Tag Archives: ISS

Oct 3 2026

Astronaut to use Amateur Radio to Talk to UK Students

Wick High School ARISS Contact DetailsRescheduled Date: Students at Wick High School in Caithness will use amateur radio to ask astronaut Joshua Kutryk KJ5BFU questions about space.

The ARISS contact, using the call signs NA1SS on the International Space Station and GB4WHS at the school, will take place on Thursday, October 8, 2026, at 12:29 PM BST (11:29 GMT). You can listen in to the ISS downlink on 145.800 MHz (plus/minus 3 kHz Doppler shift) FM.

The event will be streamed live at https://live.ariss.org/

The space and ground teams will attempt to use the HamTV transmitter during this contact to send live Digital Amateur TV pictures of the astronaut on a frequency of 2395 MHz.

The HamTV downlink will be streamed at https://live.ariss.org/hamtv/

Wick High School is a comprehensive secondary school with 725 students aged 11-18. The school has 9 feeder primaries with around 800 children aged 5-11. The Caithness community is in the very far north of mainland Scotland. The area has a large employment focus on engineering, nuclear and renewable energy, with many of our students looking to careers in these industries. The High School encourages and supports pathways into these industries through our excellent Technologies departments.

The Wick High School Radio Club, GMØWHS, plays an important role in this programme by introducing students to amateur radio, satellite communications and wireless technology. Through practical activities, pupils develop technical knowledge alongside teamwork, problem-solving and communication skills while gaining an insight into careers in engineering, aerospace and technology, all while studying for their industry-recognised Foundation licence qualification.

For many young people living in this remote part of Scotland, opportunities to engage directly with the space sector are limited. A live conversation with an astronaut aboard the International Space Station would provide an unforgettable educational experience, raising aspirations and inspiring the next generation of scientists, engineers and explorers.

Young questioners with their practice cue cards at Wick High School

Young questioners with their practice cue cards – Credit: Wick High School

Questions (if the time of radio contact allows):
1. Which one thing do movies always get wrong about space?
2. What changed in your perspective on Earth after seeing it from outer space?
3. Why do you take the risk of going up into space?
4. What do you do if you have to go outside the ISS?
5. What do you find hard about living in the Space Station?
6. How does food taste in space compared to here on Earth?
7. How much do you use the phonetic alphabet in space?
8. What experiment were you most excited to work on?
9. Which part of your job, when you are in space, is your favourite?
10. How did you prepare your body and mind for going to space?
11. I dream of being an astronaut. What skills should I learn to become an astronaut?
12. I like to play games at home. Do astronauts play games in space?
13. Do astronauts get space sick like getting car sick?
14. Have you ever broke anything on ISS?
15. What other planets have you seen when up in space?
16. When you first went to space were you surprised by anything?
17. What do you do in your free time?
18. In what way is a spacesuit comfortable or uncomfortable?
19. How did you feel when you got chosen to go on the Space Station?
20. Can you get a power outage in space and what would happen?

In an article in the TES (Times Educational Supplement) magazine teacher Chris Aitken MM0WIC explained why he started an amateur radio club at Wick High School.
https://tes.com/magazine/teaching-learning/general/why-i-started-amateur-radio-club-my-school

Follow Wick High School Radio Club on X https://x.com/GM0WHS

Joshua Kutryk KJ5BFU - Credit: Canadian Space Agency

Joshua Kutryk KJ5BFU – Credit: Canadian Space Agency

Follow astronaut Joshua Kutryk KJ5BFU on X https://x.com/Astro_Kutryk

The ARISS program is aimed at students and enthusiasts and aims to inspire them in the study of sciences with this amateur radio activity. The demonstration of amateur radio communication from space invites schools and universities to make use of these educational technical resources. We invite radio amateurs and space enthusiasts to tune in to this exciting moment.

The latest information on the ARISS operation mode can be found at
https://www.ariss.org/current-status-of-iss-stations.html

How to hear the ISS https://amsat-uk.org/beginners/how-to-hear-the-iss/

You can use the AMSAT-UK/BATC WebSDR to listen to the contact on your mobile device https://vhf-goonhilly.batc.org.uk/

What is Amateur Radio? http://www.essexham.co.uk/what-is-amateur-radio

Free UK amateur radio Online Training course https://essexham.co.uk/train/foundation-online/

Mar 29 2026

ISS Astronaut to use Amateur Radio to Talk to UK Students

2026-03-30 ARISS UK ContactStudents at Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys will use amateur radio to speak to astronaut Jack Hathaway, KJ5NIV, on the International Space Station (ISS).  The ARISS contact, between NA1SS on the ISS and GB4SLS at the school, will take place on Monday, March 30, 2026 at 2:28 PM BST (13:28 GMT). You can listen in on 145.800 MHz (plus/minus 3 kHz Doppler shift) FM.

Astronaut Jack Hathaway, KJ5NIV, will answer questions from Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys, Canterbury, U.K.

The space and ground teams will attempt to use the HamTV transmitter during this contact. The HamTV DATV frequency is 2395 MHz.

The event will be streamed live: https://live.ariss.org/

The HamTV downlink will be streamed: https://live.ariss.org/hamtv/

Questions:
1. What are the purposes of the experiments you do in space?
2. Why do we go to space to do some experiments rather than do them on Earth?
3. How does the ISS stay in orbit around the earth?
4. How does it feel to see so many sunsets and sunrises each day from the ISS
5. What food do you eat on the ISS?
6. Why is there no air in space?
7. How does rocket fuel work when there is no air for combustion?
8. What do you do for entertainment on the ISS?
9. How hard do you have to train to go into space?
10. What is it like launching into space?
11. What is like to be in zero gravity for a long period of time?
12. Without weight pulling things down onto the ground there must be a lot less friction to help you move, how do you compensate for that?
13. Do you have any source of internet in space?
14. What is the most amazing thing that you have seen from space?
15. What ordinary daily tasks are the most difficult to do in space?
16. How does being in space affect the human body?
17. Is there a lot of noise on the ISS or is it quite quiet?
18. How do you clear up spills in space?
19. Do you ever feel lonely from the isolation in space?
20. How do you prepare for space walks?

The ARISS program is aimed at students and enthusiasts and aims to inspire them in the study of sciences with this amateur radio activity. The demonstration of amateur radio communication from space invites schools and universities to make use of these educational technical resources. We invite radio amateurs and space enthusiasts to tune in to this exciting moment.

Follow ARISS International on X

The latest information on the ARISS operation mode can be found at
https://www.ariss.org/current-status-of-iss-stations.html

How to hear the ISS https://amsat-uk.org/beginners/how-to-hear-the-iss/

What is Amateur Radio? http://www.essexham.co.uk/what-is-amateur-radio

Free UK amateur radio Online Training course https://essexham.co.uk/train/foundation-online/

Jan 30 2026

Wick High School students to contact ISS

GM0WHS - Wick High School Radio Club logoStudents at Wick High School in East Caithness have been chosen by ARISS International to have an amateur radio contact with an astronaut on the International Space Station.

The Wick High School Radio Club @GM0WHS posted on X:
HUGE NEWS FROM @wickhigh
Pupils from all across East Caithness will be talking to an astronaut later this year! We’re really humbled to have been chosen by @ARISS_Intl for a scheduled contact with the Space Station.

The radio club was established in 2023 by Computing Science teacher Chris Aitken MM0WIC @skipperAitken . So far 15 students have passed the exam for their amateur radio licence.

International Space Station - Image Credit NASA

International Space Station – Image Credit NASA

The John O’Groat Journal says:

“Because of Wick’s far-north location, this contact is likely to be one of the most northerly direct educational links with the ISS ever attempted. The station will appear around 25 degrees above the southern horizon, travelling west to east, making the contact both spectacular and technically demanding.”

Read the full story in the John O’Grout Journal at
https://www.johnogroat-journal.co.uk/news/we-have-contact-wick-high-pupils-to-get-direct-line-to-i-425857/

RSGB announcement https://rsgb.org/main/blog/school-zone-stories/2026/01/30/lift-off-for-wick-high-astronaut-contact/

Follow Wick High School Radio Club on X

Follow ARISS International on X

Follow AMSAT-UK on X

Nov 26 2025

New ARISS Video Premiere

2025-12-02 ARISS VideoARISS is excited to premier a new video all about Amateur Radio on the International Space Station! Thanks to Nichole Ayers KJ5GWI (@Astro_Ayers on X) who recorded this during her time on the International Space Station.

Join us Tuesday 02-December on https://YouTube.com/ARISSlive for the big reveal!

Follow ARISS International on X

Follow AMSAT-UK on X

Nov 8 2025

ISS SSTV Planned for Nov 12-19

ARISS SSTV Event November 2025From November 12-19 amateur Slow Scan TV (SSTV) transmissions are expected from the International Space Station (ISS) to celebrate 25 years of the ISS & ARISS, and the amazing work that Scouting does!

Start: Wednesday, November 12 1730 GMT (5:30pm UK local)
End: Wednesday, November 19 1450 GMT (2:50pm UK local)

Frequency: 145.800 MHz FM (+/-3.5 kHz Doppler Shift)
SSTV Mode: PD120 (Transmission cycle 2 minutes on, 2 minutes off)

You are invited to upload decoded images in the ARISS gallery, area “Series 30 – ISS at 25 & Scouts” at: https://ariss-usa.org/ARISS_SSTV/

Once you’ve submitted, just clicking on the dedicated button you can apply for the official ARISS SSTV award.

Also, you can request the ARISS QSL by contacting the European QSL bureau: https://www.ariss-eu.org/index.php/ariss-station/european-qsl-bureau

To support everyone interested in such events, the European Space Agency released tutorials about how to receive pictures transmitted over amateur radio by the International Space Station: you can find them on https://issfanclub.eu/2024/11/08/esa-tips-how-to-get-pictures-from-the-international-space-station-via-amateur-radio-2/

It’s always possible to receive the ISS SSTV signal by using the WebSDR at the Goonhilly Earth Station, the audio can then be fed into your PC or Smartphone SSTV App  https://vhf-goonhilly.batc.org.uk/

Follow @ARISS_intl on X for official updates, since changes can occur.

Reminder, the images are sent on a (roughly) 2 minutes on, 2 minutes off schedule. So if you don’t hear anything, give it 2 minutes!

Many FM rigs can be switched been wide and narrow deviation FM filters. For best results you should select the filter for wider deviation FM. Handhelds generally have a single wide filter fitted as standard.

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

Useful information on receiving the pictures and links for Apps to display the pictures can be found here:
https://amsat-uk.org/beginners/iss-sstv/

You may be able to get publicity for the amateur radio hobby if you contact your local newspaper and tell them you’ve received a picture (doesn’t have to be perfect) from the International Space Station, see
https://amsat-uk.org/2015/02/04/iss-sstv-in-uk-press/

Oct 17 2025

UK Scouts to talk to Space Station

1st Radford Semele Scout Group ISS ContactThe amateur radio scouting event Jamboree On The Air (JOTA) is taking place this weekend October 18-19.

Scouts from the 1st Radford Semele Scout Group at Radford Semele, UK, are planned to talk to astronaut Jonny Kim KJ5HKP on the International Space Station on Saturday, October 18 at 10:49 AM BST (09:49:40 GMT).

Jonny Kim will answer questions from Scouts in United Kingdom during this live amateur radio contact.

Astronaut Jonny Kim will operate the amateur radio station call sign NA1SS aboard the ISS and will call the radio amateur ground station call sign GB4RSS in United Kingdom. This is a live ARISS radio contact from the 1st Radford Semele Scout Group in Radford Semele, UK. You can listen live to astronaut Jonny Kim aboard the ISS on 145.800 MHz FM (plus/minus 3 kHz Doppler shift).

1st Radford Semele Scout Group ISS HamTVThe Space Station amateur radio transmission should be receiveable across the British Isles and Europe using just a handheld radio with a 1/4 wave whip.

Many FM rigs can be switched been wide and narrow deviation FM filters. For best results you should select the filter for wider deviation FM. Handhelds generally have a single wide filter fitted as standard.

The space and ground teams will attempt to use the recently reinstalled HamTV transmitter during this contact. HamTV DATV frequency is 2395 MHz.

In preparation for this ARISS contact, the HamTV transmitter will be tested with a color bar screen during the preceding pass. The pre-contact pass over Europe is at 8:15 UTC.

The event will be streamed live:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFBgDKPg4Mk

The HamTV downlink will be streamed:
https://live.ariss.org/hamtv/

English is the expected language of communication for this amateur radio contact.

Questions:
1. Is being on the ISS like living on Mars
2. Can you see the Milky Way from there?
3. Do plants still grow towards the sun on the ISS?
4. What’s the funniest thing that’ has happened to you in space
5. What happens if you drop something in space, does it float forever?
6. Have you ever seen a space storm or shooting star from the ISS
7. Have you ever had to fix something important in space, and what happened?
8. Do you ever play tricks or jokes on each other
9. What do you eat for breakfast in space? Cereal would float away
10. How does a space walk feel?
11. Does food taste different in space? Better or worse?
12. What’s the coolest experiment you’ve done in space?
13. Do you feel Dizzy when you get back to earth
14. With Halloween coming up, do you hear creepy sounds on the ISS?
15. Do you play Board Games on the ISS? Which ones?
16. What’s the most difficult challenge you’ve faced while living on the space station?

The ARISS program is aimed at students and enthusiasts and aims to inspire them in the study of sciences with this amateur radio activity. The demonstration of amateur radio communication from space invites schools and universities to make use of these educational technical resources. We invite radio amateurs and space enthusiasts to tune in to this exciting moment.

Check out the ARISS website and follow ARISS on the official social media channels for more updates.
https://www.ariss.org/contact-the-iss.html

ARISS-Europe News Bulletins are distributed by AMSAT Belgium.

Follow @ARISS_intl on X for official updates, since schedule changes can occur.

Follow AMSAT-UK on X