Astronaut Mike Fincke, amateur radio call sign KE5AIT, will operate the amateur radio equipment aboard the International Space Station. Mike will answer questions from students in South Africa during this live amateur radio contact.
This amateur radio contact is scheduled for Friday, August 29, 2025 at 09:35:44 UTC.
Astronaut Mike Fincke will operate the amateur radio station call sign NA1SS aboard the ISS and will call the radio amateur ground station call sign ZS9LSO in South Africa. This is a live ARISS radio contact from the Laerskool Orion in Alberton, South Africa.
You can listen live to astronaut Mike Fincke aboard the ISS on 145.800 MHz (plus/minus 3kHz Doppler shift).
The event will be streamed live:
https://www.youtube.com/@ORION2025ARISS
English is the expected language of communication in this amateur radio contact.
Questions (as time allows):
1. What does it feel like to be without gravity, and what challenges are there in a weightless environment?
2. How long does it take to readjust to Earth after spending a long time in space without gravity, and how do you adapt?
3. Does the lack of gravity affect your sleep patterns in space? How do you sleep without floating around?
4. What inspired you to become an astronaut, and what advice would you give to others who want to follow the same path?
5. How long does it take to put on the spacesuit and helmet, and how comfortable is it to wear?
6. Where does the water you drink come from?
7. What type of food do astronauts eat in space, and how is the food kept fresh?
8. In the absence of an atmosphere as we know it on earth, where does the oxygen come from that you breathe?
9. I am a very active person and would like to know how do astronauts stay fit in a microgravity?
10. Do you have any free time and how do you spend it?
11. What happens when any of the crew gets sick?
12. I am absolutely stunned at the thought of spacewalking. Does your body feel any different during a space walk?
13. How do you navigate in space?
14. What technologies do you think will make humans living on Mars possible?
15. What type of experiments are being carried out on the ISS?
16. What's the funniest thing that has happened to you in zero gravity?
17. Have you witnessed any unexpected phenomena in space?
18. How do you tell night from day—does Earth's pattern help?
19. What's the most beautiful sight you've seen looking down on Earth?
20. Do any sounds from Earth reach your station—like storms or ocean waves?
The ARISS program is aimed at students and enthusiasts and aims to inspire them in the study of sciences with this amateur radio activity. The demonstration of amateur radio communication from space invites schools and universities to make use of these educational technical resources. We invite radio amateurs and space enthusiasts to tune in to this exciting moment.
Check out the ARISS website and follow ARISS on the official social media channels for more updates.
https://www.ariss.org/contact-the-iss.html
Images: (Click on images for larger view.)
Images: Alberton Amateur Radio Interest Group
