Category: News Blog

Call for Proposals
New Proposal Window is October 1^st, 2021 to November 24^th, 2021

Sept. 11, 2021 — 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, 2022 and December 31, 2022. 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 November 24^th, 2021.  Proposal information and more details such as expectations, proposal guidelines and the proposal form can be found at https://ariss-usa.org/hosting-an-ariss-contact-in-the-usa/. An ARISS Introductory Webinar session will be held on October 7^th, 2021 at 8 PM ET.  The Eventbrite link to sign up is: https://ariss-proposal-webinar-fall-2021.eventbrite.com

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 Russia, Canada, Japan and Europe 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 ariss.us.education@gmail.com .

September 3, 2021— Kathryn Lueders, Associate Administrator for Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate at NASA has posted a statement recognizing Amateur Radio On The International Space Station (ARISS) for its accomplishments in promoting STEM initiatives through amateur radio.

NASA’s Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) networks enable #NASA to inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers, and explorers – even from 350 kilometers above Earth.

In addition to connecting the science community on Earth with the groundbreaking research studies and experiments aboard the International Space Station, SCaN enables the space station to act as a unique platform for global STEM outreach and education efforts.

For over 20 years, the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) program, a non-profit supported by SCaN, has connected classrooms on Earth with astronauts aboard the space station, allowing students to engage directly with astronauts in real-time. Using ham radio equipment installed on the space station and a ham radio station on the ground, students are able to establish a direct radio connection with the space station and ask the crew questions about living in space and what it takes to become an astronaut.

In preparation for their ARISS contact, the students explore a variety of #STEM studies, including space exploration, radio communication, and wireless technologies. With tens of thousands of student participants each year, the ARISS program plays an important role in inspiring the Artemis Generation and encouraging students to pursue STEM careers.

Learn more about the ARISS program and how you can bring space into your classroom here: www.ariss.org

June 7, 2021—Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has decided to keep its ARISS InterOperable Radio System (IORS) in crossband repeater mode until after ARRL Field Day ends. The IORS ham station is located in the Columbus Module of the International Space Station. 
 
ARRL Hq Contest Program Manager Paul Bourque, N1SFE, has confirmed that successful radio contacts made through the ARISS IORS, in crossband repeater mode, will count for an ARRL Field Day QSO point, but also for Field Day bonus points! Another fun opportunity for points. Don’t forget the rule limiting stations to 1 QSO per any single channel FM satellite. On-orbit astronauts always have very busy schedules, but if a voice contact were to be made with them, it would count for QSO credit but not for satellite bonus points. Only an ARISS crossband repeater QSO qualifies for the bonus. Crossband repeater contacts are also valid for AMSAT Field Day for satellite operations, held concurrently with the ARRL event.  
 
Frequencies for ARISS crossband repeater operation are as follows: 145.990 MHz up, 67 Hz tone and 437.800 MHz down. If you haven’t used the ISS repeater yet, be sure to practice with it before Field Day (June 26-27, 2021). These contacts can be tricky, but hams can practice right now…can you do it?
 
ARISS had planned a mode switch to APRS packet during the second week of June. Now, ARISS is targeting the switch by the astronauts to packet after the first ARISS school contact following ARRL Field Day. In more news for ARISS supporters: the astronauts will power down the ARISS radio station during USA spacewalks on June 16 and June 20, 2021.

April 29, 2021 – Amateur Radio on the International Space Station, Inc. (ARISS-USA) is seeking volunteers to support our mission: 

To provide and operate Amateur Radio systems on the International Space Station (ISS) and elsewhere to inspire, educate, and engage youth and communities in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) and to support ISS backup communications.  ARISS-USA, is a 501(c)(3) charitable, educational and scientific non-profit that was recently incorporated in the state of Maryland in the USA. 

We are seeking volunteers with a can-do, collaborative attitude who can work effectively as part of a team to support a variety of functions and roles.  We have volunteer openings in several senior leadership roles, including:

• • • • Associate Director
      • Treasurer
      • Secretary
      • Director of Business Development
      • Director of Volunteer Resources
      • Director of Public Engagement
      • Director of Engineering

We also have openings for volunteers who would support functions within the above teams as well as openings within the ARISS-USA Operations, Engineering and Education teams. 

Descriptions of each of these roles are given in Article 8.6 of the ARISS-USA bylaws that can be referenced at:
https://ariss-usa.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/ARISS-USA-Bylaws-Web-Site.pdf

Candidates accepted into senior leadership positions will be required to first serve in a six-month probationary period.  All candidates for senior leadership positions must be U.S. citizens. 

If you are interested in making a difference as an ARISS-USA team member, please send your resume or CV to candidates@ariss-usa.org.  Include a cover letter that explains what position you are interested in supporting.

We thank everyone for your interest and support to ARISS!

Ad Astra!  (To the Stars!)

Frank H. Bauer, KA3HDO
ARISS-USA Executive Director

ARISS-USA is an Equal Opportunity Organization and will not discriminate on the basis of gender identity, age, race, color, national origin, religion, physical handicap, disability or any other legally protected status

ARISS-USA, the US-based organization connecting students with astronauts in space

Towson, Maryland
April 7, 2021

ARISS-USA, a Maryland not-for-profit corporation, is now recognized by the United States Internal Revenue Service as a Section 501(c)(3) charitable, scientific, and educational organization. ARISS-USA is the US segment of the ARISS (Amateur Radio on the International Space Station) international working group. With this IRS determination, donations to ARISS-USA become tax-deductible in the US, retroactive to the ARISS-USA incorporation on May 21, 2020.  This change in status allows ARISS-USA to solicit donations and grants.

As a new entity, ARISS-USA will continue to promote student involvement with the astronauts on the International Space Station via amateur radio.  Working with educational organizations, ARISS provides exciting opportunities to inspire, engage and educate our next generation of space explorers through STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) activities and content. ARISS-USA Executive Director, Frank Bauer, commented, “The educational scope and reach of what ARISS accomplishes has grown significantly since our beginnings in 1996. We are actively working to extend student’s reach even further.  This, through the pursuit of potential student opportunities on human spaceflight missions beyond low Earth orbit, as part of our Amateur Radio Exploration (AREx) Program.  First AREx destination: the Moon!”

ARISS-USA continues its collaborative work with ARISS International and US sponsors, partners, and interest groups. The ARISS-USA TEAM remains deeply indebted to its partners ARRL and AMSAT, who enabled the birth of ARISS, and to its steadfast sponsors, NASA Space Communication and Navigation (SCaN) and the ISS National Lab (INL).

Gifts from those wishing to support ARISS-USA goals are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law and can be made by going to the ARISS website: www.ariss.org  The ARISS-USA team thanks its sustaining donors for their continuing support!

March 14, 2021—The ARISS Columbus Radio is back on-the-air!  This, after it was rendered non-operational following a January 27 EVA (spacewalk) which was conducted to install a cable for the Bartolomeo commercial platform.  During the January 27 spacewalk, the Bartolomeo HMU-601 cable, described in the March 10 ARISS Press conference (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hm4h4rBE9k&t=2214s), was installed in series with the ARISS antenna cable (HMU-895). 

As part of a spacewalk conducted yesterday, March 13, Astronaut Michael Hopkins successfully completed the installation of three PAPOS connectors for the new Bartolomeo platform on the Columbus Module. After this task, Hopkins started the ARISS task.  He moved to the opposite side of Columbus, where he removed the HMU-601 cable from the APCU J02 connector and reinstalled the ARISS antenna cable (HMU-895) connector back into the APCU J02 connector.  This returned the ARISS system back to its pre-January 27 configuration. 

At around 1200 UTC today, the astronauts turned on the ARISS radio system in Columbus.  It was placed in PM3, or Packet Mode.  PM3 employs a downlink frequency of 145.825 MHz.  Shortly after radio startup, APRS signals were heard in California, Utah, and Idaho as the ISS passed along the USA West Coast.  ARISS Team member, Christy Hunter, KB6LTY, confirmed she digipeated through the ARISS radio system, NA1SS, during this pass.  With confirmation from additional stations in South America and the Middle East, the ARISS team has declared the radio system again operational.

On behalf of the ARISS International Team, our heartfelt thanks to all that helped ARISS work through the cable anomaly investigation, troubleshooting and ultimate repair.  Special shout-outs go to the ISS crew, the operations and engineering teams at NASA, ESA and Airbus, and ARISS-Russia leader Sergey Samburov, RV3DR, whose quick actions allowed ARISS to maintain our school contact operations via the ARISS Service Module radio system. Our deepest appreciation also goes out to the ARISS International hardware and operations teams that worked so diligently to analyze, troubleshoot, develop operations procedures, move school contact operations, and inform the team and the public.
   
The ARISS team would also like to congratulate the ESA/Airbus Bartolomeo team!  With the successful installation of 3 of the PAPOS connectors, as part of yesterday’s spacewalk, Bartolomeo is now operational! 

Yesterday was a great day for all!
 
Ad Astra!

Frank Bauer, KA3HDO
ARISS International Chair
Executive Director, ARISS-USA

March 9, 2021—The ARISS team will conduct a 45-minute press conference for media this Wednesday March 10 at 1900 UTC (1400 Eastern Standard Time). This press conference will focus on the ARISS Radio system mounted in the Columbus module.

As a reminder, the ARISS team has been working very closely with NASA and ESA to identify potential causes of an ARISS radio anomaly first observed after the EVA (spacewalk) conducted on January 27.  No transmissions or receptions have been heard from this radio since the EVA.  During the spacewalk, cabling was installed to support the commissioning of the Bartolomeo attached payload capability mounted on Columbus.  Part of this effort rerouted the ARISS antenna cable through one of the Bartolomeo cables.

The press conference will provide insight into some of the cable troubleshooting that has occurred.  It will also discuss the EVA (spacewalk) planned for Saturday March 13 where astronauts Michael Hopkins and Victor Glover will complete the connection of payload cables on the new Bartolomeo platform. While at the Bartolomeo platform, the astronauts plan to reroute the ARISS cabling back to its original configuration prior to the January 27 EVA.

Interested media can attend the upcoming press conference using the following GoTo meeting credentials:

ARISS Press Conference: Columbus Module Hardware Status
Wed, Mar 10, 2021 1900-1945 UTC/2:00 PM – 2:45 PM (EST)

Please join from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/229563437

You can also dial in using your phone.
United States: +1 (646) 749-3129

Access Code: 229-563-437

More phone numbers:
Australia: +61 2 8355 1050 , Austria: +43 7 2081 5427 , Belgium: +32 27 00 6378
Brazil: +55 21 3500-3941 , Bulgaria: +359 2 906 0605 ,Canada: +1 (647) 497-9391
Chile: +56 2 3214 9680 , Colombia: +57 1 600 9953 , Czech Republic: +420 2 55 71 95 02
Denmark: +45 32 72 03 82 , Finland: +358 923 17 0568 , France: +33 170 950 594
Germany: +49 721 9881 4161 , Greece: +30 21 0 300 2583 , Hungary: +36 1 933 3699
Ireland: +353 15 360 728 , Israel: +972 3 376 3070 , Italy: +39 0 230 57 81 42
Luxembourg: +352 34 2080 9219 , Malaysia: +60 3 7724 4059 , Mexico: +52 55 3687 7278
Netherlands: +31 207 941 377 , New Zealand: +64 9 280 6302 , Norway: +47 21 93 37 51
Panama: +507 308 4334 , Peru: +51 1 642 9424 , Romania: +40 31 780 1158
South Africa: +27 11 259 4924 , Spain: +34 932 75 2004 , Sweden: +46 853 527 836
Switzerland: +41 225 4599 78 , Turkey: +90 212 900 4807 , United Kingdom: +44 330 221 0088

Call for Proposals

New Proposal Window is February 15^th, 2021 to March 31^st, 2021

February 2, 2021 — 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, 2022 and June 30, 2022. 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 March 31^st, 2021.  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 February 25^th, 2021 at 8 PM ET.  The Eventbrite link to sign up is: https://ariss-proposal-webinar-spring-2021.eventbrite.com

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 Russia, Canada, Japan and Europe 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 ariss.us.education@gmail.com .

January 28, 2021 – I sent this e-mail to our ARISS team today. I felt it is important that you see this too. ARISS will get through this issue. And, as you can see, we have some work arounds to keep our school contacts moving forward.

For those that do not know radio shortcuts—73 is short for “best regards.” It is a term amateur radio operators traditionally use at the end of our radio conversations.

ARISS thanks each of you for your tremendous interest and support to our program.

Frank Bauer
*********************

All,

Today was a tough one for ARISS. Let me explain.

As you all know, an EVA (spacewalk) was conducted yesterday to install cabling on the exterior of Columbus to support the commissioning of the Bartolomeo attached payload capability mounted on the Columbus module. On January 26, prior to the EVA, our Columbus next generation radio system was shut off and the ISS-internal coaxial cable to the antenna was disconnected from the ARISS radio as a safety precaution for the EVA. During the EVA, our current external antenna coaxial cable, installed in 2009, was replaced with another one built by ESA/Airbus with four RF connectors included, as compared to the current 2 RF connections. This change was made to allow ESA to connect ARISS and 3 additional customers to Bartolomeo, as compared to ARISS and one additional RF customer. As you might have seen yesterday, the EVA was conducted and our cable connection was swapped out. This morning, the crew restarted the radio system. Not hearing any Voice Repeater reports, we requested a switch to APRS packet. We still did not hear any downlink reports. At 1746 UTC we had a planned ARISS school contact between our certified telebridge station ON4ISS, operated by Jan in Belgium, and Mike Hopkins on ISS. No downlink signal was heard during the contact. The crew radioed down “no joy” on the contact about halfway through the contact and the Newcastle High School, Newcastle Wyoming, USA contact attempt ended.

Clearly, there is an issue. More troubleshooting will be required. It may be the new external RF cable that was installed during yesterday’s EVA. It might also be from the connect and disconnect of the interior coaxial (RF) cable. So the interior cable cannot not be totally discounted yet. The crew took pictures of the coaxial cable and connector attached to the ARISS radio inside the ISS. Because the exterior cable is a Bartolomeo cable and not an ARISS cable, we are working with ESA and NASA on a way forward. NASA has opened a Payload Anomaly Report on this issue. We have talked to both the NASA and ESA representatives. These are the same folks that worked with us on previous ARISS hardware systems as well as the ESA Bartolomeo integration initiative. We have also asked our Russian team lead, Sergey Samburov, if we can temporarily use the radio in the Service Module for school contacts until we are able to resolve this issue. As we gather more information, we will share it with you.

On behalf of the ARISS International Board, the Delegates and the entire team, I want to thank all of you for your tremendous volunteer support to ARISS. We WILL get through this and be more resilient as a result.

73, Frank

January 7, 2021 – Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) is pleased to announce the schools/host organizations selected for the July-December 2021 contact window. A total of 7 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 7 US host organizations during the July through December 2021 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.