Can you talk to astronauts with ham radio?

Astronauts aboard the space station often speak to students via ham radio, which can also be used in emergencies, but those are scheduled appearances. Some, like Wheelock, spend their limited free time making contact with amateur radio operators around the world.

Can I talk to the space station?

If someone does need to “call” the ISS, operators at mission control centres simply relay the audio through a telephone line to Houston into the very high frequency space-to-ground radio network. The phone number at NASA Johnson Space Center is +1 281-483-0123, but your chances of getting through to the ISS are slim.

What is ham radio Good For?

Amateur radio, also known as ham radio, is the use of radio frequency spectrum for purposes of non-commercial exchange of messages, wireless experimentation, self-training, private recreation, radiosport, contesting, and emergency communication.

How does ISS communicate with Earth?

In addition to direct-to-Earth communications, many NASA missions rely on relay satellites in order to get their data to the ground. For example, the space station communicates through Tracking and Data Relay Satellites (TDRS), which transmit data to ground stations in New Mexico and Guam.

Can ham radio talk to ISS?

The crew can operate the Kenwood radio in the crossband repeater mode, and hams can make contacts with the ISS station when the crew members are working. Hams can also communicate with each other using the ISS packet (computer) radio mode, or receive slow scan television mode images.

Do cell phones work in outer space?

Originally Answered: Can you use your cell phone in space? Nope. Cell towers are on on Earth’s surface and using phased array focusing and directional antennas, the radio energy is focused down on the surface of the Earth, not into outer space. Most cell phones don’t even work in an airplane while it’s flying.