A huge team of volunteers worked flat out to make it happen. The project was initiated by ARISS (Amateur Radio on the International Space Station), enthusiasts who work with space agencies all over the world to inspire children about space and technology. Ciaran Morgan M0XTD, its UK leader, tells me how they approached the European Space Agency and persuaded them to let them do it and how the rest has been down to the volunteers. “All Tim has to do is put on his headphones and press a button. We do everything else.”
Ten people spent three days setting up the equipment, the audio feeds, the video feed and the satellite backup at Goonhilly, down the road in Cornwall. “All amateur means is ‘for the love of it’,” Morgan tells the audience. “As you see, the equipment we’re using is very, very professional.”
The King’s School amateur radio contact with Tim Peake featured HamTV
The final ARISS school contact of the Principia Mission took place on Monday, May 9 at 0926 GMT (10:26 am BST) between The King’s School GB1OSM in Ottery St Mary, Devon and Tim Peake GB1SS on the International Space Station.
The contact was receivable by radio amateurs across the British Isles and Western Europe and webcast on the ARISS Principia website. As well as the voice link on 145.800 MHz FM there was a Digital Amateur Television HamTV link on 2395 MHz.
The King’s School students Matt Ilsley and Hector Sethi obtained their Foundation amateur radio licences by taking a training course provided by the Sidmouth Amateur Radio Society.
Tim Peake KG5BVI / GB1SS preparing for his spacewalk in January
Ciaran Morgan [M0XTD], team lead UK ARISS coordinator, described the live link-up as ‘nothing more than a humongous experiment’ as he talked people through the equipment – especially the critical radio used to speak to Major Tim Peake.
Year 13 student Matt Ilsley [M6MTI] passed his foundation radio licence especially for the moment and held his cool as – after much anticipation – he made first contact with the British astronaut.
Summing up the event, head girl at The King’s School, Millie Perkins, said: “We have just experienced something amazing and to you younger years, this will be a highlight of your time here at King’s. I feel very privileged to have experienced it. This is something that we will remember about King’s for the rest of our lives.”
Science Technology Engineering and Maths (STEM) leader Alison Argent-Wenz … spear-headed the whole project and – along with a member of Sidmouth Amateur Radio Society, Mike Marsh [G1IAR] – put forward a proposal for a two-day Space-STEM event surrounding contact with the ISS.
The amateur radio contact generated plenty of media coverage which included:
Events at The King’s School in lead up to Tim Peake contact by year 13 student Matt Ilsley M6MTI
Video of the Tim Peake ARISS contact
Participant’s Presentation:
The King’s School is an 11-18 comprehensive school with approximately 1150 students of which 230 are in the Sixth Form. It has a long and proud history that can be traced back to a fourteenth century choir school which was replaced in 1545 by Henry VIII in 1545 with “The King’s School”.
Although The King’s School became an academy in 2011 we continue to work in close partnership with Devon County Council and our fellow secondary schools to ensure that we offer the best educational opportunities possible. Our inclusive philosophy of “Achievement for All” encapsulates our belief that every person who enters The King’s School has unique skills and potential which we believe we have the creativity and ability to unlock.
We were graded Outstanding by OfSTED in 2011, and in the latest 2014 OfSTED inspection we were again graded Outstanding but this time in every category. The report endorsed the school’s belief that its ethos has a hugely positive impact on student achievement.
We are extremely proud of our students and of the brilliant examination results they achieve year on year. However, we are also incredibly proud of the myriad of extra-curricular activities in which they are involved. This richness of opportunity is central to what we believe develops our students into well rounded young people. We are very much a community school, working very closely with our hugely supportive parents, Governors, excellent partner primary schools, local business representatives and a wide range of other agencies to provide opportunities for all.
The Kings School students – Credit Goonhilly GES Ltd
Participants questions:
1. Lara, aged 13 – You have missed Christmas and Easter with your family and friends – how have you celebrated big events in space?
2. Harry, aged 12 – We have seen videos of you playing about in microgravity on the ISS – what is your favourite thing to do when ‘weightless?’
3. Elizabeth, aged 18 – From your elevated advantage point, looking down on the Earth, has your perception of the events on our planet, such as conflicts and wars been altered? Does the change in perception give any insight that we could learn from?
4. Eleanor, aged 11 – Having spent many months looking at the Earth from afar, where is the first place you would go for a family holiday when you get home?
5. Freddie, aged 12 – Over 500 astronauts have been into space, but only 12 have set foot on the moon. Do you think that we will return people to the moon again in the future? How will your research on the ISS help us if we did?
Rehearsal at The Kings School for Tim Peake contact – Credit GES Ltd
6. Naomi, aged 13 – We have learned about your experiments on how the human body adapts to conditions in space. How will the research improve our quality of life on Earth?
7. Robert, aged 13 – Taking into account Einstein’s theory of relativity, do you think you are ageing slower because you are travelling faster then the Earth?
8. Ben, aged 11 – I often stare into the inky blackness of space and wonder.. if the universe is expanding, then what is it expanding into? Has your time in space given you any insight?
9. Robbie, aged 14 – Is the sunrise more spectacular from your perspective?
10. Emily, aged 13 – After 6 years of training to be an astronaut, I bet it’s all been worth it. The experiments you are doing are amazing, but did you ever struggle with Science at school? What would you say to anyone that finds it difficult?
11. Josh, aged 12 – How do you get your air in space? Do you bring it up in tanks, or do you make it in the space station, if so, how? Also, do you have a special ‘space mixture’ of air or is it the same as we have on earth?
12. Tristan, aged 12 – Do you and the other astronauts onboard control the space station, or is it controlled from Earth?
UK astronaut Tim Peake KG5BVI / GB1SS
13. Katie, aged 12 – Research shows that your sleeping position can affect the kind of dreams that you have. Have you noticed any difference in your sleep patterns or dreams during your time in space?
14. Chloe, aged 12 – I am reading ‘The Astronaut’s Handbook’ at the moment, which is fascinating. If you could take one thing into space to make life more comfortable, or easier, what would it be?
15. James, aged 12 – We have enjoyed listening to your music choices on ‘Space Rocks’ – what is your all-time favourite song to listen to in space?
16. Jessica, aged 12 – How do you keep the temperature constant inside the space station?
17. James, aged 12 – What would happen to a goldfish if you took it up to the ISS? Would it just float around in a bubble of water?
18. Josh, aged 12 – Do you have a special ‘space mixture’ of air or is it the same as we have on earth?
19. Freddie, aged 12 – How will your research on the ISS help us return people to the moon?
ARISS is an international educational outreach program partnering the volunteer support and leadership from AMSAT and IARU societies around the world with the ISS space agencies partners: NASA, Russian Space Agency, ESA, CNES, JAXA, and CSA.
ARISS offers an opportunity for students to experience the excitement of Amateur Radio by talking directly with crew members on-board the International Space Station. Teachers, parents and communities see, first hand, how Amateur Radio and crew members on ISS can energize youngsters’ interest in science, technology, and learning.
Students at Derby High School in Bury used amateur radio to link up with Tim Peake
An ARISS contact between Derby High School GB1DHS in Bury and Tim Peake GB1SS on the International Space Station took place on Monday, April 25, 2016 at 1202 GMT (1:02 pm BST).
The contact was receivable on 145.800 MHz FM over the British Isles and Western Europe and webcast on the ARISS Principia website.
Year Nine pupils at The Derby High School were joined by others from Holy Trinity, Radcliffe Hall, St Peter’s and Wesley Methodist primary schools for the space extravaganza.
The event involved a presentations from actor Peter Joyce, who engaged the audience as Isaac Newton, The Derby band dancers, and Ciaran Morgan [M0XTD], the Radio Society of Great Britain lead for ARISS (Amateur Radio on the International Space Station).
An expert science panel consisting of Dr Helen Mason OBE from Cambridge University, Jeremy Curtis, the Head of Education and Skills at The UK Space Agency, and Milo Noblet [2E0ILO], Youth Committee of the Radio Society of Great Britain, also answered the amazed youngsters’ questions on space.
The amateur radio contact generated plenty of media coverage which included:
Watch TV News: Bury Students Speak to Tim Peake in Space
Watch Tim Peake link up – The Derby High School
Participants Presentation:
The Derby High School is a state comprehensive school (11-16 with 855 pupils 2015-16) situated in the town of Bury. The school is co-educational and is proud to be a community school supporting the diverse population of Bury and Radcliffe. 50% of students reside in an area within the top 20% of socio-economic deprivation nationally. The proportion of students who are disadvantaged and supported through the pupil premium is significantly high when compared with most schools. The proportion of students from minority ethnic backgrounds is well above average. The percentage of students who progress to post-16 studies is high.
The school opened in 1958 and in 2003 became the first Science and Arts Specialist College in the country.
The school motto: Excellence, Tradition and Imagination embodies all that we strive to achieve.
We are committed to offering a first class academic education with excellent vocational opportunities and preparation for the world of work. Sport is a strength and all our students learn how to ‘live well’; to cook, eat healthily and be physically active. Personal, moral, cultural and social education is crucial to the life of our school. Citizenship and ethical education take centre stage in our school. We seek to equip our children and the wider community, not only to live in the future world, but to shape that future world and create a better tomorrow. We are proud to be the face of modern democratic Britain. Our values are enshrined in the 7 R’s: Respectful, Responsible, Reasonable, ready, Resourceful, Resilient and Right Impression
The enrichment and engagement opportunities on offer to pupils at The Derby would probably not be bettered anywhere. From humble beginnings in 2002, the program of events and activities has grown from a single educational visit to over 50 activities on offer year on year to all pupils regardless of ability.
The success of our program has in turn led to national recognition. In 2012 Mr Paul Kerr won an Institute of Physics Teacher Award for excellence in teaching and in recognition for the outstanding commitment to developing an extensive enrichment program. In 2013 the Science Department won the national TES Award for Educational Excellence in Science, and in 2014 was commended in the Science category at The Education Business Awards. In 2015 Mr Paul Kerr was also a finalist at The STEMNET Awards in the category of STEM Leadership.
Tim Peake KG5BVI / GB1SS preparing for his spacewalk in January
Participants will ask as many of the following questions as time allows:
1. Leah (year 7): Tim, You have become an inspiration to young people, how do you feel about this?
2. Lewis (year 7): Is it be possible to detect dark matter whilst in space?
3. Aisha (year 8): How do you get enough electricity to power everything we see on the ISS?
4. Paul (year 9): Do you think you will get to go on another space mission, and what might it be?
5. Shahaan (year 10): Can disease, as we know it on earth, exist in space?
6. Leah (year 11): What everyday task has become more complicated in space?
7. Nathan (year 5): The Sun looks yellow from Earth, does it look different from space?
8. Francesca (year 5): If you could invite two guests, past or present to join you for dinner on the ISS who would they be and why?
9. Rosie – year 5): Does your heart beat faster or slower in space?
10. Hamaad (year 5): Would you encourage your children to become astronauts?
11. Leah (year 7): Do molecules and atoms behave differently in space?
12. Lewis (year 7): Is it easier to see other planets in the Solar System from the ISS?
13. Aisha (year 8): If you could visit your younger self what would you say about your experience?
14. Paul (year 9): What is your most important experiment and how will we benefit down here on Earth?
15. Shahaan (year 10): Do movies like Gravity give a realistic picture of being in space?
16. Leah (year 11): You are completing over 200 experiments. How will they benefit us here on Earth?
17. Nathan (year 5): If you fired a bullet in space how far would it go?
18. Francesca (year 5): Why do you wear a mission patch on your space suit?
19. Rosie – year 5): Do seeds grow faster in space than on Earth?
20. Hamaad (year 5): Will being back on Earth ever be the same for you?
ARISS is an international educational outreach program partnering the volunteer support and leadership from AMSAT and IARU societies around the world with the ISS space agencies partners: NASA, Russian Space Agency, ESA, CNES, JAXA, and CSA.
ARISS offers an opportunity for students to experience the excitement of Amateur Radio by talking directly with crew members on-board the International Space Station. Teachers, parents and communities see, first hand, how Amateur Radio and crew members on ISS can energize youngsters’ interest in science, technology, and learning.
All you need to hear Tim is a 144 MHz handheld radio, such as the popular £16 BaoFeng UV-5R VHF/UHF transceiver. If used outdoors you should be able to hear Tim with just the tiny antenna supplied with the handheld. If you have a 1/4 wave whip you will get better results.
In the UK we use narrow 2.5 kHz deviation FM but the ISS transmits on 145.800 MHz with the wider 5 kHz deviation used in much of the world. Most base station and mobile radios can be switched been wide and narrow deviation FM filters and for best results you should select the wider filter. Handheld radios all seem to have a single wide filter fitted as standard.
As a result of Doppler shift the 145.800 MHz ISS signal may vary by +/- 3.5 kHz during a pass going from 145.835 to 145.7965 MHz. Many FM radios can only tune in steps of 5 kHz, with such equipment you may get best results by selecting 145.805 at start of pass, then 145.800 and finally 145.795 MHz.
Not got a VHF radio or not in the UK ? You can tune-in to Tim Peake online from anywhere in the world using the SUWS amateur radio WebSDR receiver located at Farnham near London http://websdr.suws.org.uk/
The story of the buildup, workshops and Live contact with Tim Peake on the ISS made using Amateur Radio by Norfolk Schools at the City of Norwich School on February 26, 2016.
Lucy Woolridge M6LGJ establishing communications with Tim Peake KG5BVI / GB1SS on the ISS
An International Space Station radio contact took place on Monday, April 18 1456 GMT between Timothy Peake GB1SS and participants at St Richard’s Catholic College, Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex using the call sign GB4SRC.
Star of the show and year nine pupil Lucy Woolridge M6LGJ initiated and ended the link expertly, using her recently-gained amateur radio license, and was lost for words.
“I feel relieved, it was amazing but we were very lucky to be able to speak to Tim at all,” she said.
There was some tension as it took five goes by Lucy before Tim replied saying, ‘I hear you loud and clear’.
The amateur radio contact generated plenty of media coverage which included:
St Richard’s Catholic College is a Science Specialist school tucked between the South Downs and the English Channel. We have 1000 pupils on roll between Years 7–11. We provide an inclusive education for Catholic and Christian pupils covering an extended catchment area covering approximately a 30 mile radius.
St Richard’s was awarded Teaching School status late in 2014 and we are the lead school in the Thrive Alliance, an association of primary schools, secondary schools and a sixth form college as well as lead in the Sussex Science Subject Hub. We are also a strategic partner in the Sussex Maths Hub. St Richards’ Science department enjoys a very strong relationship with the University of Sussex (particularly Astronomy & Physics); University of Greenwich (Outreach) and we sit on the STEM Focus Group hosted by the University of Brighton’s STEM Sussex.
Audience listening to the ARISS contact at St Richard’s Catholic College
We are a keen supporter of STEM events in our region, with particular success at the Annual STEM Fest event where we have won prizes at the National Science and Engineering Competition for the last four years, twice through to national competition. STEM Sussex have used St Richard’s STEM Clubs’ provision as an exemplar due to its success in engaging pupils of all abilities across all year groups. The department has also enjoyed a high quality Continuous Professional Development engagement in the STEM agenda with involvement in ‘Space as a context for teaching science’ courses and a future STEM project with the University of Reykjavik in Iceland.
We enjoy Space Camp UK, a residential trip with all things “spacy” at the National Space Centre and Duxford.
The coordinating teacher, Dr Joolz Durkin, is the curriculum enhancement for science and is also an enthusiastic “Space Ambassador” and has worked with the Tim Peake Primary Project at Parklands Infants Eastbourne, Dallington School in Dallington, Pebsham Primary in Bexhill on Sea and Vinehall School in Heathfield as part of this link up.
Participants will ask as many of the following questions as time allows:
UK astronaut Tim Peake KG5BVI GB1SS in the ISS Jan 2016
1. (Lucy – Year 9) – You have mentioned in an earlier call that you have been sleeping very well on the Space Station. Is that still the case or have you found any cumulative effects after four months in space ?
2. (Aeden – Year 10) – As the ISS hosts astronauts from many different nationalities, what public holidays do the crew observe, if any, and how are they chosen?
3. (Anna – Year 11) – St Richards and two of our Primary Project Partner school, Dallington and Vinehall are taking part in the RHS ‘Rocket Science’ Experiment from the Principia Mission. How will the results from this experiment influence future planning for growing similar samples in another planet’s gravity?
4. (Andrew – Year 11) – We have seen the preparation with Heston Blumental of an exciting astronaut menu for the mission – does the food taste the same in space as it did on Earth?
5. (Shona – Year 11) – In a sealed spacecraft like the International Space Station, how is the air quality monitored and controlled?
6. (Luigi – Year 11) – We see the wonderful time lapse images of the ISS orbiting the Earth, but what I like looking at are the stars and making out the constellations. Do you do any astronomical research on the ISS?
7. (Moira – Year 11) – During the mission you yourself are part of experiments using the British designed MMS Cerebral and Cochlear Fluid Pressure Analyser to collect data for the NASA Fluid Shifts investigation. Which aspect of the self-experimentation has been the most interesting or challenging?
8. (Chris – Year 9) – Are there any experiments that rely on naked flames on the ISS? If so, how are they carried out and what low gravity precautions are employed?
9. (Ancy – Year 11) – If I oversleep my parents will wake me up – have you overslept on the ISS and had to be woken up by someone?”
10. (Will – Year 10) – The distance between Bexhill and Brighton is 31 miles with a journey time by car of nearly 50 minutes. How much time would it take for the ISS to do this trip?
11. (Vita – Year 11) – What are the greatest challenges of living in space and in retaining a permanent crew on board the ISS?
12. (Max – Year 10) – You have tweeted some amazing and beautiful images of the aurora. Have you been able to monitor solar flare or CME activity and correlate to the brightness of the aurora?
13. (Ben – Year 11) – How does it feel to be able to see all humanity?
14. (Lucy – Year 9) – Is the ISS affected by the Earth’s magnetic field?
15. (Aeden – Year 10) – On Sunday you will be joining thousands of others in taking part in the London Marathon. What special routines have you trained for this in space?
16. (Anna – Year 11)) – In the London marathon, runners will have natural cooling as the run – how do you regulate your body temperature in a sealed environment such as the IS?.
17. (Andrew – Year 11) – We understand you are taking part in the Skin B research on the ISS? Can you share any interesting findings?
18. (Shona – Year 11) – You have tweeted that having a bacon sandwich and cup of tea on arrival at the ISS was the best welcome possible. What food are you looking forward to on landing?
19. (Luigi – Year 11) – What is special about space suits that help you breathe in space when on an EVA?
20. (Moira – Year 11) – How smooth was the launch in December?
ARISS is an international educational outreach program partnering the volunteer support and leadership from AMSAT and IARU societies around the world with the ISS space agencies partners: NASA, Russian Space Agency, ESA, CNES, JAXA, and CSA.
ARISS offers an opportunity for students to experience the excitement of Amateur Radio by talking directly with crew members on-board the International Space Station. Teachers, parents and communities see, first hand, how Amateur Radio and crew members on ISS can energize youngsters’ interest in science, technology, and learning.
This contact will be webcast on the ARISS Principia website. Further details on the start time of the webcast will be made available in the coming days so be sure to check for further information at https://principia.ariss.org/
AMSAT-UK 
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