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 global engagement 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 the national amateur radio organizations including the American Radio Relay League and AMSAT.
Blogs and News Releases
ARISS Facebook Posts
Upcoming Educational Contacts
Weekly Reports
ARISS Founders and Legends Series: J.A. “Tony” Hutchison (VK5ZAI)
January 2026—As part of the ARISS 25th anniversary year-long celebration, we are publishing a series of interviews with founding members and legends in the organization. Our first interviewee is Tony Hutchison, who has been an ARISS pillar since the beginning of the...
ARISS News Release No. 25-20 ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Participants from the Pan-African Citizen Science e-lab in more than 50 countries in Africa
April 15, 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 participants that are part of the Pan-African Citizen Science...
Weekly Oct.7-13, 2025
October 6: Paterson P-Tech High School in Paterson, NJ hosted an ARISS radio contact with Kimiya Yui; he answered 21 student questions. In addition to the school’s enrollees getting this great opportunity, the administration had involved students from neighboring...