KUALA LUMPUR: Ten students from Sekolah Kebangsaan Sultan Hisammudin Alam Shah, Kuala Lumpur had an experience of a lifetime when they communicated directly with National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) astronaut Captain Sunita Williams, who is in space on board the International Space Station (ISS).
The event took place during the “ISS Contact 2024” program held at the National Planetarium, providing a unique experience for the children from Year One to Year Six.
National Planetarium senior principal assistant director Mohd Zamri Shah Mastor said students communicated directly with Williams , over an Amateur Radio Station.
“We communicated directly for nine to 10 minutes with the ISS which is between 300km and 435km from the earth’s surface (going) at a speed of 26,700km per hour. I hope this initiative will inspire them to be interested in space,” he told reporters here on Monday (Oct 7).
A list of astronauts displayed on screen at the National Planetarium. – Bernama
The ISS Contact 2024 program is an annual event in conjunction with the 24th World Space Week organised by the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry from Oct 4 to 10.
Mohd Zamri Shah said students were also allowed to delve into the field of radio technology used at the Amateur Radio Station to study global climate change.
“We (National Planetarium) hope programs like this can encourage students to venture into the field of radio technology in addition to being able to understand space science and climate change in the future,” he said. – Bernama
Great to hear audio from today’s contact in Malaysia! Good capture!
— ARISS – Amateur Radio on the ISS (@ARISS_Intl) October 7, 2024
