Credits: ARISS
ARISS Contact is Scheduled with Scientists and Crew aboard
Research Exploration Vessel Nautilus in the Pacific and en route to Rarotonga, Cook Islands
September 2, 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 scientists aboard Research Exploration Vessel Nautilus in the Pacific, en route to Rarotonga, Cook Islands. ARISS conducts 60-100 of these special amateur radio contacts each year between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses aboard the ISS.
The Ocean Exploration Trust was founded in 2007 to explore the ocean, seeking out multi-disciplinary discoveries while pushing the boundaries of STEAM education and technological innovation. Our international program is launched from aboard the Exploration Vessel (E/V) Nautilus, offering live exploration worldwide via live video, audio, and data feeds. Commander Zena Cardman was part of a Nautilus expedition in 2013.
This will be a telebridge contact via Amateur Radio allowing participants to ask their questions of astronaut Zena Cardman, amateur radio call sign KJ5CMN. The downlink frequency for this contact is 145.800 MHz and may be heard by listeners that are within the ISS-footprint that also encompasses the telebridge station.
The ARISS amateur radio ground station (telebridge station) for this contact is in Greenbelt, Maryland. The amateur radio volunteer team at the ground station will use the call sign, K6DUE, to establish and maintain the ISS connection.
The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for September 4, 2025 at 9:03:21 UTC, 5:03 am EDT, 4:03 am CDT, 3:03 am MDT, 2:03 am PDT).
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As time allows, the following questions will be asked:
- Why is it important for humanity to explore the unknown — whether it’s in the ocean or beyond our planet?
- What inspired you to explore such extreme and unknown environments?
- What is your favorite part of the ocean to look at from space?
- What kinds of technologies do deep-sea explorers and astronauts both use?
- How has your view of the planet changed by exploring space and the ocean?
- How did your time at sea help you become an astronaut?
- What are the similarities between exploring the deep ocean and exploring space?
- What was your favorite food on Nautilus?
- What is your favorite food in space?
- What’s the most unexpected thing you’ve discovered during your ISS mission?
- What’s a common misconception people have about your field of exploration?
- What advice would you give to people who want to get involved in exploration?
- Do you have a favorite memory from your time at sea?
- How do you prepare mentally and physically for an ISS mission in such an isolated place?
- What do you miss most about Earth?
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 ISS. In the United States, sponsors are the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC), Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT), NASA’s Space Communications and Navigation program (SCaN) and the ISS National Lab—Space Station Explorers. The primary goal of ARISS is to promote exploration of science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics topics. ARISS does this by organizing scheduled contacts via amateur radio between crew members aboard the ISS and students. Before and during these radio contacts, students, educators, parents, and communities take part in hands-on learning activities tied to space, space technologies, and amateur radio. For more information, see http://www.ariss.org.
Media Contact:
Dave Jordan, AA4KN
ARISS PR
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