The next proposal window for US schools and educational organizations to host an Amateur Radio contact with a crew member on board the ISS opened on February 21, 2022, for contacts to be scheduled for January 1, 2023 – June 30, 2023. Proposals are due to ARISS by March 31, 2022, at 11:59 PM Pacific Time. Kathy Lamont, KM4TAY and Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC, held an orientation session to help groups who want to apply for a contact to learn about the ISS contact process and to help them to prepare their applications. You can view the orientation session by clicking on the video below.
Working with a school or youth group to host an Amateur Radio Contact with the ISS is a great way for Amateur Radio Club to build a relationship with a school around STEM learning through Amateur Radio.
You can learn more about how to prepare a contact proposal and download the contact proposal template. You can also contact Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC, at ab1oc@arrl.org if you have questions about applying for or hosting an Amateur Radio contact with astronauts on the ISS.