Credits: AMSAT
Two ducational radio contacts are planned 20 April 2026
First one:
University of Bordeaux (IUT de Bordeaux), GEII department, Gradignan, France, direct via F5KBW The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS The downlink frequency is presently scheduled to be 145.800 MHz The latest information on the operation mode can be found at https://www.ariss.org/current-status-of-iss-stations.html The scheduled crewmember is Sophie Adenot KJ5LTN The ARISS mentor is F6ICS Contact is go for: Mon 2026-04-20 08:12:45 UTC 30 deg. Watch for Livestream at https://live.ariss.org/
Proposed questions generated by the University of Bordeaux students: 1. Quelle sensation as-tu dans l’espace? 2. Pourquoi as-tu décidé de faire ce métier? 3. Quelles sont les expériences scientifiques menées dans l’ISS? 4. Pouvez-vous nous montrer ce que vous voyez par la fenêtre? 5. Est-ce que vous aimeriez poser le pied sur la Lune comme Neil Armstrong et devenir “la première femme sur la Lune”? 6. Quels sont vos divertissements dans la station? 7. Qu’est-ce que vous appréhendez le plus et qu’est-ce qui vous plait le plus dans votre expédition? 8. Diriez-vous que c’est la préparation physique ou bien la préparation mentale qui est la plus importante? 9. Vous habituez-vous au fait d’avoir plusieurs fois l’alternance Jour/nuit en 24h? 10. Que pouvez-vous nous dire sur la sensation d’impesanteur et comment s’y prépare-t-on avant un premier voyage dans l’espace? 11. Est-il possible que l’approvisionnement en oxygène soit interrompu à bord de l’ISS? Que faut-il faire dans ce cas? 12. Qu’est-ce qui vous manque le plus dans la vie sur Terre? 13. Comment faites-vous si vous perdez la liaison radio avec la Terre? 14. Que se passe-t-il en cas d’éruption solaire? 15. Quelle compétence acquise comme pilote d’essais vous sert le plus aujourd’hui comme astronaute? 16. Comment la station parvient à être autonome en électricité? 17. Est-ce qu’un stylo bille peut fonctionner en microgravité? 18. Qu’aimeriez-vous dire aux personnes sur Terre? 19. Comment les astronautes gèrent-ils l’exposition aux radiations? 20. Est-ce que le fait de ne plus avoir de vent, de pluie ou d’odeurs naturelles, ça joue sur votre moral à la longue? 1. What does it feel like to be in space? 2. Why did you decide to pursue this career? 3. What scientific experiments are carried out on the ISS? 4. Can you show us what you see out the window? 5. Would you like to set foot on the Moon like Neil Armstrong and become ‘the first woman on the Moon’ 6. What do you do for fun on the station? 7. What do you find the most challenging and what do you enjoy the most about your mission? 8. Would you say that physical preparation or mental preparation is more important? 9. Do you get used to having multiple day-night cycles in 24 hours? 10. What can you tell us about the feeling of weightlessness, and how do you prepare for it before your first spaceflight? 11. Is it possible for the oxygen supply on the ISS to be interrupted? What should you do in that case? 12. What do you miss the most from life on Earth? 13. What do you do if you lose radio contact with Earth? 14. What happens in case of a solar flare? 15. Which skill you learned as a test pilot helps you the most today as an astronaut? 16. How does the station manage to be self-sufficient in electricity? 17. Can a ballpoint pen work in microgravity? 18. What would you like to say to people on Earth? 19. How do astronauts manage exposure to radiation? 20. Does not having wind, rain, or natural smells affect your mood over time?
Second one:
Diamond Harbour School, Christchurch, New Zealand, telebridge via IK1SLD The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS The downlink frequency is presently scheduled to be 145.800 MHz The latest information on the operation mode can be found at https://www.ariss.org/current-status-of-iss-stations.html The scheduled crewmember is Hathaway KJ5NIV The ARISS mentor is VK4KHZ Contact is go for: Mon 2026-04-20 09:51:10 UTC 36 deg.
Proposed questions generated by the Diamond Harbour School students: 1. Please could you describe the feeling of looking down on Earth for the first time from the space station? 2. Can you feel gravity weaken as you go up in the rocket? 3. What is your favourite thing about living aboard the ISS? 4. How does it feel to exercise in space, does it feel any different to on Earth? 5. Please can you describe your favourite science experiment that you have been a part of onboard the ISS? 6. Is it scary? Do you get scared at any point on the mission? 7. What is the most dangerous thing you have experienced in Space? 8. Can you describe what the most beautiful thing you have seen from the space station is and what it felt like seeing it? 9. What does the Moon look like up close? 10. How does it feel when you are standing in your astronaut suit outside the space station, ready for a space walk? 11. Do you ever get lonely in space, even though there are other people with you? 12. What do you like to do for fun on the ISS? 13. When did you decide that you wanted to become an astronaut? 14. What challenges did you have to face to become the astronaut you are today? 15. When you get back home to Earth, how do you think it will feel to walk on land again? 16. What do you think you are going to miss most about living on the space station when you get back to Earth?