NASA is now accepting proposals from U.S. schools, museums, science centers and community youth organizations to host an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station, or ARISS, contact between November 1, 2012 and May 1, 2013. To maximize these radio contact opportuni

ties, NASA is looking for organizations that will draw large numbers of participants and integrate the contact into a well-developed education plan. Proposals are due July 2, 2012.

To obtain the proposal guide and form along with details about online informational sessions, contact Teaching From Space, a NASA Education office, at JSC-TFS-ARISS@mail.nasa.gov.

A scheduled ARISS contact is a voice-only communication via Amateur Radio between the International Space Station (ISS) crew and classrooms and communities. For more information about ARISS and the U.S. and international program partners, click here. ARISS contacts allow education audiences to learn firsthand from astronauts what it is like to work and live in space. These scheduled contact opportunities are offered to formal and informal education institutions and organizations, individually or working together.  The radio contacts are approximately 10 minutes in length due to the radio communication window permitted by the logistics of orbital passes of the ISS.  During the contact, students interact directly with astronauts and cosmonauts during this communication window using a question and answer format.

To maximize these radio contacts, the ARISS program looks for organizations that will draw large numbers of participants and integrate the radio contact into a well-developed education plan.  Because of the nature of human spaceflight and the complexity of scheduling activities aboard the ISS, organizations must demonstrate flexibility to accommodate changes in contact dates and times.

In the U.S., the NASA Teaching from Space office manages the ARISS proposal and selection process. The ARISS program provides two opportunities each year for educators to submit a robust educational proposal to host a scheduled contact. 

Educational proposals should include plans for students to:

• study topics related to space technology, space exploration, or space research, and
• learn about communication, wireless technology, and radio science

The more advance preparation educators make with educational plans, the more learning and value the ARISS event will have for students.  Imagine your students interviewing an astronaut in space, maybe even using an antenna your students have assembled!  

ARRL's Education & Technology Program and NASA offer valuable resources to help you and your students learn about wireless technology and satellite communications and space exploration.  Go to ARRL’s web page: Preparation for an ARISS Contact for links to those resources.  

An ARISS Mentor is assigned to assist education groups whose proposals are selected for an ARISS contact to help with technical coordination of the contact. With the assistance of your ARISS mentor, ARRL and AMSAT will help you find a local Amateur Radio group to provide the equipment and expertise. In some cases, local ham radio club volunteers may also be able to  to assist with lessons on communication, wireless technology, or radio science.

Educators of all grade levels and types of schools (rural, suburban and urban) should contact the NASA Teaching From Space office to obtain information related to expectations, content, format, audience, and proposal guidelines by sending an e-mail to JSC-TFS-ARISS@mail.nasa.gov or calling 281-244-2320.  For an overview of the program on the NASA website, click here.