Students at Bellefontaine City Schools will make radio contact with astronauts on the International Space Station next year.

BCS was chosen as part of the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) program. The ARISS program inspires students around the world to pursue interests and careers in science, technology, engineering, and math. Bellefontaine will be one of only 9 schools in the United States to contact the ISS in spring 2022.

The program at BCS will be managed by the newly formed Bellefontaine High School Amateur Radio Club (BHS-ARC). As the year progresses, students will learn about spaceflight and amateur radio through engaging classroom activities and other events. As the contact approaches, 10 students will be selected to ask questions to astronauts who will answer them live. High school students will be able to watch the contact in person, and the contact will be livestreamed so others can watch it.

ARISS is a joint venture between NASA and the Amateur Radio community. Amateur radio, also known as ham radio, is a hobby and a service in which operators can make contact with people all over the world without using the internet or any connecting infrastructure. Many of its principles are applicable to the operation of the modern world.

For more information about the ARISS program, visit www.ariss.org.

Information about this upcoming contact and general information about the BHS Amateur Radio Club may be found at www.W8BCS.org.

Bellefontaine formed its amateur radio club last spring.

Club President Evan Kauffman said, “The yearlong ARISS program is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for students at Bellefontaine City Schools.

“We are also working on various associated projects to build up to this. For example, we plan to have teacher curriculum materials so that students can learn lessons about radio concepts and space flights.”

The BHS-ARC is excited to help facilitate this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for BCS students and the Bellefontaine community.