International Space Station – Image Credit NASA

Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has received schedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact with astronauts. ARISS is the group that puts together special amateur radio contacts between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses on the International Space Station (ISS).

This will be a direct contact via amateur radio between astronaut Mark Vande Hei KG5GNP onboard the International Space Station and students at the Mary Hare School, Newbury, UK.

Amateur radio station GB4MHN will be the ham radio ground station for this contact.

The downlink frequency for this contact is 145.800 MHz FM and may be heard by listeners in Europe that are within the ISS-footprint.

The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for Tuesday, October 12, 2021 at 11:12:33 UTC, which is 12:12:33 BST or 13:12:33 CEST.

A live feed from the school will be available here https://live.ariss.org/

School Information:

Mary Hare is an aural school for the deaf, we don’t use sign language, instead we teach students to develop lip reading skills and make use of technology. The contact is important for the school as not only will it help inspire students to STEM, it will hopefully demonstrate that no matter the difficulties they have with communication; there are still ways they can accomplish amazing things (“the sky is not the limit!”).

During the week the students will see some exciting chemistry demonstrations, design and fly model rockets, see some space suits, and do some astronomy (observing Jupiter and Saturn in the evening). In lessons they have researched and discussed what it might be like to live in space, done some space themed art, and looked at astronaut food. Hopefully it will be an exciting and inspiring week.

Students First Names & Questions:

1. Rosie (13 yrs): Do you have to learn a sign language to communicate if something goes wrong with the radios in your suit?

2. Jacob (18 yrs): How do you tell directions in space?

3. Harrison (11 yrs): What do the northern lights look like from space?

4. Hollie (16 yrs): How can you shower in zero gravity?

5. Jasper (13 yrs): What’s your most favourite space technology?

6. Milly (18 yrs): If there was a fire, how would you evacuate?

7. Dominika (14 yrs): Do mobile devices work in space? For example, a Smart Phone?

8. Oliver (13 yrs): If you could take one thing from home into space, to make life more fun what would you take and why?

9. Zak (17 yrs): What is it like to wake up and see the earth from space

10. Julia (15 yrs): How long have you been in space for?

Watch the That’s TV Solent interview with Alex Ayling from Mary Hare School
https://twitter.com/TTVSolent/status/1440952287883632641

Deaf pupils to talk to astronaut on the International Space Station in a world first
http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2021/september/deaf-pupils-to-talk-to-astronauts.htm

Reading Chronicle newspaper report on the planned contact
https://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/news/19582950.deaf-newbury-pupils-talk-astronauts-iss-space-station/

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

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/