About ARISS Contacts
Scheduled Contacts for Education
- Schools and other educational organizations may Apply to Host a Scheduled Contact with the ISS through the appropriate ARISS regional representative.
- For information on upcoming scheduled contacts, including possible opportunities to listen in on the contact with schools and educational organizations: Upcoming Contacts and ARISS YouTube page, arisslive
ARISS Educational Contacts Can Be Performed in One of Three Ways:
- a DIRECT radio link between an amateur radio station set up in your school and the amateur station on board the ISS
- a TELEBRIDGE, where a dedicated ARISS amateur radio ground station, located somewhere in the world, establishes the radio link with the ISS. Voice communications between your students and the astronauts are then patched over regular telephone lines into your location, usually a gymnasium or auditorium.
- a Virtual TELEBRIDGE, also known as a ARISS Multipoint Telebridge Contact via Amateur Radio uses the same ground stations and telephone links as a Telebridge contact. The significant difference is the students and teachers involved in asking questions are all connected from their homes using distance learning technology. Similarly the audience is virtually connected using distance learning platforms. Details can be found in this PowerPoint presentation: ARISS Multipoint Telebridge
One of the goals of this program is to involve students with amateur radio and to provide an opportunity to learn about radio science.
A direct contact will give your students an opportunity to speak via amateur radio and learn how the radio system works. If your school has an amateur radio station that you plan to use for a direct contact, then the station must meet certain technical requirements to offer a good experience for students. Please refer to our recommendations for a suitable ground station equipment configuration. If you do not have a station at your location, then you may be able to work with a local ham radio club to have them temporarily install and operate a portable station at your school. Local amateur radio volunteers may also be to offer some instruction about amateur radio, radio science and satellite communications to students.
Astronaut Sunita Williams, KD5PLB, talking to students from the ISS ham radio station.
Schools and educational organizations selected for a scheduled amateur radio contact through the ARISS program are assigned an ARISS Technical Mentor to help them prepare for the contact. ARISS Technical Mentors are amateur radio volunteers located around the world who support the ARISS program. They help to coordinate the logistics of an ARISS contact and will advise the school and local amateur radio volunteers through station configuration issues to prepare for a direct contact.
If you are unable to support a direct contact then a telebridge can also be a very rewarding experience for students and the school community. ARISS Technical Mentors will also be able to advise you on logistics and equipment needed for your situation.
For either direct or telebridge contacts, please work with your local amateur radio operators to make arrangements suitable for your situation. Decide if your school will apply for a direct or a telebridge contact.
Successful ARISS Contacts
