Articles about astronaut | UserComp.com

Amateur Radio Enthusiast Makes Contact with ISS Astronaut

An amateur radio operator, Doug, successfully communicated with a NASA astronaut, Woody Hoburg, from his backyard. Doug used a simple antenna and a dual-band VHF/UHF amateur radio transceiver to make contact with the International Space Station (ISS). The ISS has a radio station that astronauts use to communicate with schools and other radio amateurs during their free time. The first amateur radio transmission from space was made in 1983 by astronaut Owen Garriott. ARISS, an organization created by volunteers from various countries, organizes contacts between radio amateurs and ISS astronauts, which are usually prepared in schools for students to ask questions. However, the coincidence for other radio amateurs like Doug to make contact with the ISS is triple: the ISS must be in sight, an astronaut must be available during their free time, and they must be near the radio. Astronauts usually announce on social media when they will be available for radio communication to avoid wasting time for radio amateurs. Nonetheless, patience is key.