Royal Masonic School for Girls amateur radio contact with Tim Peake – Credit UKSA
The second live amateur radio call to a British school with Tim Peake GB1SS took place today (February 11, 2016) at The Royal Masonic School (RMS) for Girls GB1RMS in Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire.
Young women from RMS for Girls who certified as Amateur Radio operators for the live link up – Credit RMS
Contact was made with the International Space Station (ISS) at around 18:09 GMT and, in a world first at a school, video was streamed over the radio airwaves which meant that the students could see as well as hear Tim. The contact lasted around 8 minutes allowing several students to ask Tim about life on board the ISS.
Year 9 student Saira, asked
What the first word that came into his head was when he saw the Earth from space.
Tim’s response was simple, “beautiful.”
Isabella, aged 7, asked
When I am your age what do you think space travel will look like?
Tim said that Isabella had many years to wait until then but he hoped that trips to the Moon and to Mars would be possible.
Head of Education and Skills for the UK Space Agency, Jeremy Curtis said
The students at the Royal Masonic School did a fantastic and professional job during the contact itself – but more than that, the whole school has really engaged with Tim’s Principia mission by trying out the many education activities he has inspired.
John Gould G3WKL President of the Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB) said
Tonight was a truly historic moment; not only for the school having their contact with Tim, but, for the first time ever a school received amateur television from the ISS. I hope this event gives all the students at the school, and everyone watching, a sense of inspiration in terms of STEM subjects which have been brought so vividly to light in a fun way through amateur radio.
Ciaran Morgan M0XTD from ARISS said
It was marvellous; we’re absolutely elated and extremely grateful to Tim for setting the camera up. It was far better than we could have expected and I hope that the students enjoyed it as much as we did.
The event was broadcast live via the ARISS UK website and will be made available shortly on their YouTube channel.
Sandringham School in St Albans, Hertfordshire were the first school to make a call to Tim and details of dates for all the other 8 shortlisted schools have now been scheduled.
For more information on ARISS calls and other activities linked to the Principia mission, please visit the events page
https://principia.org.uk/events/
Source UK Space Agency press release
https://principia.org.uk/news/second-amateur-radio-call/
What is Amateur Radio? http://www.essexham.co.uk/what-is-amateur-radio
Find an amateur radio training course near you https://thersgb.org/services/coursefinder/
A free booklet is available aimed at introducing newcomers to the hobby that can also be used as a handy reference while getting started, see
http://rsgb.org/main/get-started-in-amateur-radio/alex-discovers-amateur-radio-2/
