Moon Mission: Artemis 2 astronauts may connect with youngsters on Earth via radio

In late 2024, Artemis 2 mission will send a crew of astronauts around moon, and most of m happen to be certified amateur radio (ham radio) operators. This fact has excited amateur radio community, as y anticipate possibility of astronauts making a call back to Earth from deep . Phil A. McBride, president of Radio Amateurs of Canada, stated in a recent interview with .com that it is important for young people to have opportunity to speak with astronauts and be inspired. After 40 years of communication with low Earth orbit, hope w is that Ham radio will extend its reach to moon.

NASA astronaut Owen Garriott (W5LFL) made history on Dec. 1, 1983, when he became first person to call an amateur radio operator on Earth from . Using a ham radio, Garriott spoke with Lance Collister (WA1JXN) in Frenchtown, Montana, marking beginning of a new era in communications. use of ham radio continued with Russian station Mir during shuttle-Mir program, according to NASA.

Ham radio is used to let students speak with astronauts 

Today, Ham operators communicate with astronauts through Amateur Radio on International Station (ARISS), which allows students to talk directly with flyers. According to documentation from group, program's primary aim is to inspire young people to pursue careers in science, techlogy, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. As of 2022, NASA reports that more than 100 crew members have connected with 250,000 participants on ground via ARISS.

It remains uncertain wher Artemis 2 mission will include ham radio equipment, as final mission details have yet to be confirmed, according to Chief Astronaut Joe Acaba and two crew members (NASA's Reid Wiseman and Canadian ncy's Jeremy Hansen) who were interviewed by .com last month. In order to make ham radio communication possible during mission, crew would need to have access to adequate power and stor for equipment, as well as some free time to operate radios during 10-day mission.