is slated to begin on Saturday, December 16, at 10:15 GMT for setup and operation and continue until Tuesday, December 19, ending at 18:00 GMT. These times are tentative and are subject to change due to crew availability.

Images will be downlinked at 145.800 MHz +/- 3 kHz for Doppler shift and the expected SSTV mode of operation is PD-120.

Radio enthusiasts participating in the event can post and view images on the ARISS SSTV Gallery at https://www.spaceflightsoftware.com/ARISS_SSTV/

The signal should be receivable even on a handheld with a 1/4 wave whip. If your rig has selectable FM filters try the wider filter for 25 kHz channel spacing.

You can get predictions for the ISS pass times at https://www.amsat.org/track/

ARISS SSTV Blog https://ariss-sstv.blogspot.com/

Useful SSTV info and links https://amsat-uk.org/beginners/iss-sstv/

Oct 16 2023

Kent school students to contact ISS astronaut

St. Peter ISS Contact with Jasmin KI5WSLAmateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has received schedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact between an astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and students at St Peter Junior School in Broadstairs, UK. ARISS conducts 60-80 of these special amateur radio contacts each year between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses aboard the ISS.

St Peter is a three form entry junior school located in Broadstairs, a small seaside town on the South East coast of England. St Peter’s students (ages 7 – 11) have been taking part in activities in ‘Mission Zero’ where they write a program to display a personalized image on an Astro Pi computer on board the ISS to remind the astronauts of home.

Students have also been taking part in the FUNcube project (tracking an active LEO Satellite – FUNcube-1/AO-73), and participating in a community stargazing event assisted by members of Ramsgate Stargazers. The school’s science club has also engaged students in space-related activities that include learning the difficulties of traveling to space, designing and launching rockets (using water and air), and living on the ISS (and designing solutions that may help overcome these difficulties). Members of the Hilderstone Radio Society (G0HRS) have been fundamental in advising and supporting the school during these activities and during this ARISS contact.

This will be a direct contact via Amateur Radio and students will take turns asking their questions of Astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli, amateur radio call sign KI5WSL. The downlink frequency for this contact is 145.800 MHz and may be heard by listeners that are within the ISS-footprint that also encompasses the relay ground station.

The amateur radio ground station for this contact is in Broadstairs, UK. Amateur radio operators using call sign GB4SPT, will operate the ground station to establish and maintain the ISS connection.

The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for October 18, 2023 at 10:57:49 am BST (UK) (9:57:49 UTC, 5:57 am EDT, 4:57 am CDT, 3:57 am MDT, 2:57 am PDT).

The public is invited to watch the live stream at: https://live.ariss.org

As time allows, students will ask these questions:
1. Is it hot or cold in space, and if it’s hot how do you keep cool and if it’s cold how do you keep warm in your spacesuit?
2. Is it really true that girls are better suited to space than boys?
3. How do you tell if it’s night or day on the international space station?
4. Would you be happy to live in space for the rest of your life if you were told to?
5. What are your thoughts about space travel in the future for mankind?
6. In the future will we be able to take holidays to the international space station?
7. Do you think living organisms will ever be found in space, and if so what could they be?
8. Do you get dizzy in space when you are not moving? Or does the lack of gravity mean that you do not get dizzy?
9. Does the ISS shake when a Soyuz spacecraft docks?
10. I know we can measure gravity, but what is gravity?
11. What is the furthest distance a human has travelled away from Planet Earth?
12. What would happen if you played on a swing in space?
13. What is the most amazing thing you have seen on earth from the space station?
14. How do fires behave in space?
15. Have you seen any comets?
16. How much work do you have to do on the space station each day, and what do you do in your spare time?
17. My brother and I love space, my brother especially loves the moon. We would love to be able to explore space one day. What advice can you give us, to help our dreams come true?
18. What did you study in school to become an astronaut?
19. How does the space station renew the oxygen inside the station?
20. What is different about growing plants in space and do you think we’ll be able to grow food for long term space missions?
21. Will there be a point soon when you can watch Netflix or use your mobile phone in Space – as you are near the satellites that operate the signals?
About ARISS:
Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) is a cooperative venture of international amateur radio societies and the space agencies that support the International Space Station (ISS). In the United States, sponsors are the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC), Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT), NASA’s Space Communications and Navigation program (SCaN) and the ISS National Lab—Space Station Explorers. The primary goal of ARISS is to promote exploration of science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics topics. ARISS does this by organizing scheduled contacts via amateur radio between crew members aboard the ISS and students. Before and during these radio contacts, students, educators, parents, and communities take part in hands-on learning activities tied to space, space technologies, and amateur radio.
For more information, see http://www.ariss.org
Oct 4 2023

ISS contact with Technological University Dublin students

Jasmin Moghbeli KI5WSL

Jasmin Moghbeli KI5WSL

Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has received schedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact between an astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and students at the Technological University in Dublin, Ireland. ARISS conducts 60-80 of these special amateur radio contacts each year between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses aboard the ISS.

Technological University Dublin is a large technological university with more than 28,000 students across its five campuses. TU Dublin is a leader in STEM disciplines (with 18% of their students enrolled in STEM and 25% in apprenticeships) and also provides studies in business, media, culinary arts, and the creative and performing arts. In 2022, TU Dublin provided 300 students between the ages of 8 and 11 years the opportunity to participate in a special STEM program, composed of five, space-themed workshops (STEM Try Five program). The school also collaborated with Dublin Institute of Advanced Studies, the Dunsink Observatory and the Irish Rocketry Association in order to provide a series of space-centered student activities.

With this ARISS contact, the school also hopes to rejuvenate the hobby of radio experimentation, to highlight the relevance of radio communication and its very important applications in day-to-day life. Members of two amateur radio organizations, North Dublin Radio, and the Irish Radio Transmitter Society, are supporting the school for this ARISS contact by providing technical expertise, equipment, and ham radio activities.

This will be a direct contact via Amateur Radio allowing students to ask their questions of Astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli, amateur radio call sign KI5WSL. The downlink frequency for this contact is 145.800 MHz and may be heard by listeners that are within the ISS-footprint that also encompasses the relay ground station.

The amateur radio ground station for this contact is in Dublin, Ireland. Amateur radio operators using call sign EI1ISS, will operate the ground station to establish and maintain the ISS connection.

The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for October 6, 2023 at 2:11:32 pm IST (Ireland) (13:11:32 UTC, 9:11 am EDT, 8:11 am CDT, 7:11 am MDT, 6:11 am PDT).

The public is invited to watch the live stream at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2E8wZd2gBoo

As time allows, students will ask these questions:

1. How long does it take to train to become an astronaut?

2. How does it feel to take off into space?

3. How do you contact your family?

4. Does the International Space Station break down often?

5. Do you feel stress or anxiety when you are in outer space?

6. How do you know when it is morning and night time?

7. Do you dream differently in space?

8. How does returning from space affect your body?

9. How do you get a haircut in space?

10. What skills do you need to go into space?

11. How do you keep your food fresh?

12. Is it difficult to move in zero gravity?

13. What is the scariest part of being an astronaut?

14. Could you bring your pet with you to the Space Station?

15. Is it difficult to wear your space suit?

16. What made you want to become an astronaut?

17. What is, in your opinion, the best and worst food on the space station?

18. What do you do in your free time?

19. During launch, where does the first stage end up?

20. How long does a typical EVA last?

About ARISS:

Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) is a cooperative venture of international amateur radio societies and the space agencies that support the International Space Station (ISS). In the United States, sponsors are the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC), Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT), NASA’s Space Communications and Navigation program (SCaN) and the ISS National Lab—Space Station Explorers. The primary goal of ARISS is to promote exploration of science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics topics. ARISS does this by organizing scheduled contacts via amateur radio between crew members aboard the ISS and students. Before and during these radio contacts, students, educators, parents, and communities take part in hands-on learning activities tied to space, space technologies, and amateur radio.
For more information, see http://www.ariss.org/

 

Feb 9 2023

Space Station contact with students in Malta

Josh Cassada KI5CRH

Josh Cassada KI5CRH

An ARISS contact between students at Stella Maris College, Gzira, Malta, callsign 9H1MRL and the International Space Station (ISS) is scheduled for 12:34 GMT on Wednesday, February 15.

Update March 26: Report on the contact in the Times of Malta newspaper https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/ariss-mt-direct-contact-iss-via-amateur-radio.1021213

The ISS crew member will be astronaut Josh Cassada KI5CRH who will be using the ISS callsign OR4ISS. The downlink frequency is 145.800 MHz and the signal should be receivable in the British Isles and Europe.

A little bit of information about the school follows. Stella Maris College is a Lasallian school. It takes its inspiration from its founder John Baptist de la Salle. In the Christian faith, John De La Salle is venerated as the Patron Saint of Teachers.

Basically, a Lasallian School has the following characteristics:
A) respect for each student as a unique person.
B) A strong spirit of Community.
C) A school of Quality.
D) A school that embraces everyone.
E) Shows special preference for persons who are considered poor financially, morally, physically, psychologically.

Mission statement:
Our school is a place where everyone strives to create and nurture a holistic, inclusive and well-ordered learning climate thereby ensuring a high-quality, values-based academic preparation.

The school has an astronomical observatory and electronics forms part of the school curriculum.

The contact is being conducted by five local radio amateurs and we call ourselves ARISS team Malta; Dominic 9H1M, Manuel 9H1GW, Andrew 9H2AV, Trevor 9H5TS and Anthony 9H2AS. We have set up a station at the school’s auditorium and a 10 element crossed Yagi and rotator on the roof.

The whole event will be streamed live on YouTube on the following URL:

73s Manuel 9H1GW