ARISS 40th Anniversary Sponsorship Opportunities
In 1983, Owen Garriott transformed astronaut on-orbit communications by talking directly with the public using an amateur radio system flown on-board the STS-9 Space Shuttle Columbia Mission. Prior to this, only space agency mission controllers or heads of state could communicate directly with astronauts in space. Owen Garriott became the first of many astronauts to communicate from the Space Shuttle, Mir and the International Space Station (ISS) using amateur radio to inspire, engage and educate youth and the public. To date, well over a million youth and the public have participated in astronaut radio contact engagements conducted by the Shuttle/Space Amateur Radio EXperiment (SAREX), Mir Radio EXperiment (Mirex) and Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) teams. Each of these events, along with pre-contact education initiatives, have encouraged youth around the world to study and pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM).
Amateur radio’s positive impact to human spaceflight extends beyond just those on the ground, but also to people and satellites in space. The amateur radio systems on the Shuttle, Mir and ISS also have served as beacons of joy and a huge psychological boost for the on-board astronauts, enabling them, for the first time, to talk to their family and friends as well as to random folks around the world. Moreover, the safety certification efforts required to hand-deploy an Orlon Spacesuit from the ISS (the 2006 ARISS SuitSat initiative) resulted in a cottage industry of CubeSat deployments from ISS. And, at key junctures, amateur radio provided vital communications with human spaceflight vehicles, particularly on Mir—“when all else fails.”
As we approach the threshold of the 40th anniversary of Human Spaceflight amateur radio, we would like to gather the volunteer teams, astronauts and space agency officials and industry at the NASA Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida to recognize and celebrate the past forty years of this inspiring, educational, and free service and to share the excitement of what’s to come.
The conference entitled “The Positive Impact of Amateur Radio on Human Spaceflight: 40th Anniversary Conference” will be held February 23-24, 2024 at the Center for Space Education: Astronauts Memorial Foundation, located adjacent to the KSC Visitors Center. Tours of KSC landmarks and Visitors Center will occur on February 22. The conference culminates with a Gala Dinner on the evening of February 24.
The Conference will feature:
Sponsors will have an excellent opportunity to engage with the amateur radio community that made these programs happen including technical professionals and ham enthusiasts from across the US and the world as well as those that benefited from these programs, including educators, students and astronauts. Demonstrate your commitment to STEM in space as a financial sponsor of this unique event at one of the levels shown below. Contact us at Astro-hams-40yrs@ariss-usa.org about these and other sponsorship opportunities. We look forward to seeing you in February!
Amateur radio’s positive impact to human spaceflight extends beyond just those on the ground, but also to people and satellites in space. The amateur radio systems on the Shuttle, Mir and ISS also have served as beacons of joy and a huge psychological boost for the on-board astronauts, enabling them, for the first time, to talk to their family and friends as well as to random folks around the world. Moreover, the safety certification efforts required to hand-deploy an Orlon Spacesuit from the ISS (the 2006 ARISS SuitSat initiative) resulted in a cottage industry of CubeSat deployments from ISS. And, at key junctures, amateur radio provided vital communications with human spaceflight vehicles, particularly on Mir—“when all else fails.”
As we approach the threshold of the 40th anniversary of Human Spaceflight amateur radio, we would like to gather the volunteer teams, astronauts and space agency officials and industry at the NASA Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida to recognize and celebrate the past forty years of this inspiring, educational, and free service and to share the excitement of what’s to come.
The conference entitled “The Positive Impact of Amateur Radio on Human Spaceflight: 40th Anniversary Conference” will be held February 23-24, 2024 at the Center for Space Education: Astronauts Memorial Foundation, located adjacent to the KSC Visitors Center. Tours of KSC landmarks and Visitors Center will occur on February 22. The conference culminates with a Gala Dinner on the evening of February 24.
The Conference will feature:
- VIP Keynote Speakers and Special Panel Sessions
- Astronaut experiences on Shuttle, Mir, and ISS
- Garriott’s STS-9 flight: Getting to “Yes” and transforming astronaut communications
- First of its kind initiatives: SuitSat and ISS Satellite Deployments, Friends and Family connections, up & downlinking pictures (SSTV), Shuttle Video uplinks and more
- Student alumni now in STEM careers
- Educator alumni reflections
- Dinner Gala (February 24)
- Exhibit Hall
Sponsors will have an excellent opportunity to engage with the amateur radio community that made these programs happen including technical professionals and ham enthusiasts from across the US and the world as well as those that benefited from these programs, including educators, students and astronauts. Demonstrate your commitment to STEM in space as a financial sponsor of this unique event at one of the levels shown below. Contact us at Astro-hams-40yrs@ariss-usa.org about these and other sponsorship opportunities. We look forward to seeing you in February!
40th Anniversary Conference Financial Sponsorships
ARISS-USA is a tax-exempt 501(c) 3 nonprofit, EIN 85-1185748.
909 Metfield Rd, Towson, MD 21286
909 Metfield Rd, Towson, MD 21286
