MELBOURNE, VIC. (TELEBRIDGE). — Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has received schedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact between an astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and students at the Australian Air League located in Adelaide, Australia.
All times in this report are UTC/GMT.
1052z: Two minutes until AOS as the Space Station comes over the horizon.
1045z: Good evening and welcome to our live coverage. Stand by for acquisition of signal (AOS).
The Australian Air League (AAL) is a youth organisation for girls and boys starting at age 8 years. AAL encourages an interest in aviation as a career or as a hobby for the youth of Australia. AAL is entirely self-funded and is staffed by volunteers.
AAL was formed in 1934, in an era when Australian aviators such as Sir Charles Kingsford-Smith, Charles Ulm, Bert Hinkler, Sir Ross and Keith Smith and others were household names and heroes. The first squadron was opened in Manly (NSW) and the Air League quickly spread throughout that state. In early 1939 the first squadron was opened in Victoria and in 1944 the first girls’ section was formed. Today AAL is active in NSW, the ACT, Victoria, Queensland, and South Australia and is still expanding.
This will be a telebridge Contact via Amateur Radio, allowing students to ask their questions of astronaut Jack Hathaway, amateur radio call sign KJ5NIV. The downlink frequency for this contact is 145.800 MHz and may be heard by listeners that are within the ISS-footprint that also encompasses the telebridge station.
The ARISS amateur radio ground station (telebridge station) for this contact is in Casale Monferrato, Italy. The amateur radio volunteer team at the ground station will use the call sign, IK1SLD to establish and maintain the ISS connection.
The ARISS radio contact occurred yesterday, Friday, August 14, 2026, at 8:26 pm ACST (Adelaide, AU); 7:56pm AEST (Melboune, Sydney, Brisbane & Hobart (10:56 UTC, 6:56am US EDT, 5:56am US CDT, 4:56am US MDT, 3:56am US PDT).
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As time allows, students will ask these questions:
1. What is the time difference in space, is it faster or slower?
2. What psychological changes do you go through when on the ISS
3. How has your sleep been impacted?
4. What is the maximum time you can stay in space?
5. How long did it take to build the ISS?
6. How do you receive urgent medical attention on the ISS?
7. How does eating differ in space (when, what, how, etc.)?
8. Can you contact anyone on earth and if so, how?
9. For how long did you study to be an astronaut?
10. Can you see a solar eclipse from the ISS?
11. What is the most amazing discovery you have found on your mission?
12. How would you best describe your ride into space?
13. What is something about space that would surprise most people?
14. What is the most complex system or piece of equipment you need to monitor on ISS?
15. What advice would you give to a young person who wants to go into space?
16. Can you play a musical instrument in space?
17. How long is your mission for?
18. What is your favourite aircraft?
19. For how long do you have to train and study to become an astronaut?
20. Have you done a spacewalk, if not would you like to?
ARISS conducts 60-100 of these special amateur radio contacts each year between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses aboard the ISS.
