Message to US Educators

Message to US Educators

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 10^th 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 education@ariss-usa.org .

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?

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 28^th, 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 22^nd 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 education@ariss-usa.org .

 

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:

Paterson P-Tech High School	Paterson, NJ
Pinecrest Academy	Cumming, GA
Terre Haute Children’s Museum	Terre Haute, IN

December 22, 2024 — Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) announces an SSTV event to be heldnextweek. The event is currently scheduled to begin on Wednesday, December 25 at 14:55 UTC and to end Sunday, January 5 at 14:20 UTC. As always, radio enthusiasts around the world are invited to downlink the images at 145.800 MHz +/- 3 KHz Doppler shift and the transmission mode is PD 120. The images downlinked will follow the theme “Celebrating ARISS 2024” and as usual, there will be 12 images transmitted sequentially throughout the event. Those taking part in the event are encouraged to post their received images at our ARISS SSTV Gallery found at https://ariss-usa.org/ARISS_SSTV/ and also apply for an award certificate at the site.

November 6, 2024 — Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) announces an SSTV event to be held next week. The event is scheduled to begin on Monday, November 11 at 11:50 UTC and to end Monday, November 18 at 13:40 UTC. SSTV transmissions will be paused during scheduled school contacts on November 15 and 16. Downlink transmissions will be at 145.800 MHz and the mode is expected to be PD 120.

*** Scheduled SSTV outages (As of 2024-11-12) ***

Nov 13 – Off 12:35. On 13:15 UTC, Off 7:35 am ET,  On 8:15 am ET (Progress test)
Nov 14 – Off 09:05. On 09:30 UTC,  Off 4:05 am ET, On 4:30 am ET(Soyuz test)
Nov 15 – Off 17:05. On 19:00 UTC, Off 12:05 pm ET,  On 2 pm ET (ARISS School contact)
Nov 16 – Off 17:55. On 19:30 UTC, Off 12: 55 pm ET, On 2:30 pm ET (ARISS School contact)

*** There may be additional outages.  We will post that information when it is available ***

The transmissions will consist of 12 images featuring activities from the 2024 40^th Anniversary Celebrating Amateur Radio in Human Spaceflight. If you are a past participant in our SSTV events, please note that we will be using our newly updated gallery at https://ariss-usa.org/ARISS_SSTV/ . 

ARISS has a new way to request a special certificate. When participants successfully receive at least one image and submit it at the new gallery, participants will be moved to a thank-you page. There, a person can read text about data protection, and press the button that says “I agree,” and receive an email in two weeks or sooner with a certificate. If a person submits additional images, the thank-you page tells them they have already asked for a certificate.

Thanks to our user community for participating in ARISS.

Call for Proposals – New Proposal Window is October 7th, 2024 – November 17th, 2024

October 9, 2024 — 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 November 17th, 2024.  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 Wednesday, October 16 at 7 PM ET.  The Zoom link to sign up is:  https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcpfuqpqzwiGdSZl0IXCPV6XP2OznBnaOIN

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 education@ariss-usa.org .

October 8, 2024 — Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) announces an SSTV event to be heldthisweek. The event is scheduled to begin from 1415 UTC to 1600 UTC UTC on Tuesday, October 8. SSTV transmissions will be paused from 0725 UTC to 1450 UTC on Friday the 11th because of the multiple school contacts scheduled for that day. The event shutdown runs from 1410 UTC to 1420 UTC on Monday, October 14. Downlink transmissions will be at 145.800 MHz and the mode is expected to be PD 120. The transmissions will consist of 12 images developed by the students at Southwest State University (SWSU) in Kursk, Russia.

Because the SSTV system has been brought back into operation after a year, it is very important that the user community submit (via the https://www.spaceflightsoftware.com/ARISS_SSTV/ web site), their received images allowing ARISS to discern the quality of the system’s operation. 

ARISS invites you to use the  https://www.amsat.org/status/ site to report if you can, or cannot, hear the SSTV signal.  It is very important to the operations team that the community report that they are, or are not, hearing transmissions by using the “ISS SSTV” pulldown in the “Submit Report” form below the status page. 
The operations team view both the submitted images and at the reception reports on the AMSAT site to give the on-orbit crew updates on how the system is working. 

If you are new to SSTV then take a look at the https://www.spaceflightsoftware.com/ARISS_SSTV/faq.php page for some suggestions to get started.  A handheld radio and a smartphone, with SSTV decoding software, are enough to capture fun images.

The ARISS team expects to make a special certificate available via the https://ariss.pzk.org.pl/sstv/ site for those who successfully receive at least one image.  Please visit that page for more information about claiming a certificate to commemorate your reception report.

Thanks to our user community for participating in ARISS.

July 3, 2024: 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 January – June 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:

Call for Proposals – New Proposal Window is July 8th, 2024 – September 6th, 2024

July 2, 2024 — 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, 2025 and June 30, 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 September 6th, 2024.  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 July 22^nd at 7 PM ET.  The Zoom link to sign up is:  https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZErf-ihrDktG9OphYxAjfz7nbONV0YcwY55

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 education@ariss-usa.org .