Tag Archives: Space

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 1 2026

Students On The Air Satellite Activity Starts March 3

Students On The Air - StOTA Every 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of each month starting March 3, 2026

AMSAT has announced the launch of Students On The Air (StOTA) Days, a new initiative aimed at encouraging student participation in amateur satellite operations. The activity was inspired by AMSAT President Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA, and his son Carsten, KQ4SJM, and is designed to promote regular on-air activity among licensed student operators.

Students are encouraged to get on the air and operate via amateur satellites on the first and third Tuesdays of each month, beginning March 3, 2026. While student-to-student contacts are especially encouraged, all satellite operators are welcome to participate and help make students feel welcome on the air.

To support coordination, AMSAT has created a dedicated #students-on-the-air channel on the AMSAT Discord Server where participants can arrange contacts and share activity.

AMSAT Discord Invite https://discord.gg/xbTXcPJHyt

StOTA (Students On The Air) channel https://discord.com/channels/715554730323083274/715891435143954512

Reports of StOTA activity and contacts are encouraged and may be submitted to Carsten, KQ4SJM, whose contact information is available via QRZ.com

Activity reports will help AMSAT gauge participation and support future student-focused satellite initiatives.

Source AMSAT News Service https://mailman.amsat.org/postorius/lists/ans.amsat.org/

Jan 6 2026

Webinar for CCSDS Outreach Initiative and Competition

Following on from our announcement of the ESA / CCSDS sponsored outreach competition to develop reference protocols, AMSAT-UK are pleased to announce they will be holding a webinar at 16:00 UTC on Wednesday 14th January.

The webinar will be via Zoom and the event will be recorded. The registration link is here:

https://zoom.us/meeting/register/KgrRSLJgQN2tpriQye18tw

A reminder that the details of the competition can be found here:

https://amsat-uk.org/2025/12/08/ccsds-outreach-initiative-and-competition/

73
Dave Johnson, G4DPZ
Hon Sec, AMSAT-UK
Email: esa-competition@amsat-uk.org

Apr 1 2025

Fram2 Mission Launched

Rabea Rogge LB9NJ / KD3AID - Photo credit DLR

Rabea Rogge LB9NJ / KD3AID – Photo credit DLR

A SpaceX rocket carrying radio amateur Rabea Rogge LB9NJ / KD3AID and three other astronauts launched from Pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center on April 1 at 0146 GMT on the Fram2 mission. It is the first polar-orbit human spaceflight mission to explore Earth.

During the mission Rabea will be transmitting amateur radio Robot 36 Slow Scan TV (SSTV) images on 437.550 MHz (+/- 10 kHz Doppler shift) starting April 2. Operation will be 36 seconds on and 36 seconds off.

The images are transmitted as part of a competition for students. Please do not post your SSTV images on Social Media or share with others until 72 hours after the completion of the Fram2 mission.

ARISS will provide special commemorative certificates for those who upload their Fram2 SSTV images to the ARISS SSTV Gallery. Certificates will be delivered after the completion of the Fram2 mission.

If possible record all your passes. You can always generate an image later with the recording. Particularly if you have an issue with your audio into your SSTV software.

There are several challenges in receiving the images,  the low transmit power, variations of antenna orientation, and a short, 3-day mission duration, with only a limited time assigned for the SSTV operation. Are you up for the challenge? 📡

Watch a recording made by Robbie Ei2iP of the amateur radio downlink during the contact on April 1 at 0728 GMT between Fram2 astronaut Rabea Rogge LB9NJ / KD3AID and students at the Technical University Berlin (note unexpected frequency change).

Watch the Technical University Berlin video of the contact

Operations Frequency: 437.550 MHz FM (+/- 10 kHz Doppler shift).

SSTV Mode: Robot 36

ARISS are livestreaming orbital predictions for the Fram2 mission at http://live.ariss.org/

Orbital predictions, select Fram2Ham https://www.amsat.org/track/

Fram2 TLEs (also known as Keplerian, or Orbital Elements) https://www.ariss.org/keps.html

See the pictures received in the ARISS SSTV Gallery at https/ariss-usa.org/ARISS_SSTV/

Fram2Ham https://fram2ham.com/

First human Spaceflight to Earth’s polar regions https://f2.com/

Fram2Ham on Discord https://discord.com/invite/GYQzmSh5sp

Student competition details https://fram2ham.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/amapay_user_manual-ver-2-7-2025.pdf

Follow Rabea on X https://x.com/rprogge

Follow Chun Wang on X https://x.com/satofishi

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

Follow AMSAT-UK on X https://x.com/amsatuk

Jul 25 2024

AMSAT-UK Space Colloquium 2024

Kents Hill Park Conference Centre Milton Keynes MK7 6BZAMSAT-UK is pleased to announce that the 2024 Colloquium will take place alongside the RSGB Convention at Kents Hill Park Conference Centre, Milton Keynes, MK7 6BZ on the weekend of 12/13th October 2024.

As in previous years, the AMSAT-UK Colloquium will run as a separate stream within the RSGB Convention and will include presentations on a variety of satellite and space related topics.

The Annual General Meeting of AMSAT-UK will take place during the colloquium.

An AMSAT Gala Dinner will be held on the evening of Saturday 12th October at the Marriott Delta Hotel on Trimbold Drive, Kents Hill, Milton Keynes MK7 6HL. Attendance is restricted this year at the hotel and a limited number of tickets are on sale via the AMSAT-UK Online Shop https://shop.amsat-uk.org/

The cost of the Gala Dinner is £39 per person and includes a three course meal with tea / coffee at its conclusion.

Alongside the Gala Dinner, AMSAT-UK has negotiated a deal at the Marriott Delta for the evening of Saturday 12th October 2024. These rooms include breakfast on Sunday 13th and are priced at £89 per room for single occupancy. Tickets for the Gala Dinner can be purchased on the AMSAT-UK Online Shop.

Bookings for the Gala Dinner are now available on the AMSAT-UK Shop, but must close on 1st October 2024 unless sold out sooner, so please book early to avoid disappointment.

Entrance to the RSGB Convention is managed by the RSGB and you will be required to purchase Day Tickets for the Saturday and/or Sunday to attend the AMSAT-UK Colloquium.

RSGB Convention booking is at https://rsgb.org/main/rsgb-2024-convention/

The schedule of Colloquium talks will be released closer to the date.

Jun 1 2023

Summer 2023 OSCAR News now available

E-members of AMSAT-UK can now download the Summer 2023 edition of OSCAR News, issue 241, here.

The paper edition edition will be sent to postal members and should arrive in the next 2-3 weeks.

In this issue:
• From the Secretary’s Keyboard
• Satellite News
• “St Davids Rove” 28th Feb – 1st March 2023 by Nick MW1DDD/P
• G3VZV Operating via QO-100 on South Georgia as VP0GAA and on Tristan da Cuhna as ZD9VZV in March 2023
• Part of a great clear-out!
• ARISS International Meeting April 2023
• ITU News
• Receiving HAMTV from the ISS
• QO100 and a Family Road Trip Jim Ryan EI3DP
• QO-100 Portable Station by Dave M0GIW
• FUNcube-1 was centre-stage in the British Science Week

AMSAT-UK FUNcube Mission Patch

AMSAT-UK FUNcube Mission Patch

Membership of AMSAT-UK is open to anyone who has an interest in amateur radio satellites or space activities, including the International Space Station (ISS).

E-members of AMSAT-UK are able to download the quarterly publication OSCAR News as a convenient PDF that can be read on laptops, tablets or smartphones anytime, anyplace, anywhere. Join as an E-member at Electronic (PDF) E-membership

PDF sample copy of “Oscar News” here.

Join AMSAT-UK using PayPal, Debit or Credit card at
http://shop.amsat-uk.org/

E-members can download their copies of OSCAR News here.