May 3, 2025—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 School IISS Copernico Pasoli located in Verona, 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.
The Copernico Pasoli High School, in Verona, provides students with a comprehensive and forward-thinking education across various disciplines, with a strong emphasis on languages, on scientific inquiry and technological innovation.
This will be a telebridge Contact via Amateur Radio allowing students to ask their questions of astronaut Jonathan (Jonny) Kim, amateur radio call sign KJ5HKP. 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, U.S. The amateur radio volunteer team at the ground station will use the callsign K6DUE, to establish and maintain the ISS connection.
The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for May 5, 2025 at 11:36:54 am CEST (Verona, Italy) (9:36:54 UTC, 5:36 am EDT, 4:36 am CDT, 3:36 am MDT, 2:36 am PDT).
The public is invited to watch the live stream at: https://www.youtube.com/live/HyvORse_ZBk?si=GEqTzmPJZsDwCDoN
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As time allows, students will ask these questions:
1. What does a typical day look like for you aboard the ISS?
2. What kind of experiments are you currently conducting on the ISS?
3. Can you describe the process of conducting a spacewalk?
4. How are computers used to control the ISS and collect data from experiments?
5. What are some of the most interesting things you’ve observed about Earth from space?
6. What do you think about the future of space tourism?
7. What are the challenges and opportunities of sending humans to Mars?
8. How does international cooperation contribute to the success of space missions?
9. Have you observed any celestial events, like meteor showers or auroras, from the ISS that looked significantly different compared to how we see them on Earth?
10. What kind of research related to the observation of the universe is currently being conducted on the ISS?
11. How does direct human observation from the ISS complement and enhance our understanding of the cosmos?
12. Can you describe processes and challenges involved in maintaining satellite communication between ISS and Earth?
13. How do you sleep in microgravity? Is it comfortable?
14. Are you testing new technologies on ISS that could benefit life on Earth, such as improved internet access or disaster response systems?
15. How significant is the problem of space debris, and what are the potential dangers to ISS?
16. Are there any technologies or procedures currently in place on the ISS to monitor or avoid space debris?
17. What are the main countermeasures taken, by the astronauts, to protect from radiation during long-duration missions?
18. How do you stay connected with your friends and family while in orbit?
19. What advice would you give to students who are interested in pursuing a career in space exploration and potentially becoming an astronaut?
20. What is the most rewarding part of being an astronaut, and what are some of the sacrifices you have to make?