Beccy Bowen 2W0YLL (right) led the contact between Powys school students and Tim Peake GB1SS
On Saturday, March 5, 2016 students from Powys Secondary Schools, call sign GB4PCS, had an amateur radio contact with UK astronaut Tim Peake GB1SS.
The contact, led by radio amateur Beccy Bowen 2W0YLL, took place at Builth Wells High School and students from the school along with Gwernyfed High School pupils were able to ask Tim Peake questions for 8 minutes as the ISS passed by traveling at 27,600 km/hour.
As part of the preparations for the contact Powys students took part in an Amateur Radio Buildathon – Credit RSGB
Wales Online quotes Adam Tofarides MW0XDD, Chair of the Brecon and Radnor Amateur Radio Society. Adam gained his Foundation licence in April 2014, and progressed to Intermediate and Advanced in October and December of the same year. He said the contact was an “amazing experience”. He added: “The hall was completely packed out. There must have been around 170 people.”
“No-one could quite believe it was going to happen and we were quite stunned when we got hold of Tim on the first attempt.”
“It’s the first and last time it’s going to happen in Wales that we’ll be able to speak a British astronaut while they are at the ISS.”
“It’s an achievement to inspire these pupils and encourage them to carry on with this in the future.”
BBC Wales video report of the contact http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-35735473
BBC Wales Today show at 18:00 on March 5 had a report start at 3:40 into
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b071y4cm/bbc-wales-today-05032016
Wales Online
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/pupils-welsh-high-school-spoke-10995463
ARISS contact planned for Mid Wales schools
http://amsat-uk.org/2016/03/01/ariss-contact-planned-for-school-in-mid-wales-uk/
ARISS Principia site https://principia.ariss.org/
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/
Builth Wells High School Head Girl Gwen Davies talking to Tim Peake
