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

As of April 8, 2026

Lycée du Vimeu, Friville-Escarbotin, France, direct via F6KVJ (Sophie Adenot KJ5LTN)

Contact is go for: Thu 2026-04-09 10:27:02 UTC 75 deg

Albert Camus Middle School, La Norville, France, telebridge via ON4ISS (Sophie Adenot KJ5LTN)

Contact is go for: Thu 2026-04-09 12:04:25 UTC 86 deg

Memorial Complex of Soviet Pilot-Cosmonaut A.G. Nikolaev, Chuvashia, Russia (Sergey Mikaev)

Contact is go for Fri 2026-04-10 08:10 UTC

Elementary School “Slava Raskaj”, Ozalj, Croatia, direct via 9A1CUA (Chris Williams KJ5GEW)

Contact is go for: Mon 2026-04-13 08:55:30 UTC 28 deg

Scouts Australia Western Australia Branch, Mount Hawthorn, Western Australia, Australia, telebridge via AB1OC (Jack Hathaway KJ5NIV)

Contact is go for: Fri 2026-04-17 10:20:48 UTC 71 deg

ARISS News Release No. 26-19 ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Students at Albert Camus Middle School, La Norville, France

April 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 the Albert Camus Middle School located in La Norville, France. 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 Albert Camus Middle School is located in La Norville (Essonne), a rural area about 40 km south of Paris. The ARISS contact location will be at the CentraleSupelec engineering school, at the Universite Paris-Saclay, near Orsay, 20km SW of Paris. Through the cooperation of various partners from the space sector, teachers organized activities throughout the year around a common theme: the discovery of scientific knowledge related to space. These interdisciplinary activities involve English, French, History, Mathematics and Physics, and include, among others, text studies, meetings with professionals, conferences, 3D modelling and printing, virtual reality simulations and street art projects.

This will be a telebridge 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 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 April 9, 2026 at 2:04:25 pm/am CEST (Orsay, FR) (12:04:25 UTC, 8:04 am EDT, 7:04 am CDT, 6:04 am MDT, 5:04 am PDT).

The public is invited to watch the live stream at: https://www.youtube.com/@Universit%C3%A9Paris-Saclay

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As time allows, students will ask these questions:

1. Quelle image de la Terre vous a le plus marquée depuis l’espace?

2. Y a-t-il un moment de la journée que vous préférez dans l’ISS?

3. Aimez-vous la sensation d’impesanteur et comment la décririez-vous?

4. Qu’est-ce qui change le plus quand on fait du sport en impesanteur?

5. Avez-vous parfois des montées d’adrénaline et comment les gérez-vous?

6. Qu’est-ce qui vous aide à garder le moral dans un environnement aussi isolé et exigeant?

7. Pourquoi le travail en équipe est-il indispensable dans une mission spatiale?

8. Quelle expérience scientifique a été la plus exigeante à réaliser dans l’ISS?

9. Y a-t-il quelque chose que vous appréciez particulièrement de faire dans l’espace et que vous ne pouvez pas faire sur Terre?

10. Maintenant que vous êtes dans l’espace, quelle compétence voyez-vous comme essentielle pour devenir astronaute?

11. Quel message aimeriez-vous transmettre aux jeunes filles qui hésitent à faire des sciences?

12. Quel conseil donneriez-vous aux élèves qui doutent d’eux-mêmes ou pensent que leur rêve est inaccessible?

13. Pourquoi est-il encore important aujourd’hui d’investir dans l’exploration spatiale?

14. Si nous pouvions être à vos côtés pendant 10 secondes, qu’est-ce qui nous marquerait le plus?

15. Que permet l’impesanteur pour les expériences que vous menez?

16. Pouvez-vous nous décrire un lever ou un coucher de Soleil vu depuis l’espace?

17. Depuis votre arrivée dans l’ISS, quelles sont les sensations qui vous ont le plus surpris?

Translation:

1. Which image of Earth has impressed you the most from space?

2. Is there a time of day that you prefer on the ISS?

3. Do you enjoy the feeling of weightlessness, and how would you describe it?

4. What changes the most when you exercise in weightlessness?

5. Do you sometimes experience adrenaline rushes, and how do you manage them?

6. What helps you stay positive in such an isolated and demanding environment?

7. Why is teamwork essential in a space mission?

8. Which scientific experiment has been the most challenging to carry out on the ISS?

9. Is there something you particularly enjoy doing in space that you cannot do on Earth?

10. Now that you are in space, which skill do you see as essential to becoming an astronaut?

11. What message would you like to share with young girls who hesitate to pursue science?

12. What advice would you give to students who doubt themselves or think their dream is out of reach?

13. Why is it still important today to invest in space exploration?

14. If we could be by your side for 10 seconds, what would impress us the most?

15. What does weightlessness allow for in the experiments you are conducting?

16. Could you describe a sunrise or sunset as seen from space?

17. Since your arrival on the ISS, which sensations have surprised you the most?

ARISS News Release No. 26-18 ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Students at Lycée du Vimeu, Friville-Escarbotin, France

April 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 the Vimeu High School located in Friville-Escarbotin, France. 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.

Vimeu High School has about 1200 students between ages 14-20 and about 70 teachers and is in a rural area, about 60 km west of Amiens in the state of Hauts de France. Students are offered STEM learning at various grade levels. Topics include computer science, cryptography, astronomy and programming. In the upper school, students can choose subjects such as physics, biology or chemistry as advanced courses. Students can also participate in working groups/workshops in the STEM field. The local amateur radio club F6KVJ is supporting the school and students during this ARISS contact.

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 Friville-Escarbotin, France. Amateur radio operators using call sign F6KVJ, will operate the ground station to establish and maintain the ISS connection.

The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for April 9, 2026 at 12:27 pm CEST (Friville-Escarbotin, FR) (10:27 UTC, 6:27 am EDT, 5:27 am CDT, 4:27 am MDT, 3:27 am PDT).

The public is invited to watch the live stream at: https://www.youtube.com/@lyceeduvimeu4094 https://lpo-vimeu-friville-escarbotin.80.acamiens.fr/

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As time allows, students will ask these questions:

1. Quels ont été vos premiers sentiments lorsque vous avez vu la Terre depuis l’espace pour la première fois?

2. Qu’est-ce qui vous a donné envie de devenir astronaute?

3. Est-ce que des tâches quotidiennes sont plus intéressantes que d’autres?

4. Quelle est la chose la plus impressionnante que vous avez vue depuis l’espace?

5. A quoi ressemble un lever de soleil toutes les 90 minutes?

6. Quels émotions avez-vous ressenti au décollage de la fusée?

7. Qu’est-ce que les scientifiques ont découvert sur le corps humain grâce à l’apesanteur, et comment ces découvertes peuvent-elles aider la médecine sur terre?

8. Comment la microgravité a bord de la Station spatiale permet-elle de mieux étudier certains phénomènes physiques impossibles à observer sur Terre?

9. Avez-vous de sorties dans l’espace de prévues, si oui, pourquoi faire?

10. A quel moment de votre enfance vous êtes-vous dit : “C’est possible, je vais le faire”?

11. Si on vous propose de participer à une mission vers Mars, le feriez-vous et si oui, pourquoi?

12. Quels sont les entrainements physiques pour devenir une astronaute?

13. Quel a été le moment le plus difficile dans votre parcours pour y arriver?

14. Quelles sont les taches techniques les plus difficiles à réaliser selon vous?

15. Quel conseil vous a donné Thomas Pesquet avant de partir pour l’ISS?

16. Peut-on pratiquer une opération chirurgicale dans l’espace?

17. La place des femmes: Est-ce que le milieu spatial est encore très masculin, ou est-ce que les choses ont vraiment changé sur le terrain?

18. Y a-t-il des instruments de musique sur l’ISS, et est-ce que vous les utilisez pour vous détendre?

Translation:

1. What was your first feelings when you saw Earth from space for the first time?

2. What made you want to become an astronaut?

3. Are there daily tasks more interesting than others?

4. What is the most impressive thing you have seen from space?

5. What does a sunrise every 90 minutes look like?

6. What emotions did you feel when the rocket took off?

7. What have scientists discovered about the human body thanks to weightlessness, and how can these discoveries help medicine on Earth?

8. How does microgravity aboard the ISS allow for better study of certain physical phenomena that cannot be observed on Earth?

9. Do you have any spacewalks planned, and if so, what for?

10. At what point in your childhood did you say to yourself, It’s possible, I’m going to do it?

11. If you were offered to take part in a mission to Mars, would you do it and if so, why?

12. What kind of physical training do you need to become an astronaut?

13. What was the most difficult moment in your journey to get there?

14. What do you think are the most difficult technical tasks to perform?

15. What advice did Thomas Pesquet give you before you left for the ISS?

16. Can surgery be performed in space?

17. The place of women: Is the space industry still very male-dominated, or have things really changed on the ground?

18. Are there any musical instruments on the ISS, and do you use them to relax

ARISS News Release No. 26-17 ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Students at Emporia State University, School of Science & Mathematics, Emporia, Kansas, USA

April 6, 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 Emporia State University located in Emporia, KS. 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.

Emporia State University (ESU) provides accessibility to college-age students and prepares K-12 teachers for the classroom. ESU is collaborating with all three K-12 school districts, offering hands-on activities both in the classroom and in after-school programs. For after-school programs, ESU has partnered with: the RecXtra after school program, the university and public libraries, a local business (The Imaginarium), the Lyon County History Center, ESU School of Science and Mathematics, ESU Prophet Aquatic Research and Outreach Center, ESU School of Visual and Performing Arts, ESU School of Humanities and Social Science, and Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland Service Unit 83.

This ARISS contact offers a natural cross-disciplinary experience; uniting communication technology with engineering, space science, literacy, teamwork, and problem-solving. The Emporia Amateur Radio Society is a key partner, providing the technical expertise and amateur radio infrastructure required to make this radio contact possible.

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

The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for April 8, 2026 at 9:10:31 am CDT (Kansas, USA) (14:10:31 UTC, 10:10 am EDT, 8:10 am MDT, 7:10 am PDT).

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As time allows, students will ask these questions:

1. How did you feel the first time you went to space?

2. If you could change one thing about space, what would it be?

3. What are spacewalks like and do you like them?

4. What was your first science project in space?

5. Is it harder to get hurt in space because of microgravity?

6. If you put a jellyfish tank on the ISS, how would microgravity affect the jellyfish, which are already floating in water?

7. What everyday task becomes hardest to do in microgravity?

8. What habit from Earth did you have to unlearn?

9. What unexpected bodily functions changed in space?

10. What is the most surprising or challenging part of living in space that people on Earth wouldn’t expect?

11. What do you think will be the hardest space habit to unlearn when you are back on Earth?

12. Does being an astronaut change the way you see Earth?

13. How do you know if it is daytime or nighttime?

14. Can you share a mistake you made in astronaut or ISS training that taught you the biggest lesson?

15. How were you chosen to go to the ISS, and how long did it take until you were assigned to a mission?

16. Is there a language barrier between astronauts from different countries?

17. Why is the ISS important for future space exploration like the Moon and Mars?

18. Is the ISS noisy or do sounds get filtered out?

19. How do you deal with emotions in space?

20. What are the different technologies you use to communicate with people on Earth?

21. How do decisions about the Artemis Project affect decisions on the ISS?

22. How do astronomical events like meteor showers or auroras affect your operations?

23. What is one challenge, stress, or risk on the ISS that astronauts must always respect?

24. Is there a point in the future where we can take ISS technology to get materials from other planets?

25. What experiment or discovery on the ISS do you think will matter the most in 50 years?

26. What skills matter more in space: technological knowledge or problem-solving?

27. What advancements in space technology are you looking forward to?

28. What do you want us to know about the work you do on the ISS?ARISS News Release No. 26-16 ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Students at Walnut Grove Elementary School, Suwanee, Georgia, USA

March 31, 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 Walnut Grove Elementary School located in Suwanee, GA. 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.

Walnut Grove Elementary School serves about 810 Pre-K to 5th grade students and is named after a historic one-room schoolhouse built around 1875 adjacent to Walnut Grove Baptist Church.

As part of a ‘Mission Possible” project, students have been studying radio science, space communication, and microgravity. They have partnered with the Gwinnett Amateur Radio Society and classes included space-themed STEM lessons.

Walnut Grove also offers a variety of enrichment opportunities through clubs including Art, Chess, Chorus, Curator, Girls Empower, Robotics through the First LEGO League, Running, and “Cosmic Kids Yoga.” The school also hosts events such as an annual International Night, where students and families celebrate cultural diversity through food, dance, and displays, as well as an engaging STEAM Night that inspires curiosity and creativity.

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 Suwanee, GA. Amateur radio operators using call sign KR4HPC, will operate the ground station to establish and maintain the ISS connection.

The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for April 2, 2026 at 11:41 am EDT (GA, USA) (15:41 UTC, 10:41 am CDT, 9:41 am MDT, 8:41 am PDT).

The public is invited to watch the live stream at: https://youtube.com/live/J1XJHvr4UlU? and/or https://live.ariss.org/

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As time allows, students will ask these questions:

1. What research are you doing right now on the ISS?

2. What did it feel like to launch when going up to the ISS?

3. Can you see weather patterns in space, like storms or hurricanes, and what do they look like from the ISS?

4. What advice would you give students who want to go to space some day?

5. What skills do you use on the ISS that students might be surprised to learn is important?

6. How do you talk to astronauts that are in other parts of the station?

7. Did you or your crew bring a Snoopy or similar zero-gravity indicator on your flight to the ISS, and if so, where is it now?

8. When you return to Earth what is the most interesting part of the ride?

9. What is the most difficult or challenging part of your job that you had to train for but still found surprising once you were in space?

10. What is one simple, everyday moment that you love most about living in space that you can’t experience on Earth?

11. Can a fidget spinner spin forever in space?

12. When outside the station on a spacewalk, what is the most unbelievable feeling you have looking down at Earth?

13. What is the coolest thing you have seen the Earth do from space?

14. Do you feel famous when you’re in space, or does it just feel like doing your job?

15. Do you have any habits that you do in space that you think you’ll keep doing when you get back to Earth?

16. What sounds do you hear all day and all night on the Space Station, or is it quiet?

17. What is the coolest new tool or piece of equipment you think Artemis astronauts will need to take with them when they go live on the Moon?

18. Since you see the sunrise and sunset 16 times a day, is there one time of day or one part of the world that looks the most unforgettable?

19. Since you’re above the atmosphere, what is the clearest, most unbelievable thing you’ve seen in the night sky that you could never see from the ground?

20. How do you avoid space debris and what does that feel like?

ARISS News Release No. 26-14 ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Students at Two Comprehensive Institutes in Italy

March 30, 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 two schools located in Lanciano, Italy and Pontedera, Italy. 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.

Students at two Comprehensive Institutes will be participating in this ARISS contact: “Gabriele D’Annunzio” Lanciano, and Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi.

Gabriele D’Annunzio Lanciano Comprehensive Institute serves over 700 students aged between 3 and 14 and is located in Lanciano, a medium-sized town in Abruzzo, on the East coast of central Italy. The school is a member of many networks about research and education and has been collaborating for years with associations and companies on STEM projects. Their ARISS educational program focuses on the importance of images from space in the study of climate change. The school is also collaborating with the local amateur radio association, allowing students the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of radio communications from both a historical and technical perspective.

The Gandhi Pontedera Comprehensive Institute in Pontedera emphasis is on STEAM subjects and projects. They have implemented a series of STEAM-based projects in the last two school years for lower secondary school students. This includes extra-curricular workshops on AI and its uses on the concept of “Metaverse” and on digital art and content creation. About 230 students (age group 10-14) have been involved in this ARISS project.

For this ARISS contact, D’Annunzio Lanciano school will have a direct radio contact with the ISS, while also acting as a telebridge station allowing students at M.K. Gandhi to also 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 telebridge station. The ARISS team hopes to use the HamTV system during this contact, allowing students at the school to view live video of their astronaut via an ARISS radio downlink from the ISS. HamTV can be viewed at live.ariss.org/hamtv .

The ARISS amateur radio ground station for this contact is in Lanciano, Italy. The amateur radio volunteer team at the ground station will use the callsign IQ6LN to establish and maintain the ISS connection.

The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for April 1, 2026 at 1:56 pm CEST (Italy) (11:56 UTC, 7:56 am EDT, 6:56 am CDT, 5:56 am MDT, 4:56 am PDT).

The public is invited to watch the live stream at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUtvnVa2NBo and http://www.youtube.com/live/KrEtbdTEAfA .

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As time allows, students will ask these questions:

1. Can experiments you conduct in space improve life on Earth?

2. How has your view on life changed since your first space trip?

3. Why do some experiments need to be performed in microgravity?

4. Can you hear sounds or smell anything in space?

5. What scientific research are you conducting on climate change?

6. What do you feel when you leave Earth?

7. In which parts of the planet Earth are the effects of global warming most visible?

8. What is the hardest task in space?

9. What does the hole in the ozone layer look like from space?

10. How do you spend your time in space? What do you do?

11. Does seeing Earth from space change the way you think about the environment?

12. Did you already want to become astronauts when you were a kid?

13. Have you discovered any new materials that could be useful on Earth?

14. What pushed you to become an astronaut?

15. How does microgravity affect the human body?

16. What is the most beautiful thing you have ever seen in space?

17. How long can you stay in a space station for?

18. What are the crew members’ different roles and tasks?

19. What happens when you return to Earth after a mission?

20. What’s the first feeling you experienced in absence of gravity?

ARISS News Release No. 26-13 ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Students at Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys The Langton, Canterbury, United Kingdom

March 29, 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 Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys The Langton located in Canterbury, UK. 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.

Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys is a state school with a mixed sixth grade class and has a long history with amateur radio, dating back to the 1960s. The school operated an amateur radio club under the callsign G3OSL for years but was retired due to disuse until in 2024 it was reactivated. The first reactivation call was made in May 2024 in an assembly in front of almost 500 boys. The school has been given, on permanent loan, an IC7300 radio set with ham operators activating the club station every Wednesday lunchtime during term time. Students are currently training for their foundation license exam.

The amateur radio club have participated in the Youngsters OnThe Air (YOTA), been part of open evenings and contributed to a STEM day for primary and secondary students at the school. This ARISS contact will provide yet another high-level radio-related activity for students and members of the school’s ham club.

This will be a direct contact via Amateur Radio allowing students to ask their questions of astronaut Jack Hathaway, amateur radio call sign KJ5NIV. 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 Canterbury, UK. Amateur radio operators using call sign GB4SLS, will operate the ground station to establish and main-tain the ISS connection. The ARISS team hopes to use the HamTV system during this con-tact, allowing students at the school to view live video of their astronaut via an ARISS radio downlink from the ISS.

The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for March 30, 2026 at 2:28:55 pm BST (Canterbury, UK) (13:28:55 UTC, 9:28 am EDT, 8:28 am CDT, 7:28 am MDT, 6:28 am PDT).

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

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As time allows, students will ask these questions:
1. What are the purposes of the experiments you do in space?

2. Why do we go to space to do some experiments rather than do them on Earth?

3. How does the ISS stay in orbit around the Earth?

4. How does it feel to see so many sunsets and sunrises each day from the ISS

5. What food do you eat on the ISS?

6. Why is there no air in space?

7. How does rocket fuel work when there is no air for combustion?

8. What do you do for entertainment on the ISS?

9. How hard do you have to train to go into space?

10. What is it like launching into space?

11. What is like to be in zero gravity for a long period of time?

12. Without weight pulling things down onto the ground there must be a lot less friction to help you move, how do you compensate for that?

13. Do you have any source of internet in space?

14. What is the most amazing thing that you have seen from space?

15. What ordinary daily tasks are the most difficult to do in space?

16. How does being in space affect the human body?

17. Is there a lot of noise on the ISS or is it quite quiet?

18. How do you clear up spills in space?

19. Do you ever feel lonely from the isolation in space?

20. How do you prepare for space walks?

ARISS News Release No. 26-12 ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Students at Vauban, Ecole et Lycée français de Luxembourg, Luxembourg City, Luxembourg

March 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 Vauban, Ecole et Lycée français de Luxembourg located in Luxembourg City, Luxembourg. 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.

Vauban serves students ages three through 18, with more than 2,600 students from 50 different nationalities. Beginning in 2018, Vauban’s MS20 is part of the Luxembourg network of BEE CREATIVE makerspaces. The makerspace brings together about 100 students who operate and maintain the machines on a daily basis. The students take part in space competitions such as CanSat and robotics competitions such as First Global. They also participate in national events that promote science among young people, such as Asteroid Day and the Science Festival.

The amateur radio ground station for this contact is in Luxembourg City. Amateur radio operators using call sign LX26LV, will operate the ground station to establish and maintain the ISS connection.

The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for March 25, 2026 at 4:47:34 pm CET (Luxembourg) (15:47:34 UTC, 11:47 am EDT, 10:47 am CDT, 9:47 am MDT, 8:47 am PDT).

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. Quel message voudriez-vous passer aux jeunes filles qui voudraient devenir spationautes?

2. Comment vous est venue cette passion pour l’espace?

3. Quelle a été, pour vous, la partie la plus difficile de votre entraînement pour devenir spationaute et pourquoi?

4. Est-ce que cela fait mal quand la fusée décolle?

5. Quelle a été votre première impression en entrant dans la station?

6. Quels sont les effets psychologiques les plus marquants d’un long séjour dans l’espace, et comment les gérez-vous au quotidien?

7. Quelles sont les effets les plus surprenants de l’apesanteur sur votre corps et comment vous y préparez-vous avant le retour sur Terre?

8. Quelle chose toute simple sur Terre est devenue compliquée dans l’espace?

9. Comment se passe une journée typique à bord de la station?

10. Comment pilotez-vous la station?Comment évitez-vous les météorites?

11. Parmi les technologies développées pour l’ISS, lesquelles pensez-vous pourraient le plus bénéficier à la vie sur Terre dans les 10 prochaines années?

12. Pensez-vous que votre profession peut changer avec l’IA?

13. Avez-vous ressenti le sentiment appelé « overview effect » en voyant la Terre depuis l’espace?

14. L’ISS est un modèle de recyclage et d’efficacité énergétique. Quelles leçons pourrions-nous tirer de ces systèmes pour améliorer la gestion sur Terre?

15. Comment se passe la collaboration avec les collègues des différents pays?

16. Comment célébrez-vous les fêtes ou événements culturels à bord de l’ISS, et comment ces moments renforcent-ils la cohésion d’équipage?

17. Comment gérez-vous l’eau au quotidien?Stockage?Renouvellement?

18. Avez-vous un hobby dans l’espace ou tout simplement quelle est votre activité préférée dans la station?

19. Si vous deviez concevoir une expérience éducative simple à réaliser en classe pour illustrer les défis de la vie dans l’espace, quelle serait-elle?

20. Quelles compétences ou formations pensez-vous que les jeunes devraient privilégier s’ils veulent participer aux missions lunaires ou martiennes de demain?

Translation:

1. What message would you like to convey to young girls who want to become astronauts?

2. How did you develop this passion for space?

3. What was the most difficult part of your training to become an astronaut and why?

4. Does it hurt when the rocket takes off?

5. What was your first impression when you entered the station?

6. What are the most significant psychological effects of a long stay in space, and how do you deal with them on a daily basis?

7. What are the most surprising effects of weightlessness to astronauts, and how do they prepare for them before returning to Earth?

8. What simple thing on Earth has become complicated in space?

9. What is a typical day like on board the station?

10. How do you pilot the station? How do you avoid meteorites?

11. Among the technologies developed for the ISS, which ones do you think could most benefit life on Earth in the next 10 years?

12. Do you think your profession could change with AI?

13. Have you experienced the feeling known as the “overview effect” when seeing Earth from space?

14. The ISS is a model of recycling and energy efficiency. What lessons could we learn from these systems to improve resource management on Earth?

15. How is collaboration with colleagues from different countries going?

16. How do you celebrate holidays or cultural events aboard the ISS, and how do these moments strengthen crew cohesion?

17. How do you manage water on a daily basis? Storage? Renewal?

18. Do you have a hobby in space, or simply what is your favorite activity in the station?

19. If you had to design a simple educational experiment to be carried out in the classroom to illustrate the challenges of life in space, what would it be?

20. What skills or training do you think young people should focus on today if they want to participate in tomorrow’s lunar or Martian missions?

ARISS News Release No. 26-11 ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Students at Lewis Center for Educational Research, Apple Valley, California, USA

March 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 Lewis Center for Educational Research located in Apple Valley, CA. 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 Lewis Center for Educational Research operates two STEM-focused charter schools in California; the Academy for Academic Excellence (AAE) in Apple Valley, and Norton Science and Language Academy (NSLA) in San Bernardino.

The AAE is a TK–12 school dedicated to preparing students for post-secondary success through a relevant and rigorous college-preparatory education and is home to a U.S. Space Force Junior ROTC.

Norton Science and Language Academy (NSLA) is a TK–12 dual immersion school where students develop academic proficiency in both English and Spanish. NSLA’s goal is for students to read, write, and communicate effectively in both languages across all academic subjects after five years in the program.

The Lewis Center also operates the Goldstone Apple Valley Radio Telescope (GAVRT) Radio Astronomy Program through a more than three-decade partnership with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Through GAVRT, students locally, nationally, and globally have contributed to NASA missions, including the LCROSS mission to the Moon and the Cassini mission to Saturn. Data collected by students during the Jupiter Quest campaign helped NASA scientists refine synchrotron radiation models that supported planning for the Juno mission currently orbiting Jupiter. Today, GAVRT students continue to collect and analyze data related to our Sun, Jupiter, black holes, and the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI).

The Lewis Center provides STEM learning beyond the classroom through community-based, hands-on, programs that include astronomy, aviation and aeronautics, engineering, the California Gold Rush, and westward expansion.

The Lewis Center partners with the Apple Valley Unified School District through the Apple Valley Center for Innovation (AVCI), an informal STEM education center serving students and the broader community by hosting field trips, STEM nights, and teacher trainings. AVCI is also home to the Luz Observatory, operated by the Lewis Center’s High Desert Astronomical Society, which offers public viewing nights and astronomy education for the community.

The ARISS amateur radio ground station (telebridge station) for this contact is in Casale Monferrato, Italy. The amateur radio volunteer team at the ground station will use the call sign, IK1SLD to establish and maintain the ISS connection.

The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for March 19, 2026 at 10:15 am PDT (CA, USA) (17:15 UTC, 1:15 pm EDT, 12:15 pm CDT, 11:15 am MDT).

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

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As time allows, students will ask these questions:

1. What languages do you speak or had to learn to work in the space program?

2. When filming and taking photos, how do the cameras stay safe from sunlight and the elements of space?

3. What were the subjects in school that helped you the most to become an astronaut?

4. Who or what inspired you in your childhood that made you want to become an astronaut?

5. What is one invention you wish was created to make your life easier on the ISS?

6. What specific hardware or software being used on the ISS right now do you think will be the most critical “game-changer” for the Artemis crews heading to the Lunar South Pole?

7. To what extent do you use AI in your missions?

8. What is the scariest alarm that can go off and how do you prepare for it?

Spanish: ¿Cuál es la alarma más aterradora que puede sonar y cómo te preparas para ella?

9. What do you think will be the most challenging after returning to Earth from space?

10. If we had the economic capability to terraform Mars with current technology, how fast would it happen? Or would it happen at all?

11. What are some of the current experiments you are working on?

12. What is the most beautiful thing you saw in space that a camera can’t capture?

13. What is the most interesting fire or storm you were able to see from space?

14. With all the technology stimulation, is it hard to fall asleep on the ISS?

15. What’s the most important and the most fun piece of equipment on the ISS?

16. Is there anything that you thought was impossible before going to space but then discovered that it is possible?

17. If we are to live on Mars, we need to grow our own food. Based on the plant experiments currently on the ISS, what is the biggest challenge to cultivating and growing a food source?

18. Knowing that water and fire react differently in space, how do water and fire react together in space?

Spanish: Sabiendo que el agua y el fuego reaccionan de manera diferente en el espacio, ¿cómo reaccionan el agua y el fuego juntos en el espacio?

19. What happens if a micrometeoroid hits the ISS and makes a hole?

20. How has your perspective of the universe changed since seeing it from space?

21. Will there be any other modules or international partners added to the ISS?

22. Can astronauts get a cold, the flu, or other illnesses on the ISS?

23. From Earth, it’s about 250 miles up before reaching microgravity. How far from the Moon would you need to travel to experience zero gravity?

ARISS News Release No. 26-10 ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Students at St Joseph’s Primary School, Bombala, New South Wales, Australia

March 2, 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 St Joseph’s Primary School located in Bombala, NSW, Australia. 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.

St Joseph’s School serves 70 students, Kindergarten to Year 6. In 2025 students in all grades learned about space and space exploration.

This will be a telebridge Contact via Amateur Radio allowing students to ask their questions of astronaut Jack Hathaway, amateur radio call sign KJ5NIV. 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 Meadow Spring, Australia. The amateur radio volunteer team at the ground station will use the call sign VK6MJ, to establish and maintain the ISS connection.

The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for March 5, 2026 at 7:53 pm AEDT (NSW, Australia) (8:53:18 UTC, 3:53 am EST, 2:53 am CST, 1:53 am MST, 12:53 am PST).

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As time allows, students will ask these questions:

1. How does the rocket connect to the Space Station?

2. How do people move on and off the Space Station?

3. How do the computers connect to the Space Station from the Earth?

4. How do you know when it is night time for sleeping?

5. What is the best time of year or day to leave the Earth?

6. What do you do if the radio breaks and you can’t talk to anyone?

7. Has a piece of the Space Station ever broken off?

8. Can you use phones, laptops or any device to play games or text each other?

9. What is the best amount of time you should be in space?

10. Why is space so special?

11. Why did you want to go to space and be on the Space Station?

12. Do you ever miss things on Earth when you are on the Space Station?

13. What made you choose to be an astronaut?

14. How can you orbit the Earth when it is orbiting the sun?

15. Do you get nervous being so far from the Earth?

16. How long did you have to train to become an astronaut?

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.

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.

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 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?