Amateur Radio Bridges Space and Earth for Kids

Amateur radio has been connecting astronauts with the public since 1983, when astronaut Owen Garriott first communicated from space using this technology. The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) program, managed by a consortium of international space agencies and amateur radio organizations, facilitates educational connections between astronauts and students worldwide. ARISS has conducted around 1,700 educational contacts, engaging thousands of youths annually. Future initiatives include expanding educational activities to lunar missions and developing new technologies like the CAVIAR system for lunar exploration.