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Do you think your students might enjoy talking to an astronaut in space? Using amateur radio, students from around the world can ask astronauts questions about life in space and other space-related topics. Students can fully engage in the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station, or ARISS, contact by helping set up an amateur radio ground station at the school and then using that station to talk directly with the onboard crew member for approximately 10 minutes, the time of an International Space Station overhead pass.

ARISS is offered through a partnership between NASA; the American Radio Relay League, or ARRL; the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation, or AMSAT; and other amateur radio organizations and space agencies in Russia, Canada, Japan and Europe.

Information about the ARISS proposal is available www.ariss.org or you may request information by sending an email to ariss@arrl.org.

Is there a cost?
No. The ARISS contact is provided at no cost to the host location. The host location can incur costs ranging from acquiring the appropriate technical equipment to transporting students. Additional things to consider are media promotions, giveaways for participants and other miscellaneous items.

Is it possible to schedule a contact for a specific event or date?
ARISS contacts are typically not a good fit for events that take place on a specific date. ARISS contacts are subject to real-time mission operations and often move around on the schedule. Host organizations must be flexible and prepared to reschedule their ARISS event.

What are my chances of getting an ARISS contact?
ARISS receives many excellent proposals and has only a few contact opportunities - so the competition is tough! But a few organizations will host an ARISS during each space station mission, and one of the contacts could be yours!

What size audience is required to host an ARISS contact?
Although there is no set rule for how large the audience must be, NASA is looking for large-scale events that impact the community.

I am located outside the United States. How can I request a contact?
If you are located outside the U.S., you will need to contact the ARISS representative for your region.
The following are the regions:
-Europe, Africa, and the Middle East: Francesco De Paolis, IK0WGF school.selection.manager@amsat.it.
-Russia: Valeriy Agabekov, N2WW/UA6HZ n2ww@arrl.net.
-Japan and all countries in Southeast Asia and Pacific Oceania: Keigo Komuro, JA1KAB iaru-r3@jarl.or.jp.
-Canada and all other countries: Maurice-André Vigneault, VE3VIG ve3vig@amsat.org.
 

Related Sites

Digital Learning Network Ham Radio Module
Register for a DLN event for your classroom.

Video

Dan Burbank Speaks With Students Using Amateur Radio
On Jan. 9, 2012, International Space Station commander Dan Burbank talked on amateur radio to students at Descartes High School in France. The astronomy club asked questions about life in space, cultural differences among astronauts, and the experiments being conducted aboard the station.

Audio

Astronaut Barbara Morgan Talks With Students on Ham Radio
Listen as Barbara Morgan talks with ARISS students in Idaho during her flight on STS-118.

Images

Belgian Students Talk With Astronaut on Space Station
Students attending Space Camp at the Euro Space Center in Belgium speak with astronaut Ed Lu, on board the International Space Station during Expedition 7 in July 2003.
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Astronaut Sunita Williams Talks With Belgian Students
In the Zvezda Service Module, Expeditions 14 and 15 flight engineer Sunita L. Williams talks with students at the International School of Brussels in Belgium.
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Astronaut Doug Wheelock Uses the Ham Radio Equipment on the Space Station
Expedition 24 flight engineer Doug Wheelock uses a ham radio system in the Zvezda Service Module on the International Space Station.
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Expedition 26 Flight Engineer Talks With Students in Italy
European Space Agency astronaut Paolo Nespoli conducts a ham radio session from the Zvezda Service Module of the International Space Station with students in Bari, Italy.
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Astronaut Sandra Magnus Talks to Ham Audience
Expedition 18 Flight Engineer Sandra Magnus participates in a ham radio communication from the space station.
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