How to Arrange a Scheduled Contact for Education with Amateur Radio on the International Space Station?

How to Arrange a Scheduled Contact for Education with Amateur Radio on the International Space Station?

Many of you would have read about programs in which astronauts on the International Space Station talk to students on the ground and answer their questions. This is to motivate students to take up STEM education in their career. One such program was held at Ahmedabad a decade back when Indian origin astronaut ham Sunita Williams, KD5PLB talked to Ahmedabad school children using a Telebridge. There are three ways in which such programs can be arranged. One is a direct radio link between an amateur radio set up in the school and the amateur radio station on board the International Space Station. This may be quite challenging as a more sophisticated and powerful station has to be setup at the school. Computer with orbit prediction program linked to circularly polarized multi-element Yagi antenna rotor control is mandatory.

Second is by a Telebridge where a dedicated ARISS amateur radio ground station establishes a radio link with the International Space Station. Voice communications between students and astronauts are then patched over the regular telephone system to the auditorium in the school. Third method is a virtual telebridge, also known as ARISS Multipoint Telebridge Contact via Amateur Radio. This uses the same ground station as in the telebridge, but the students are at their homes using distance learning technology.

Audience for the program is also connected by distance learning platforms. More details are available at ARISS website at: https://www.ariss.org/about-ariss-contacts.html Details on how to apply for a scheduled educational contact with astronauts on the International Space Station are also available at ARISS website: https://www.ariss.org/apply-to-host-an-ariss-contact.html In our region, Satoshi Yasuda, 7M3TJZ, Japan Amateur Radio League is the designated person.