Welcome to ARISS
Amateur Radio on the International Space Station
ARISS is an international working group that supplies turn-key global engagement and mission safety capabilities to space stations and space vehicles using amateur radio, also known as ham radio. Our specialty is connecting kids with astronauts in space over these radio links, sparking an interest in STEM/STEAM fields.
With ARISS onboard, a space vehicle carries with it a space career promotional tool that is also a proven, independent, platform-agnostic backup communications link and crew morale booster.
ARISS is global: We are governed by delegates from 15 nations including several in Europe as well as Japan, Russia, Canada, and the USA. We operate almost entirely by volunteers from amateur radio organizations including the American Radio Relay League and AMSAT.
Blogs and News Releases
ARISS Facebook Posts
Upcoming Educational Contacts
Weekly Reports
ARISS-USA Promotes Jackie Blumer to Associate Director
ARISS-USA has named Jackie Blumer (KC9LEH), currently the ARISS Business Development Coordinator, as the new Associate Director for the organization. Blumer, of Greenville, Illinois, has been a teacher for more than 26 years and is a nationally recognized leader in...
ARISS News Release No. 26-42 ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Students at Geneva Christian College, Latrobe, Tasmania, Australia
Aug 1, 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 Geneva Christian College located in Tasmania,...
Weekly Sept. 30 – Oct. 6, 2025
September 30: At Pinecrest Academy, a K-12 school in Cumming, GA, students talked with Mike Fincke during an ARISS radio contact. He answered 20 questions with an audience of 550 at the school watching the students. The public could choose from two livestreams (one...