ARISS News Release                                                                                                  No. 19-16
Dave Jordan, AA4KN
ARISS PR
aa4kn@amsat.org

 
ARISS-US Announces Substantial Gift Toward the Cost of the InterOperable Radio System
 
September 16, 2019 — The US team leaders of ARISS, Amateur Radio on the International Space Station, are extremely happy to officially announce that the philanthropic arm of Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC) has bestowed a substantial grant to help fund the InterOperable Radio System (IORS) and associated infrastructure.  The IORS will replace the aging amateur radio stations on the International Space Station.
 
ARDC wrote, “These projects help to engage students with amateur radio (and STEM in general) by providing exciting capabilities that don’t exist in the mobile phone and internet sites that today’s young folk take for granted.” 
 
ARDC went on the say, “We believe this is a very worthwhile project and that it would be in accord with our mission to offer financial assistance to ARISS.”
 
Some ARDC board members have an interest in ARISS’s future plans involving the Lunar Gateway initiative, as well.
 
ARISS International Chair Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, asserted that he was gratified, and wished to thank ARDC on behalf of the entire ARISS International team. He told ARISS-US team members, “This was fantastic news! ARISS certainly still needs donations to fully fund the IORS, but this gift will significantly help the endeavor.”
 
The ARISS International team has already begun planning Lunar Gateway options, and the ARISS hardware team is now developing augmentations to extend operation capabilities for hams and youth. These would be for ARISS SSTV and HamTV-2.
 
The next step for the InterOperable Radio System, now that it passed July’s week-long testing at the NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) for EMI/EMC, power quality, and acoustics, is final end-to-end testing at JSC in November of the units that will go to space. The lengthy flight- safety certification documentation is also in process. ARISS’s plan is for the IORS to be ready for launch by the end of the year.
 
 
About ARISS:
 
Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) is a cooperative venture of international amateur radio societies and the space agencies that support the International Space Station (ISS).  In the United States, sponsors are the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT), the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), the ISS National Lab and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The primary goal of ARISS is to promote exploration of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEAM) topics by organizing scheduled contacts via amateur radio between crew members aboard the ISS and students in classrooms or public forms. Before and during these radio contacts, students, educators, parents, and communities learn about space, space technologies, and amateur radio. For more information, see www.ariss.org.       

ARISS News Release                                                                                                  No. 19-15
Dave Jordan, AA4KN
ARISS PR
aa4kn@amsat.org
 
                      9 US Schools Moved Forward in ARISS Selection Process
 
September 10, 2019 —Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) is pleased to announce the schools/host organizations selected for the first half of 2020. A total of 9 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 9 US host organizations during the January to June 2020 time period. They are now at work completing an acceptable equipment plan that demonstrates their ability to execute the ham radio contact. Once their equipment plan is approved by the ARISS Technical Mentors, 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

 
About ARISS:
 
Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) is a cooperative venture of international amateur radio societies and the space agencies that support the International Space Station (ISS).  In the United States, sponsors are the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT), the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), the ISS National Lab and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The primary goal of ARISS is to promote exploration of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEAM) topics by organizing scheduled contacts via amateur radio between crew members aboard the ISS and students in classrooms or public forms. Before and during these radio contacts, students, educators, parents, and communities learn about space, space technologies, and amateur radio. For more information, see www.ariss.org.

ARISS News Release                                                                                                  No. 19-13
 
Dave Jordan, AA4KN
ARISS PR
aa4kn@amsat.org
July 31, 2019
 
          ARISS Next Generation Radio System Completes Critical Flight Certification Tests
 
The Interoperable Radio System (IORS), ARISS’ next generation radio system successfully completed a battery of stressful tests required as part of the final certification of the hardware for launch to and operation on the International Space Station.
 
During the week of July 8, the IORS, consisting of the JVC Kenwood D-710GA Radio and the AMSAT developed Multi-Voltage Power Supply, successfully completed a series of Electro-magnetic Interference (EMI)/Electro-Magnetic Compatibility (EMC) tests to ensure that the ARISS hardware will not interfere with the ISS systems or other payloads. Testing continued into the following week, where the IORS successfully passed power quality and acoustics testing. These tests verified that the ARISS IORS will not introduce harmful signals back into the ISS power system and is quiet enough to meet ISS acoustic requirements. ARISS Hardware Team members Lou McFadin, W5DID and Kerry Banke, N6IZW were at the NASA Johnson Space Center supporting this two week battery of tests in concert with the NASA test and certification team.
 
Kerry Banke states, “Since the IORS is being qualified to operate on 120VDC, 28VDC and Russian 28VDC as well as transmitting on VHF or UHF, a lot of test combinations were required to cover all cases. Each input voltage type was also tested at low, medium and high line voltage. Moreover, additional permutations were required to test the IORS under no load, medium load and full load at each voltage level. So it should not be surprising why the tests took two weeks to complete.”
 
Successful completion of these tests represents a key milestone in preparing the IORS for launch. ARISS can now begin final assembly of the flight safety certification in preparation for launch. ARISS is working towards launch ready status by the end of the year.   
 
 
About ARISS:
 
Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) is a cooperative venture of international amateur radio societies and the space agencies that support the International Space Station (ISS).  In the United States, sponsors are the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT), the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), the ISS National Lab and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The primary goal of ARISS is to promote exploration of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) topics by organizing scheduled contacts via amateur radio between crew members aboard the ISS and students in classrooms or public forms. Before and during these radio contacts, students, educators, parents, and communities learn about space, space technologies, and amateur radio. For more information, see www.ariss.org.

ARISS News Release                                                                                                  No. 19-12
 
Dave Jordan, AA4KN
ARISS PR
aa4kn@amsat.org
July 30, 2019

SSTV Event planned for Early August
 
ARISS plans to celebrate the life and accomplishments of astronaut, scientist and ham radio pioneer Owen Garriott with a commemorative SSTV event featuring images from Garriott’s work with ham radio during his missions in space. This event is currently scheduled to begin on August 1 at 09:40 UTC and ends at 18:15 UTC on August 4. Please make note that the content of these upcoming SSTV transmissions may change. An update is expected after Friday, July 26 as to what the image content will be for the August 1-4 dates. If this change takes place, the Owen Garriott image transmissions will be postponed until another event can be scheduled toward the end of August.
 
Transmissions will be sent at 145.800 MHz FM in the SSTV mode PD-120. Once received, images can be posted and viewed by the public at http://www.spaceflightsoftware.com/ARISS_SSTV/index.php and you can receive a special SSTV ARISS Award for posting your image. See https://ariss.pzk.org.pl/sstv/ for details. Also for simplicity, we have added a new information tab for SSTV events, under the General Contacts pulldown menu at www.ariss.org . The latest updates can also be found at the ARISS Facebook site Amateur Radio On The International Space Station (ARISS) and on Twitter @ ARISS_status.
 
 
About ARISS:
 
Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) is a cooperative venture of international amateur radio societies and the space agencies that support the International Space Station (ISS).  In the United States, sponsors are the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT), the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), the ISS National Lab and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The primary goal of ARISS is to promote exploration of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) topics by organizing scheduled contacts via amateur radio between crew members aboard the ISS and students in classrooms or public forms. Before and during these radio contacts, students, educators, parents, and communities learn about space, space technologies, and amateur radio. For more information, see www.ariss.org.

ARISS News Release                                                               No. 19-11
 
Dave Jordan, AA4KN
ARISS PR
aa4kn@amsat.org
 
 
Keith Pugh, W5IU Silent Key
May 25, 2019
 
ARISS Friends,
 
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of ARISS team member Keith Pugh, W5IU. Keith spent his life on Earth as a true gentlemen serving others, enjoying friendship and relationships, and supporting his passions…amateur radio, flying and most importantly his love of God and all the great things on this Earth.
 
Those that knew Keith considered him a Texan through and through.  But truth be told, he was born and raised in Dodge City, Kansas.  After college, he left Kansas and settled permanently in the Fort Worth, Texas area where picked up that Texas accent and welcomed us into his world.  And it is in Texas where he passed away on May 24, 2019. 
 
Active with AMSAT and Amateur Radio satellites since the 1980’s, Keith jump-started his passion for amateur radio on human spaceflight missions in 1991, when the Space Station Mir was in orbit and Soviet ham radio operators were talking to the world-wide amateur radio community.  Keith helped install a Soviet Space Exhibit in Fort Worth in 1991 and he hosted Musa Manarov U2MIR’s visit to the USA.  Ultimately, Keith joined the ARISS team in 2004, where he has provided support as one of our operations leaders, technical mentoring numerous schools and ARISS contact organizations and providing his warm friendship and guidance to all in our team.  Keith also attended several of our ARISS International meetings, including our 2008 ARISS-I meeting in Moscow and Kaluga.
 
Many of us were aware of Keith’s cancer.  But, Keith being Keith, he kept most of his pain and suffering to himself.  He remained joyful and humble until his death.  In fact, just a few days before his death--this past Tuesday, Keith signed into the ARISS International teleconference, apologizing that he came in late.  None of us knew this would be our last dialog with such a close friend and outstanding member of our team.
 
 As I stated, one of Keith’s passions was flying as a private pilot. In fact for one of his vacations he flew a Cessna aircraft around Australia. As a fellow pilot, I know that Keith must have been an avid fan of the poem “High Flight” written by John Gillespie Magee Jr. Paraphrasing this poem:
 
While we mourn the loss of our good friend, Keith Pugh, let us joyfully reflect on the fact that Keith has
Slipped the surly bonds of Earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Topped the windswept heights with easy grace
And, while with silent lifting mind, Keith has trod
The high unsurpassed sanctity of Space,
Put out his hand and touched the face of God.
 
Our thoughts and prayers are with Keith Pugh, W5IU SK as he touches the face of God.
 
73, Frank Bauer, KA3HDO
 
***************************************
Frank H. Bauer, KA3HDO
ISS Ham Radio Program Manager & PI
ARISS International Chair
AMSAT V.P. for Human Spaceflight Programs

ARISS News Release                                                               No. 19-10
Dave Jordan, AA4KN
ARISS PR
aa4kn@amsat.org
 
May 13, 2019:
 
                       Hamvention and ARISS Work Together
 
 
The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station team (ARISS) is pleased to announce that it is working together again with Hamvention this year.  Hamvention’s 2019 theme is, “Mentoring the Next Generation.”  ARISS’s mission is all about mentoring and inspiring. Tens of thousands of people have been touched by the program: students, educators, community members, and new hams--all wanting to explore STEM and Amateur Radio through ARISS.
 
Hamvention’s support to ARISS began with approval for their first-ever ARISS Forum; it is Friday at 1:15-2:15 PM in Room 3.  A group of speakers will present current and future lifelong learning activities for hams and students via ARISS SSTV, APRS, voice repeaters, radio experiments and robots. Attendees will hear about the next gen on-orbit hardware systems, updates on school activities, ARISS’s visionary initiative to fly ham radio on the human spaceflight lunar Gateway, how to maximize hams’ opportunities to make ARISS connections and listen to the ISS crew in home stations, and meet special guests. 
 
Hamvention will boost up ARISS by once again featuring a special ticket-drawing just minutes before the convention’s famous Sunday drawing for bonus prizes. One ticket will be pulled from the drum for a lucky person to win an ARISS display case with coins.  ARISS donated two ARISS Challenge Coins positioned side by side, showcased in a handsome wooden case with a brass plate. A challenge coin is the premium received by donors who give $100 or more to ARISS; the case allows the view of each of the coin’s sides.  The winning ticket will be tossed in the drum for a chance at all other prizes.  2019 Hamvention Prize Committee Chair Liz Clinc,  KE8FMJ, wrote,
 
“I will give you [ARISS] the same spot [at Sunday’s prize event] as in previous years.  As a collector of challenge coins, myself, I think this is a fabulous thing you do.” 
 
The ARISS team welcomes Hamvention-goers at the ARISS booth in Building 1.  A version will be featured of the Multi-Voltage Power Supply (MVPS) that ARISS will launch to replace the current aging ISS amateur radio station.  ARISS hopes to boost its 2019 fund-raising campaign to help with the expensive space-rated parts required to finish building the MVPS units, and some costs of continuing ARISS operations. When Hamvention visitors donate $10, they will receive a new ARISS lapel pin and a chance in a raffle to win an ARISS Challenge Coin--the winning ticket to be drawn at the booth, 10:30 AM Sunday; the winner need not be present. 
 
For those unable to travel to Xenia, readers can donate any amount right now by going to http://www.ariss.org/donate.html   And surprise­­—if you donate after May 16 on FundRazr.com, an anonymous benefactor will match your amount dollar for dollar, for which ARISS is very grateful.  The match ends July 17, 2019.  
 
ARISS thanked everyone on the Hamvention staff whose efforts are aiding ARISS in its publicity and fund-raising goals.  ARRL ARISS-US Delegate Rosalie White, K1STO, added: “We are so pleased and proud to know that Hamvention believes in the ARISS team and its goals of inspiring and mentoring STEM and Amateur Radio.”
 
About ARISS
Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) is a cooperative venture of international amateur radio societies and the space agencies that support the International Space Station (ISS).  In the United States, sponsors are the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT), the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), the ISS National Lab and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The primary goal of ARISS is to promote exploration of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) topics by organizing scheduled contacts via amateur radio between crew members aboard the ISS and students in classrooms or public forms. Before and during these radio contacts, students, educators, parents, and communities learn about space, space technologies, and amateur radio. For more information, see www.ariss.org.
 
Also join us on Facebook:  Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS)
Follow us on Twitter:  ARISS_status

ARISS News Release                                                               No. 19-08
Dave Jordan, AA4KN
ARISS PR
aa4kn@amsat.org
April 16, 2019
 
All,
It is with great sadness that the ARISS team recognizes the passing of our
great friend and colleague Astronaut Owen Garriott, W5LFL (SK).  Owen
Garriott died at his home in Huntsville, Alabama on April 15, 2019.

A passionate amateur radio operator and ionospheric physics researcher, Owen
inspired the amateur radio community to reach for the stars.  His
multi-decade vision to bring amateur radio with him as part of his journey
in space was realized in 1983 on the STS-9 Space Shuttle Columbia mission,
where hams the world over for the first time heard a fellow ham call CQ from
space.  As the first to operate ham radio in space, Owen blazed a trail that
has enabled countless people from around the world to experience what it is
like to journey into space and explore our universe. As a result, he
inspired the international amateur radio community to extend his modest ham
station on STS-9 into an international human spaceflight ham radio program
that has spanned the Space Shuttle, Mir Space Station, and International
Space Station.

A member of the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame, Owen Garriott was a pioneer and
innovator in all his endeavors…including amateur radio.  Selected as a NASA
scientist-astronaut in 1965, Garriott was the science-pilot for Skylab 3,
the second crewed Skylab mission.  Skylab was the first U.S. space station,
housing 3 different crew expeditions from May 1973-February 1974.  Owen
spent approximately 60 days on Skylab, doing solar physics research, human
physiological research and conducting 3 spacewalks to repair Skylab and
extend its research capabilities.

Owen’s next flight into space, as part of an international crew on the
STS-9 Space Shuttle Columbia mission, cemented amateur radio’s future as
part of the human spaceflight experience.  STS-9 was launched from the
Kennedy Space Center, Florida on November 28, 1983.  Onboard Columbia was an
internationally developed space laboratory, Spacelab-1, which pioneered
international spaceflight research with over 70 separate experiments---a
precursor to the research currently being accomplished on the International
Space Station (ISS).  Onboard also was a Motorola 2-meter handheld radio
with a window mounted antenna to facilitate ham radio contacts between W5LFL
and hams on the ground.  On December 1, the third day of his mission, Owen
donned his headset and made history by communicating with Lance Collister,
WA1JXN, in Frenchtown, Montana. In W5LFL’s own words, here is an excerpt of
his first contact: “W5LFL in Columbia is calling CQ and standing by. Go
ahead.  Hello WA1JXN, WA1 Juliet X‐ray November, this is W5LFL. I picked up
your signals fairly weakly. I think our attitude is not really the best as
yet, but you're our first contact from orbit. WA1 Juliet X‐ray November,
how do you read? Over.”

Owen’s ham contacts on STS-9 were trailblazing for many reasons. They
represented the first ham radio contact from a human in space to someone on
Earth.  They allowed the general public to directly listen and communicate
with an on-orbit crew where, prior to this, only NASA mission control
personnel or heads of State (U.S. Presidents, etc.) could talk to astronauts
from space. And the mission also demonstrated that a group of volunteers
could successfully build a ham radio station for a human spaceflight vehicle
and get it formally approved by a space agency.

Owen spent decades attempting to carry out ham radio on one of his missions,
employing gentle assertiveness and steadfast patience to realize his dream.
In 1965, when NASA was considering Owen for a planned lunar flight on Apollo
18, 19 or 20, Project MOONRAY was proposed by the Project OSCAR team.
Project MOONRAY would support amateur radio operations from the surface of
the moon.  This initiative was scuttled when Apollo lunar expeditions ended
at Apollo-17.  Prior to his flight on Skylab, AMSAT submitted a proposal to
NASA called SKYLARC (Skylab Amateur Radio Communications).  Unfortunately,
this proposal was turned down.  But, as they say, the 3rd time was a charm
on STS-9 and ham radio is now a human spaceflight reality.  Also, it should
be noted that an ARISS/AMSAT international team is pursuing Owen’s plans to
fly ham radio to the moon via several lunar proposal initiatives, including
the Lunar Gateway.

Owen inspired legions of amateur radio operators, world-wide, to support
human spaceflight amateur radio endeavors and for countless individuals to
become ham radio operators.  This includes his son, Richard, W5KWQ, who
together with Owen became the first multi-generational American ham radio
operators to communicate from space.

On behalf of the ARISS International Team, we would like to extend our
sincere condolences to the Garriott family, including Owen’s son Richard,
W5KWQ and Owen’s wife Eve.  As Owen has inspired the amateur radio
community to reach for the stars may we wish Owen Garriott Godspeed and a
wonderful journey amongst the stars.

Ad Astra!
73,  Frank Bauer, KA3HDO

ARISS International Chair

AMSAT V.P. for Human Spaceflight Programs

ARISS News Release                                                               No. 19-07
 
Dave Jordan, AA4KN
ARISS PR
aa4kn@amsat.org
 
                       Bidding is Now Underway – Out of This World ARISS Auction!
April 8, 2019  The bidding has begun!  The Out of This World ARISS Auction is speeding along!  It will run until April 14th at 22:00 UTC. 
Bidders are moving fast hoping to garner a special astronaut signed brand new JVC Kenwood TS-890S—Bidding is done by going to www.ariss.org and pressing the Auction Website button or by visiting http://www.ebay.com/itm/323770952171.  Similar for bidding on a special astronaut signed 6-volume boxed set 2019 ARRL Handbook, but a different URL is used—see http://www.ebay.com/itm/323770952890.

Thanks to JVC Kenwood and ARRL, proceeds from the on-line auction will benefit ARISS in its quest to launch a new custom-built higher-power radio system in late 2019 with its voice repeater and improved packet APRS and SSTV capability that thousands of hams can enjoy. The new system will replace the aging, problematic units currently on the ISS.  ARISS also needs funding to keep introducing ham radio to thousands of students, teachers, parents, and whole communities—and inspiring students about STEM and radio. 

Kenwood has been a super supporter of ARISS for years, and it was the company’s idea for this special radio to be an exclusive for one ham to own. The limited edition boxed set 2019 ARRL Handbook sold out fast last fall but ARRL saved back one set for ARISS's fund-raiser.  AMSAT-NA, another ARISS sponsor, provided parts of the auction infrastructure.  ARISS is thankful for all of its great sponsors and supporters! 

If auctions aren't your thing, please contribute a donation to ARISS—look for the Donate button near the top right corner of www.ariss.org page or email k1sto@arrl.org.  Thank you!   

About ARISS
Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) is a cooperative venture of international amateur radio societies and the space agencies that support the International Space Station (ISS).  In the United States, sponsors are the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT), the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), the Center for the Advancement of Science in space (CASIS) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The primary goal of ARISS is to promote exploration of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) topics by organizing scheduled contacts via amateur radio between crew members aboard the ISS and students in classrooms or public forms. Before and during these radio contacts, students, educators, parents, and communities learn about space, space technologies, and amateur radio. For more information, see www.ariss.org. Also join us on Facebook:  Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) Follow us on Twitter: ARISS_status

ARISS News Release                                                               No. 19-06
 
Dave Jordan, AA4KN
ARISS PR
aa4kn@amsat.org

Russian SSTV Transmission Event Planned
 
April 6, 2019:
 
ARISS Russia is planning Slow Scan Television (SSTV) image transmissions from the International Space Station. The transmissions begin Thursday, April 11, 2019 around 18:00 UTC and run continuously until approximately 18:00 UTC on Sunday, April 14, 2019. This event uses a computer in the ISS Russian Segment, which stores images that are then transmitted to Earth using the ARISS amateur radio station located in the Service Module which employs the Kenwood TM D710E transceiver. Once these images are received by ham radio operators and other radio enthusiasts on Earth, many participants will post them for viewing at http://www.spaceflightsoftware.com/ARISS_SSTV/index.php . In addition, you can receive a special SSTV ARISS Award for posting your image. Once the event begins, see details at https://ariss.pzk.org.pl/sstv/ . The transmissions will be broadcast at 145.800 MHz using the PD-120 SSTV mode.

Please note that the event is dependent on other activities, schedules and crew responsibilities on the ISS and are subject to change at any time.

Please check for news and the most current information on the AMSAT.org and ARISS.org websites, the AMSAT-BB@amsat.org, the ARISS facebook at Amateur Radio On The International Space Station (ARISS) and ARISS twitter @ARISS_status.
 
 
About ARISS
Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) is a cooperative venture of international amateur radio societies and the space agencies that support the International Space Station (ISS).  In the United States, sponsors are the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT), the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), the Center for the Advancement of Science in space (CASIS) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The primary goal of ARISS is to promote exploration of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) topics by organizing scheduled contacts via amateur radio between crew members aboard the ISS and students in classrooms or public forms. Before and during these radio contacts, students, educators, parents, and communities learn about space, space technologies, and amateur radio. For more information, see www.ariss.org.
 
Also join us on Facebook:  Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS)
Follow us on Twitter:  ARISS_status

ARISS News Release                                                   No. 19-05                               
 
Dave Jordan, AA4KN
ARISS PR
aa4kn@amsat.org
 
      International Space Station Astronauts are Calling CQ Students
      ARISS-US program’s education proposal window is open April 1 - May 15, 2019
 
March 24, 2019:  The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) program is seeking proposals beginning April 1, 2019, from US schools, museums, science centers and community youth organizations (working individually or together) to host radio contacts with an orbiting crew member aboard the International Space Station (ISS) between January 1, 2020 and June 30, 2020.
 
Each year, ARISS provides tens of thousands of students with learning opportunities about space technologies, communications, and much more through the exploration of Amateur Radio and space. The ARISS program connects students to astronauts on the ISS through a partnership between NASA, the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation, the American Radio Relay League, other Amateur Radio global organizations and the worldwide space agencies. The program’s goal is to inspire students to pursue interests and careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and in Amateur Radio.
 
Educators report regularly that student participation in the ARISS program stimulates interest in STEM subjects and STEM careers. One educator wrote, “Many of the middle school students who took part in and attended the ARISS contact have selected science courses in high school as a result of that contact.”  Educators are setting up ham radio clubs in schools and learning centers because of students’ interest.

ARISS is looking for organizations that will draw large numbers of participants and integrate the contact into a well-developed, exciting education plan. Students can learn about satellite communications, wireless technology, science research conducted on the ISS, radio science, and other STEM subjects. Students learn to use Amateur Radio to talk directly to an astronaut and ask their STEM-related questions. ARISS will help educational organizations locate Amateur Radio groups who can assist with equipment for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for students.

The proposal window opens April 1, 2019 and the proposal deadline is May 15, 2019. For proposal guidelines and forms and more details, go to: http://ariss-proposal-webinar-spring-2019.eventbrite.com
Proposal webinars for guidance and getting questions answered will be offered April 11, 2019 at 7 pm Eastern Time and April 16, 2019 at 9 pm Eastern Time. Advance registration is necessary. To sign up, go to https://ariss-proposal-webinar-spring-2019.eventbrite.com
 

About ARISS
Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) is a cooperative venture of international amateur radio societies and the space agencies that support the International Space Station (ISS).  In the United States, sponsors are the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT), the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), the Center for the Advancement of Science in space (CASIS) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The primary goal of ARISS is to promote exploration of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) topics by organizing scheduled contacts via amateur radio between crew members aboard the ISS and students in classrooms or public forms. Before and during these radio contacts, students, educators, parents, and communities learn about space, space technologies, and amateur radio. For more information, see www.ariss.org.
 
Also join us on Facebook:  Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS)
Follow us on Twitter:  ARISS_status