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Message to US Educators Amateur Radio on the International Space Station Contact Opportunity

4/10/2025

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ARISS News Release No. 25-17


Message to US Educators Amateur Radio on the International Space Station


Contact Opportunity

Call for Proposals

New Proposal Window is April 7, 2025 – May 23, 2025


April 10, 2025 --- The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) Program is seeking formal and informal education institutions and organizations, individually or working together, to host an Amateur Radio contact with a crew member on board the ISS. ARISS anticipates that the contact would be held between January 1, 2026 and June 30, 2026. Crew scheduling and ISS orbits will determine the exact contact dates. To maximize these radio contact opportunities, ARISS is looking for organizations that will draw large numbers of participants and integrate the contact into a well-developed education plan.




The deadline to submit a proposal is May 23, 2025. Proposal information and more details such as expectations, proposal guidelines and the proposal form can be found at www.ariss.org. An ARISS Introductory Webinar session will be held on April 10th at 8pm ET. The Zoom link to sign up is: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/1D7POUr_SDac-GyN1ZBXRA




The Opportunity
Crew members aboard the International Space Station will participate in scheduled Amateur Radio contacts. These radio contacts are approximately 10 minutes in length and allow students to interact with the astronauts through a question-and-answer session.


An ARISS contact is a voice-only communication opportunity via Amateur Radio between astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the space station and classrooms and communities. ARISS contacts afford education audiences the opportunity to learn firsthand from astronauts what it is
like to live and work in space and to learn about space research conducted on the ISS. Students also will have an opportunity to learn about satellite communication, wireless technology, and radio science. Because of the nature of human spaceflight and the complexity of scheduling activities aboard the ISS, organizations must demonstrate flexibility to accommodate changes in dates and times of the radio contact.


Amateur Radio organizations around the world with the support of NASA and space agencies in Canada, Japan, Europe and Russia present educational organizations with this opportunity. The ham radio organizations’ volunteer efforts provide the equipment and operational support to enable communication between crew on the ISS and students around the world using Amateur Radio.
Please direct any questions to [email protected] .

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Fram2Ham SSTV Simulation on ISS

2/1/2025

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ARISS News Release                                                                                           No. 25-07

Fram2Ham SSTV Simulation on ISS


February 1, 2025—The ARISS international team has devised a proficiency training SSTV (Slow Scan Television) exercise to prepare all SSTV image receivers for what to expect on the upcoming Fram2 mission.
 
Fram2 Mission and Fram2Ham Payload Overview
Fram2 is a pioneering private astronaut mission, the first to fly astronauts over the North and South poles. Fram2 will give the four on-board astronauts unprecedented first views of the polar regions from space. While astronauts on the ISS can see a large portion of the Earth, it is not possible to see these upper regions of Earth from the ISS. Fram2 is planned to be launched no earlier than March 1, 2025 and is planning a 3 day mission with an optional 2 day extension.
The amateur radio experimental payload on Fram2, called Fram2Ham, is also pioneering in nature.  It represents the first use of human spaceflight amateur (ham) radio in polar orbit and the first amateur radio transmissions from a SpaceX Dragon capsule. Fram2Ham operations are being performed by private astronaut Rabea Rogge, amateur radio callsigns LB9NJ (Norway) and KD3AID (USA).
 
Fram2Ham will transmit Slow Scan Television (SSTV) picture images from space to radio receivers on the ground as part of a high school and university student competition. These SSTV images can also be received by radio enthusiasts (hams, educators, and youth) worldwide and posted to the ARISS SSTV Gallery—but with a twist. Images posted will not be shown until after the Fram2 mission. These operations support the youth SSTV competition, where they are to acquire several SSTV “Puzzle Pieces,” assemble the puzzle, determine the polar location, and answer questions related to that location.
 
For more information on the Fram2 mission and for youth organizations interested in participating in the Fram2Ham SSTV competition, see: f2.com and Fram2Ham.com. ARISS also has a Fram2 tab on its website www.ariss.org.
 
 
 
Fram2Ham SSTV Simulation on ISS
The ARISS international team is planning an SSTV event to help all participating to be as proficient as possible in acquiring images from Fram2Ham and submitting them in the SSTV gallery. Like previous SSTV events, ARISS will provide special commemorative certificates for those who upload images to the gallery. Certificates will be delivered after the completion of both the Fram2 simulation event and the Fram2 mission.
 
SSTV Simulation details
ARISS radio: The Kenwood TM-D710GA transmitter will be set to low power (5 watts vs. 25 watts for previous SSTV events).  This is to simulate the challenges and unknowns of a new radio system on a Dragon capsule that might be in an unfavorable attitude in some parts of the mission flight path.
 
Operations Frequency:  437.550 MHz.  Using the SSTV (public downlink) planned for Fram2Ham, ground users can practice the more challenging 70 cm doppler correction.
 
SSTV Mode:  PD120.  The longer image capture for this simulation (120 seconds, vs. 36 seconds for Fram2Ham’s Robot 36 SSTV mode) will allow ground users to hone their signal polarization switching skills (manually and electronically) as well as precise antenna pointing.
 
Operations Duration: February 13 (World Radio Day) to February 17, 2025.  This long duration, over a weekend, will allow users multiple passes to practice, learn lessons, make corrections, and try again.
 
SSTV Gallery Site:  https://ariss-usa.org/ARISS_SSTV/
 
Summary
Fram2Ham will be an exciting, first of its kind, mission and the first ham radio operations in a space capsule. Fram2Ham signal propagation will not be fully understood until the mission starts and ground users report their results. Since variations of antenna orientation are expected during the mission, SSTV downlinked signals might be heard to the right or left of the flight path, during the ascending or descending part of the flight path or beamed to space instead of to Earth. In addition, Fram2 will be a short, 3-day, mission duration, with maybe 1-2 higher elevation passes per day and with a startup several hours after launch and shutdown several hours before reentry. These challenges require operating proficiency and the use of the best attainable radio station. Our Fram2Ham pioneers need to be prepared and proficient.  Are you up for the challenge? 
 
 

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January 14, 2025

1/14/2025

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ARISS News Release                                                                                            No. 25-03

ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Students at Federal Telecommunications Institute and Vermont School, Mexico City, Mexico

January 14, 2025—Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has received schedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact between an astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and students at the Vermont School located in Mexico City, Mexico.  ARISS conducts 60-100 of these special amateur radio contacts each year between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses aboard the ISS.
 
Vermont School teaches Junior and High School level students English, French, and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). Their goal is to offer holistic education based on UNESCO’s action frameworks, promoting life transformation, peace, sustainable development, and equal opportunities for all. Their programs also emphasize critical thinking, self-sufficiency, and adaptability.
 
This will be a telebridge Contact via Amateur Radio allowing students to ask their questions of astronaut Nick Hague, amateur radio call sign KG5TMV. The downlink frequency for this contact is 145.800 MHz and may be heard by listeners that are within the ISS-footprint that also encompasses the telebridge station.
 
The ARISS amateur radio ground station (telebridge station) for this contact is in Casale Monferrato, Italy. The amateur radio volunteer team at the ground station will use the call sign, IK1SLD to establish and maintain the ISS connection.
 
The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for January 17, 2025 at 11:00 am CST (Mexico City, MX) (17:00:18 UTC, 12:00 pm EST, 10:00 am MST, 9:00 am PST).
 
_______________________________
 
As time allows, students will ask these questions:
1. What steps did you take to become an astronaut and to travel to space?
2. What did you find challenging in your training?
3. What roles do astronauts perform on the ISS?
4. What kind of food do you typically eat in a day on the ISS?
5. What happens to the liquids in the body when there is no gravity?
6. How often do you get sick while in space, and how do you undergo medical check-ups?
7. Does time feel like it passes faster or slower when you are in space?
8. How does the silence of space compare to the quietest moments you experience on Earth?
9. How did your training help you achieve mission success on the ISS?
10. What is the most impressive thing you have ever seen in space?
11. Is it possible to observe Earth rotation on its axis or its orbit around the Sun from space?
12. What has been the greatest challenge of living and working in space, and how did you overcome it?
13. What research are you currently conducting in your lab?
14. What crops have you been able to grow on the ISS so far?
15. How are you preparing for deep space exploration missions of the future?
16. If you could go back in time five years, what would you change and why?
17. What is the next step you aim to take in your career?
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January 14, 2025

1/14/2025

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ARISS News Release                                                                                           No. 25-02

Message to US Educators
Amateur Radio on the International Space Station Contact Opportunity

Call for Proposals
New Proposal Window is January 13, 2025 – February 28, 2025


January 14, 2025 --- The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) Program is seeking formal and informal education institutions and organizations, individually or working together, to host an Amateur Radio contact with a crew member on board the ISS.  ARISS anticipates that the contact would be held between July 1, 2025 and December 31, 2025. Crew scheduling and ISS orbits will determine the exact contact dates. To maximize these radio contact opportunities, ARISS is looking for organizations that will draw large numbers of participants and integrate the contact into a well-developed education plan.
 
The deadline to submit a proposal is February 28th, 2025. Proposal information and more details such as expectations, proposal guidelines and the proposal form can be found at www.ariss.org. An ARISS Introductory Webinar session will be held on January 22nd at 8 PM ET.  The Zoom link to sign up is:  https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/kznKuyHCRyKi8_j00JBd_g
 
 
The Opportunity
Crew members aboard the International Space Station will participate in scheduled Amateur Radio contacts. These radio contacts are approximately 10 minutes in length and allow students to interact with the astronauts through a question-and-answer session.
 
An ARISS contact is a voice-only communication opportunity via Amateur Radio between astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the space station and classrooms and communities. ARISS contacts afford education audiences the opportunity to learn firsthand from astronauts what it is like to live and work in space and to learn about space research conducted on the ISS. Students also will have an opportunity to learn about satellite communication, wireless technology, and radio science. Because of the nature of human spaceflight and the complexity of scheduling activities aboard the ISS, organizations must demonstrate flexibility to accommodate changes in dates and times of the radio contact.
 
Amateur Radio organizations around the world with the support of NASA and space agencies in Canada, Japan, Europe and Russia present educational organizations with this opportunity. The ham radio organizations’ volunteer efforts provide the equipment and operational support to enable communication between crew on the ISS and students around the world using Amateur Radio. 
 
Please direct any questions to [email protected] .
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January 13, 2025

1/13/2025

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ARISS News Release                                                                                           No. 25-01

Three (3) US Schools Moved Forward in ARISS Selection Process

January 13, 2025: Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) is pleased to announce the US schools/host organizations newly selected for 2025 ARISS contacts. A total of 3 of the submitted proposals during the recent proposal window have been accepted to move forward in the processes of planning to host a scheduled amateur radio contact with crew on the ISS. The primary goal of the ARISS program is to engage young people in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM) activities and raise their awareness of space communications, radio communications, space exploration, and related areas of study and career possibilities.
 
The ARISS program anticipates that NASA will be able to provide scheduling opportunities for the 3 US host organizations during the July - December 2025 time period. They are now at work starting to implement their 4–6-month education plan which was outlined in their proposal.  These STEAM based educational activities help prepare students for their contact as well as create an on-going exploration and interest in aerospace and amateur radio topics. They are also completing an acceptable equipment plan that demonstrates their ability to execute the ham radio contact. Once their equipment plan is approved by ARISS, the final selected schools/organizations will be scheduled as their availability and flexibility match up with the scheduling opportunities offered by NASA.
 
The schools and host organizations are:
 
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About

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Amateur Radio on the International Space Station is a program that lets students experience the excitement of Amateur Radio by talking directly with crew members of the International Space Station.  Learn More

ARISS appreciates our partners and sponsors:
National Amateur Radio Societies and AMSAT Organizations in Canada, Europe, Japan, Russia and the USA.


Member of the Space Station Explorers consortium.


Funded in part by the ISS National Lab.
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Contact for Website issues

carol.jackson [at] ariss-usa.org
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