[K3VOA] During the COVID-19 Pandemic, ARISS to Begin Experimental Demonstrations of School Contacts

[Ken Claerbout]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE



April 28, 2020 —Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) is pleased to announce the first use of a concept called Multipoint Telebridge Contact via Amateur Radio, allowing ARISS school contacts for Stay-At-Home students and simultaneous reception by families, school faculty and the public. During the last several weeks, efforts to contain COVID-19 have resulted in massive school closures worldwide, shutting down opportunities for ARISS school contacts for the near future.


To circumvent these challenges and keep students and the public safe, ARISS is introducing the Multipoint Telebridge Contact via Amateur Radio concept. First operation of this experimental system will occur during a contact scheduled with a group of Northern Virginia students in Woodbridge, VA on Thursday, April 30 at 13:35 UTC (9:35 EDT). During this event, an ARISS telebridge radio ground station will link to the astronaut on the International Space Station (ISS) ham radio station, and each Stay-At-Home student and teacher will be individually linked to the telebridge station. Each student from home, takes a turn asking a question of the astronaut.


Quoting ARISS Chair Frank Bauer, “This approach is a huge pivot for ARISS, but we feel it is a great strategic move for ARISS. In these times of isolation due to the virus, these ARISS connections provide a fantastic psychological boost to students, families, educators and the public. And they continue our long-standing efforts to inspire, engage and educate student in STEAM subjects and encourage STEAM careers.”


ARISS is inviting the public to view a live stream of the upcoming contact at its new ARISS YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/Cu8I9ose4Vo.



About ARISS:


Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) is a cooperative venture of international amateur radio societies and the space agencies that support the International Space Station (ISS). In the United States, sponsors are the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT), the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), the ISS National Lab and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The primary goal of ARISS is to promote exploration of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEAM) topics by organizing scheduled contacts via amateur radio between crew members aboard the ISS and students in classrooms or public forms. Before and during these radio contacts, students, educators, parents, and communities learn about space, space technologies, and amateur radio. For more information, see www.ariss.org<http://www.ariss.org/>


Media Contact:

Dave Jordan, AA4KN

ARISS PR

aa4kn at amsat.org<mailto:aa4kn at amsat.org>
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[cid:1ecccc08-76e3-4cf2-8d37-7879a6d7a990]


Ken Claerbout

Broadcast Technologies Division/Engineering & Transmission Directorate

U.S. Agency for Global Media | Broadcasting Board of Governors

330 Independence Avenue SW | Washington DC 20237

kclaerbo at bbg.gov // Office: 202.920.2172 //http://usagm.gov<http://usagm.gov/>