Upcoming Educational Contacts – ARISS | Amateur Radio on the International Space Station

As of February 28, 2026

Escola Naval (Brazilian Navy Academy), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, direct via PY1AA (Sophie Adenot KJ5LTN)

Contact is go for: Mon 2026-03-02 12:17:25 UTC 49 deg

Watch for livestream: https://www.youtube.com/live/5mA2OppSV5w?si=EwosjCk9Ckv0qcvs

St Joseph’s Primary School, Bombala, NSW, Australia, telebridge via VK6MJ (Jack Hathaway KJ5NIV)

Contact is go for: Thu 2026-03-05 08:51:56 UTC 31 deg

ARISS News Release No. 26-09 ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Students at Escola Naval (Brazilian Navy Academy), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

February 28, 2026—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 Brazilian Navy Academy located in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. 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.

The Escola Naval origins go back to the founding of the Royal Guard of the Marine, in 1782, at the Palace Square in Lisbon, with the task of training the officers of the Portuguese Royal Navy. After the Napoleonic invasion of Portugal in 1807, the Portuguese Royal Academy of Navy was transferred to Rio de Janeiro in 1808. With the independence of Brazil (1822), the institution became known as Escola Naval.

Today, the Escola Naval is the main Academy of the Brazilian Navy, located in Rio de Janeiro, on Villegagnon Island just inside the Guanabara Bay. The Brazilian Naval Academy provides a college education for future officers for the Brazilian Navy.

This will be a direct contact via Amateur Radio allowing students to ask their questions of astronaut Sophie Adenot, amateur radio call sign KJ5LTN. 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 relay ground station.

The amateur radio ground station for this contact is in Rio de Janeiro. Amateur radio operators using call sign PY1AA, will operate the ground station to establish and maintain the ISS connection.

The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for March 2, 2026 at 9:17 am BRT (Rio de Janeiro) (12:17:25 UTC, 7:17 am EST, 6:17 am CST, 5:17 am MST, 4:17 am PST).

The public is invited to watch the live stream at: https://www.youtube.com/live/5mA2OppSV5w?si=EwosjCk9Ckv0qcvs

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As time allows, students will ask these questions:

1. Is there any skill that you learned on Earth that turned out to be useful in space as well?

2. What skills and attitudes are most important for someone who wants to pursue a career as an astronaut, besides technical knowledge?

3. How did your military training prepare you for life and operations aboard the ISS?

4. How important is international cooperation for the success of the ISS?

5. How does the chain of command work aboard the ISS?

6. What was the most surprising thing you experienced in space?

7. What message would you like to send to students at the Brazilian Naval Academy?

8. How do astronauts relax or have fun during their free time on the ISS?

9. How does growing plants in space help future exploration?

10. How do astronauts stay physically healthy in microgravity?

11. How does the ISS contribute to weather prediction?

12. How does the ISS help prepare humans for missions to Mars?

13. What scientific experiments are only possible in microgravity?

14. What scientific experiment on board the ISS do you find most interesting?

15. Considering the microgravity environment aboard the ISS, how effective are thermoelectric devices based on the Peltier effect for precise temperature control, and what challenges do they face in terms of efficiency, heat dissipation, and power consumption in orbit?

ARISS News Release No. 26-08 ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Students at CityKidz Pre and Primary School, Johannesburg, South Africa

February 23, 2026—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 CityKidz Pre and Primary School located in Johannesburg, South Africa. 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.

CityKidz Pre and Primary School was established in 2008 as a co-educational school situated in Mooi Street, inner-city Johannesburg. They provide over 900 students a curriculum that is in accordance with CAPS and subject to the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE). In addition to providing transport to sports matches and theater outings, the school has partnered with the University of Johannesburg and has plans to develop an AI and robotics program.

This will be a telebridge Contact via Amateur Radio allowing students to ask their questions of astronaut Chris Williams, amateur radio call sign KJ5GEW. 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 Hollis, New Hampshire, U.S. The amateur radio volunteer team at the ground station will use the callsign AB1OC, to establish and maintain the ISS connection.

The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for February 25, 2026 at 2:40 pm SAST (Johannesburg, South Africa) (12:40:05 UTC, 7:40 am EST, 6:40 am CST, 5:40 am MST, 4:40 am PST).

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As time allows, students will ask these questions:

1. How does the space station have power and keep running in space?

2. How do you make sure you have enough food in the space station?

3. How does the toilet work and how do you get rid of the waste?

4. What do you do in your spare time? Do you have spare time?

5. What do astronauts do for fun?

6. Are there doctors in space?

7. If there were a huge asteroid coming your way, what would you do?

8. How do astronauts keep healthy aboard space station?

9. Describe how it felt and what you saw during your launch to space.

10. How do you measure time in space? Is time different from that on Earth?

11. Does the internet extend into space and are you able to access the internet?

12. What is one thing that you love about your job?

13. Why did you decide to become an astronaut?

14. Are the spacesuits heavy and uncomfortable? What materials are they made from?

15. What is daylight like in space? The same as the Earth?

16. Is it possible to take plants into space?

17. What happens if someone cries in space? Do tears float?

18. Does your food expire?

19. How do you exercise with no gravity?

20. How do you maintain the outside structure of the space station?

ARISS News Release No. 26-07 ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Students at FIRST XRP Governors Cup, Washington, DC, USA

February 18, 2026—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 Constitution Hall located in Washington, DC. 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.

On February 20 – 21, during the National Governors Association (NGA) Winter Meeting, Constitution Hall is hosting the inaugural FIRST United States Governors Cup: A first-of-its-kind, state-versus-state robotics tournament showcasing student ingenuity and future-ready skills. During this event, Constitution Hall will also host an ARISS contact.

Based on FIRST®, a global nonprofit dedicated to inspiring young people through hands-on STEM learning, the Governors Cup reimagines education as an experiential, competitive arena – one that mirrors the collaboration, creativity, and problem-solving demanded by today’s workforce. In addition to the competition, the Governors Cup features an exhibition of the Experiential XRP robotics platform, including a special version of the XRP known as the ISS microMimic—a system developed by Experiential Board Member and Cornell’s Systems Engineering Professor, David Schneider’s lab – with the help of Boeing and ARISS. The microMimic can receive live telemetry from the ISS, giving students a rare, real-time connection to space-based science and engineering.

This will be a telebridge Contact via Amateur Radio allowing students to ask their questions of astronaut Chris Williams, amateur radio call sign KJ5GEW and Sophie Adenot, KJ5LTN. 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 Greenbelt, Maryland. The amateur radio volunteer team at the ground station will use the call sign, K6DUE, to establish and maintain the ISS connection.

The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for February 20, 2026 at 09:56 am EST (Washington, DC) (14:56:29 UTC, 8:56 am CST, 7:56 am MST, 6:56 am PST).

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As time allows, students will ask these questions:

1. Thank you for helping to inspire the amazing youth here today and throughout our country. Did you participate in STEM competitions as a student? If so, how did that experience better prepare you to be a physicist and an astronaut?

2. When you first looked upon the Earth from space, what did you think?

3. What was your most meaningful experience in school that inspired you to be an astronaut while making a difference for our country and planet?

4. Is there something that you would recommend young people can do to help them make a positive difference and have a great career in STEM?

5. How important and impactful do you think it would be if robotics STEM experiences, like FIRST, were made an official school sport?

6. What is your favorite Science Fiction movie, story, or character and how did they inspire you?

7. Were you involved in any STEM clubs while you were in school? If so, what were they and how did they shape your career path?

8. There are FIRST robotics teams here from nearly every state and we’re working to continue growing the program with help from XRP. What message would you like to give leaders that plan on investing in STEM education in their states?

9. Last year we created an XRP robot with some of our 3rd and 6th graders here that went into space on Blue Origin flight NS-32. Considering how quickly robotics and AI technologies are advancing, what should students consider while building robots capable of assisting astronauts during missions to the Moon and Mars?

10. What do you think is the return value aerospace and other STEM industries if more students participated in activities like FIRST robotics competitions?

11. I’ve known for a long time that I want to work in aerospace, and I’m at MIT pursuing it now. For the younger students watching who have big goals but are still figuring things out, what’s the most important failure you learned during your career path, and how did it shape your trajectory?

12. What was the most fun thing you ever did in space?

13. Can I have your job? Or what does it take to earn a job like yours?

14. What do you dream about doing next?

15. People may say my dreams are unrealistic, any advice on how to forge ahead when others don’t believe in you?

16. Can you tell us about a time when things failed, and how you handled and learned from it?

17. Representation and positive role models are important for inspiring our youth. Any advice to the adults in the room today on what they can do to inspire the people/children in their lives?

18. Is there something that you did to help prepare for a great STEM career and why was it so valuable to you?

19. What final message would you like to give to all the students here and throughout FIRST?

20. Thank you Chris and Sophie for your service and for inspiring everyone in this room today and thank you to the students for their wonderful questions and the ARISS team for all their hard work in making this opportunity a reality. Now it’s time for the Governors Cup to begin!

ARISS News Release No. 26-06 ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Students at The Center for Creativity, Innovation, and Discovery, Providence, Utah, USA

February 17, 2026—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 Center for Creativity, Innovation, and Discovery located in Providence, UT. 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.

The Center for Creativity, Innovation, and Discovery is a K–8 public charter school in Providence, Utah. Through integrated STEM projects, makerspace experiences, and inquiry-based learning, students design, build, test, and refine their ideas using tools such as robotics, coding platforms, digital design software, and fabrication equipment. Collaboration, and critical thinking, are embedded in all grade levels, preparing students to engage thoughtfully with complex challenges.

This will be a direct contact via Amateur Radio allowing students to ask their questions of astronaut Chris Williams, amateur radio call sign KJ5GEW. 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 relay ground station.

The amateur radio ground station for this contact is in Providence, UT. Amateur radio operators using call sign W7IVM, will operate the ground station to establish and maintain the ISS connection.

The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for February 19, 2026 at 10:13:47 am MST (Providence, UT) (17:13:47 UTC, 12:13 pm EST, 11:13 am CST, 9:13 am PST).

The public is invited to watch the live stream at: https://live.ariss.org

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As time allows, students will ask these questions:

1. Can you see storms from space?

2. What is the most uncomfortable bodily experience in space? (Like throwing up…)

3. What is the scariest thing you have encountered while in space?

4. How much detail can you see with the naked eye in space?

5. Have you ever tried playing basketball in space?

6. What’s your favorite/coolest thing you’ve seen?

7. Do you get cold in space?

8. How long does it take to become an astronaut?

9. How do you sleep in space?

10. Can you do a cartwheel in space?

11. How many times have you flipped a switch by accidentally bumping into it?

12. How do you know when to sleep?

13. What planets can you see from the ISS?

14. How much food do you have on board with you? How do you get more?

15. When you jump how many seconds do you stay in the air?

16. How do you shower in space?

17. Do you go to different planets and hop around?

18. What do you do in space?

ARISS News Release No. 26-05 ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Students at Hilltop Elementary, Canfield, Ohio, USA

February 7, 2026—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 Hilltop Elementary located in Canfield, Ohio. 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.

Hilltop Elementary School, serves about 500 students in kindergarten through fourth grade. Students participate in many activities both inside and outside of school that include academics, the arts, STEM, community service, and sports. Hilltop benefits from strong parental involvement and community partnerships which help enhance learning opportunities.

The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for February 9, 2026 at 1:44:58 pm EST (Canfield, Ohio) (18:44:58 UTC, 12:44 pm CST, 11:44 am MST, 10:44 am PST).

The public is invited to watch the live stream at: https://www.youtube.com/@ARISSlive/videos and https://live.ariss.org/

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As time allows, students will ask these questions:

1. What different challenges do you face in space than on Earth?

2. What is your biggest goals at the ISS?

3. How long did it take you to get used to low gravity?

4. My dad is an ER doctor. If astronauts get hurt in space, who helps them?

5. What science are you documenting on space station?

6. Have you discovered anything new on space station?

7. What is the most important thing that kids can start doing now if they want to be an astronaut?

8. What is the most unusual thing you have seen out of the ISS window?

9. How did your rocket get in space?

10. Is there sound in space?

11. How will researching black holes help us in the future?

12. What is the most challenging part of being an astronaut?

13. What do astronauts hope to find out most from space?

14. What is your most valuable tool?

15. How do you train on Earth to live and work in space?

16. How do astronauts train to stay calm and respond to an emergency in space?

17. Do you see any other planets besides Earth from ISS?

18. What do you do when you have down time in space?

19. What did it feel like when your rocket lifted off for Space?

20. Has NASA seen any signs of life on the Moon or Mars?

ARISS News Release No. 26-04 ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Students at Klimop Tongeren, Tongeren-Borgloon, Belgium

February 3, 2026—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 Klimop Tongeren located in Tongeren-Borgloon, Belgium. 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.

BULO Klimop primary school provides personalized learning pathways for children with special educational needs. Technology education at BULO Klimop is about exploring and discovering, learning how things work, understanding systems and recognizing technology in everyday life. From an early age, children are immersed in the world of technology, encouraging problem-solving skills, curiosity and hands-on learning.

This will be a telebridge contact via Amateur Radio allowing students to ask their questions of astronaut Chris Williams, amateur radio call sign KJ5GEW. 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 Aartselaar, Belgium. The amateur radio volunteer team at the ground station will use the callsign ON4ISS, to establish and maintain the ISS connection.

The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for February 5, 2026 at 1:21:51 pm CET (Belgium) (12:21:51UTC, 7:21 am EST, 6:21 am CST, 5:21 am MST, 4:21 am PST).

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As time allows, students will ask these questions:

1. How do astronauts celebrate their birthday in space?

2. How do you wash yourself in space?

3. How long does it take to get used to gravity on Earth again?

4. Can you keep in touch with your family and friends on Earth?

5. What do you like most about being in space?

6. What does a day as an astronaut look like?

7. What is your main job on board?

8. How does it feel to see the Earth from space for the first time?

9. How do you sleep in a rocket or space station without falling out of bed?

10. What do you eat in space? Do you have a favorite meal?

11. What kind of training did you need to become an astronaut?

12. Can you bring personal items into space? If yes, what did you bring?

13. Can you exercise in space? If yes, how do you do that without gravity?

14. Can you see the stars or the Sun better from space?

15. What is your favorite science experiment aboard the space station now?

16. What would you still like to explore or do in space?

17. What message would you like to give to children who want to become astronauts one day?

18. What helps you stay calm when something unexpected happens in space?

ARISS News Release No. 26-03 ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Students at Conn Magnet Elementary School, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA

January 28, 2026—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 Conn Magnet Elementary School located in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. 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. Conn Magnet Elementary School is an Entrepreneurial Design Magnet that teach students how to think like designers and innovators through their Entrepreneur IDEAS Design Cycle: Identify, Develop, Execute, Assess, and Share. Students participate in micro design challenges, using innovative design, creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking to solve real-world problems. This includes using 3D printers, growing herbs and vegetables and planting tomato seeds that were on the ISS for eight weeks, and composting lunch trays to demonstrate sustainability in the garden. Through partnerships with local companies, universities, and community organizations, students have opportunities to apply their ideas. This will be a direct contact via Amateur Radio allowing students to ask their questions of astronaut Chris Williams, amateur radio call sign KJ5GEW. 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 relay ground station. The amateur radio ground station for this contact is in Raleigh, NC. Amateur radio operators using call sign K4EB, will operate the ground station to establish and maintain the ISS connection. The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for January 30, 2026 at 10:10:53 am EST (NC, USA) (15:10:53 UTC, 9:10 am CST, 8:10 am MST, 7:10 am PST). The public is invited to watch the live stream at: https://youtube.com/live/tOj-SpbmA30?feature=share and https://live.ariss.org/_______________________________

As time allows, students will ask these questions:

1. What kind of job do you do once you leave space?

2. What is the feeling like when you are blasting off into space?

3. Where does the trash go that you generate on the ISS?

4. What is something you would like to do in space, but are not allowed to do?

5. What personal technology can you bring to space that has pictures, videos, and audio of family and friends?

6. What are you looking forward to the most when you return to Earth?

7. Do planets look different in space?

8. What games do you plan in space when you are not working?

9. Are there similarities with your favorite food in space and on Earth?

10. Have you ever seen a hurricane in space?

11. Knowing spaceflight can be risky, why did you choose to still be an astronaut?

12. What is the hardest part of your life by being in space on the ISS?

13. What is your favorite view you have seen from space so far?

14. What advice do you have for students who love to build, design, and dream about the future?

15. We apply our IDEAS Design Cycle each day. How do you and the crew on the ISS discuss possible solutions to problems and then decide an action to take?

16. What does looking out into space look like when you are in the shadow of the Earth?

17. If you could design a new space mission for kids to help with, what would it be?

18. What is something you saw in space that no photo or video could ever show?

19. How much water is used on an average day on the ISS?

20. Is there an age minimum to go to the ISS?