Contact with the International Space Station as part of TU Dublin's Space Week activities
On Friday, 6th October 2023 at 14:11 IST, twelve pupils from a number of DEIS primary schools in the Dublin region spoke live with NASA astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli via amateur radio about life on the International Space Station (ISS) as it orbits the earth at 27,600 km/hr. The event was part of the ARISS (Amateur Radio on the International Space Station) Program, which links Schools and radio amateurs around the world with ISS astronauts to promote STEM subjects. The contact with the ISS lasted for 11 minutes during which time the pupils had an opportunity to ask many questions about space and how to become an astronaut. The event was streamed live via TU Dublin's YouTube channel here.
The Renewable Energy Lab in the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering in the Central Quad building was temporarily converted into a satellite ground station for the event by members of the Irish Radio Transmitters Society (IRTS).
The technical team for this contact included Robbie Phelan EI2IP, who kindly organised all the equipment and station set up, Seamus McCague EI8BP, the ARISS radio mentor, Ana Canizares EI5IXB, coordinator of the activity in TU Dublin and schools, Mark Davis EI4ACB and Joe Ryan EI7GY as technical support and Enda Scally, a technical officer from the School of Electronic and Electrical Engineering in TU Dublin. The ARISS ground station at TU Dublin was allocated the special callsign EI1ISS (Echo India One India Sierra Sierra) by ComReg for the event.
The ARISS space link-up was the culmination of TU Dublin’s ‘Space Week’, an initiative supported by Workday, Inc., running from 2nd to 10th October. TU Dublin and Workday teamed up to deliver engaging, fun-filled and educational events and activities to prepare pupils and awaken a deeper interest in STEAM, through space and space travel.