Elementary School Makes Radio Contact Astronaut Aboard the International Space Station

Students gathered in the Sally Ride Elementary cafeteria on December 17, 2024, to make live radio contact with NASA astronaut Sunita Williams aboard the International Space Station. They asked 24 questions in real time using amateur radio (photo credit: Sally Ride Elementary School).

 On December 17, 2024, at 1:49 p.m. EST, students at Sally Ride Elementary School in Orlando, Florida, made live radio contact with NASA astronaut Commander Sunita Williams aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

The ISS is an orbiting science laboratory about 250 miles above Earth. It travels at 17,500 miles per hour which is about five miles per second.

The ISS is about the size of a six-bedroom house. It has sleeping rooms, science labs, bathrooms, and places to exercise. Astronauts from different space agencies conduct research and experiments on the station. Using amateur radio technology, students at Sally Ride Elementary took turns asking Commander Williams questions.

"When Sunita Williams started talking, my brain was like, 'Oh my God, I'm talking to an astronaut!'" said Darian Rodriguez, 10, a fourth-grade student at Sally Ride Elementary. "It was amazing. Everyone at the event was really friendly, especially Sunita Williams. It was really fun to hear her talk and learn about life in space."

A NASA Astronaut and Spaceflight Leader

Commander Sunita Williams is a NASA astronaut and veteran of many spaceflights. She has been living and working aboard the ISS since June 2024. Her mission was originally planned to last only eight days. Due to technical challenges with the Boeing Starliner spacecraft, her mission was extended. She is expected to return to Earth in March 2025 aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon.

Williams is the second woman to serve as Commander of the ISS. She holds the record for most spacewalk time by a woman.

Bringing Space Science to Students

The live contact was made possible by several organizations, including Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS). This international program connects around the world with astronauts on the ISS via ham radio. ARISS conducts 60 to 100 radio contacts annually. The program inspires students to explore science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

Locally, the event was organized by Sally Ride Elementary's Magnet STEM program and Magnet Activities Coordinator Beatriz Berriz. "Our students recently had the incredible opportunity to make live contact with the International Space Station," said Berriz. "They asked 24 questions to astronaut Sunita Williams using amateur radio. It was an amazing experience."

The Orange County Library System also played a role by hosting space-themed storytimes and bringing their book bike to the school and passing out space-themed play kits to the students. The library system also livestreamed the radio contact on televisions located inside their branches so that local community residents could watch.

Sally Ride Elementary students share facts they learned about the International Space Station as part of their ARISS radio contact event on December 17, 2024. (photo credit: Sally Ride Elementary School).

 Learning Beyond the Classroom

Leading up to the event, students participated in many hands-on STEM activities including:

• Building antennas to understand radio communication technology.
• STEM experiments with dehydrated vegetables and plant growth in space.
• The Tomatosphere Project – Students planted tomato seeds that had spent 36 days aboard the ISS.
• "Astronight" evening event with the Central Florida Astronomical Society where students viewed the moon and planets like Saturn using big telescopes in the school parking lot

An audience of students, teachers, parents, community members, and local leaders witnessed the historic event.

“It was an unforgettable experience for everyone,” Rodriguez said.

To nominate your school for a future radio contact, visit: https://www.ariss.org/