Welcome to ARISS

Amateur Radio on the International Space Station

ARISS provides a unique opportunity for students to connect with astronauts on the International Space Station, sparking an interest in STEM fields through the hands-on world of amateur radio. With ARISS onboard, the ISS and other space vehicles gain a proven independent, platform-agnostic backup communications link and crew morale booster. 

About ARISS

Education

Learn about our STEM education, which drives the development of the world’s STEM workforce.

Operations

Learn about our spaceflight operations that support our school contacts and other operational radio capabilities (Voice, Digital, Pictures, Video, etc.)

Engineering

Learn about our spaceflight hardware development past, present, and future.

About ARISS

Inspiring Students Worldwide

The ARISS program was created and is managed by an international consortium of amateur radio organizations and space agencies including National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in the USA, Rosaviakosmos in Russia, Canadian Space Agency (CSA) in Canada, Japan Aeronautics Exploration Space Agency (JAXA) in Japan and European Space Agency (ESA) in Europe.
Learn more

Explore Amateur Radio

Goals of the ARISS Program

The ARISS program is built on a foundation of educational and technological advancement. Our core mission is to leverage the unique environment of the International Space Station to achieve the following goals:

Inspire

Inspire an interest in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) subjects and in STEM careers among young people;

Engage

Provide an educational opportunity for students, teachers and the general public to learn about wireless technology and radio science through Amateur Radio

Educate

Provide an educational opportunity for students, teachers and the general public to learn about space exploration, space technologies and satellite communications;

Technology

Provide an opportunity for Amateur Radio experimentation and evaluation of new technologies.

Contingency

Provide a contingency communications system for NASA and the ISS crew.

Community

Provide crew with another means to directly interact with a larger community outside the ISS, including friends and family.

Check Out Our Latest Updates

Discover the latest updates from ARISS—student radio contacts with the International Space Station, upcoming opportunities, inspiring stories, and milestones that bring space exploration closer to classrooms around the world.

Get Involved

Tune in to the ISS. Explore New Technologies with ARISS.

The excitement of talking to an astronaut on the International Space Station is an unforgettable experience! Through an ARISS contact, you can speak directly with a crew member orbiting Earth, asking them questions about life in space, their work, and their journey. This is your chance to connect with an astronaut and get inspired.
Upcoming contacts

Get Involved

Tune in to the ISS. Explore New Technologies with ARISS.

The excitement of talking to an astronaut on the International Space Station is an unforgettable experience! Through an ARISS contact, you can speak directly with a crew member orbiting Earth, asking them questions about life in space, their work, and their journey. This is your chance to connect with an astronaut and get inspired.
Upcoming Contacts