Contents
How do you communicate with the ISS?
As mentioned earlier, radio waves are the best way to communicate between astronauts, but they are also useful for communicating with regular people just like you! There is a HAM radio onboard the ISS, and for those amateur radio operators on Earth, this means that you can speak directly to the astronauts onboard!
What language do you have to speak to work on ISS?
This means that all astronauts going to the ISS, no matter how many languages they speak, also need to learn Russian. And astronauts and cosmonauts all over the world need to learn at least some English to work with NASA. English is a challenging language for foreigners to learn.
Would a cell phone work in space?
No. Take an ordinary smartphone and put it in outer space and you’ve got a big problem: Inadequate cooling. The phone is going to destroy itself with its own heat. Normal conduction and convection cooling will not work, all you have is radiation and at those temperatures it’s a small part of the cooling.
Why are married couples not allowed in space?
NASA’s official explanation for this regulation is that the presence of a married couple aboard a space mission could potentially become disturbing to the other astronauts. Both NASA, as well as the former Soviet space program, successfully launched the first astronauts and cosmonauts into space flight in 1961.
Do Russian astronauts speak English?
Once aboard the ISS, the crew communicates in a mixture of English and Russian, so astronauts must be fluent in one of those languages and have a high degree of competency in the other.
How can I listen to the ISS radio?
As the ISS climbs above your horizon, because of doppler-shift, listen on 145.805. Switch to 145.800 as the ISS approaches zenith. Switch to 145.795 as the ISS drops toward the other horizon. You’ll know when to switch frequency when the audio gets bad.
How can I talk to the International Space Station?
Set your radio frequency to a channel used by Amateur Radio ISS contacts. Your ham radio has dials used to choose the frequency it uses to send and receive signals. In order to communicate with a radio on board the ISS, your radio needs to be set to a frequency that they use to talk to earth-bound radio amateurs.
What’s the best way to listen to the ISS?
If you don’t have an amateur radio receiver you can still listen to the ISS by using an Online Radio, also known as a WebSDR. Select a Frequency of 145800.0 kHz and Mode FM: What will you hear ?
Is there a way to confirm contact with the ISS?
QSL cards are offered to confirm radio contacts with the ISS. Here’s how to obtain one. Commercial and public domain software is available to help track when the ISS will be in range of your station, and where to point your antenna. Various online programs allow you to follow the path of satellites, including the ISS.
What’s the window for communication on the ISS?
There is a 10-minute window for communication and it’s important to make sure the students and equipment are prepared when the Station passes overhead. Image to right: Students at DuBose Middle School, Summerville, South Carolina had a successful contact with Mike Foale on board the ISS via amateur radio.