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ARISS News Release No. 22-13
ARISS to Support Axiom Space Crew Members
on First Private ISS Mission
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 3, 2022
Amateur Radio on the International Space Station, Inc. (ARISS-USA)is pleased to announce that two crew members scheduled to fly on AxiomMission-1 (Ax-1), the first private astronaut mission to the InternationalSpace Station, will utilize the ARISS on-board radio resources to conduct six schoolconnections via amateur radio.
These ARISS school contacts will be conducted with Ax-1crew members Mark Pathy, from Canada, and Eytan Stibbe, from Israel. Both Pathy and Stibbe are fully trained onthe use of the ARISS radio system, located in the ISS Columbus module, and havestudied and passed their amateur radio license exams. Mark Pathy’s amateur radio callsign is KO4WFH. Eytan Stibbe’s amateur radio callsign is4Z9SPC.
As part of the "Rakia" mission, Eytan Stibbewill use ARISS facilities aboard the International Space Station to hold talkswith middle school and high school students in Israel while the ISS will be aboveIsrael. A total of 40 school classes are expected to participate in theproject, and in the weeks preceding the launch, the students from Israel willparticipate in theoretical and practical sessions to learn about radio-basedcommunication.
Mark Pathy,under the personal mission theme of 'Caring for people and the planet', willconnect with elementary and high schools across Canada while on board theISS. Pathy will be answering questions developed by the students, ranging fromhow his body has reacted to being in space to how to do everyday things in zerogravity and thoughtful questions around the state of our planet. Theconversations are part of Pathy’s educational program through which schoolsalso benefit from STEM content and mentorship.
“The long-held dream of private missions to stations inspace becomes a reality on Ax-1. ARISSis proud to collaborate with Axiom Space, Mark Pathy, and Eytan Stibbe on thisflight and support the Ax-1 crew members through amateur radio contacts thatwill inspire, engage and educate school students in science, technology,engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) topics,” said Frank Bauer, KA3HDO,Executive Director of ARISS-USA and Chair of ARISS International.
“Axiom is proud to help enable the educational work ofARISS-USA on this historic mission,” said Dr. Mary Lynne Dittmar, ExecutiveVice President of Government Operations and Strategic Communications for AxiomSpace. “For years, ARISS and itsprograms have inspired students across the globe to pursue interests inscience, technology, engineering and math, and we are pleased that Ax-1 willjoin the list of missions that have contributed to this important educational work.”
The Ax-1mission includes an international crew of four with Axiom’s MichaelLopez-Alegria, former NASA astronaut and Axiom VP, serving as commander. The Ax-1 mission is currently scheduled tolaunch on March 30, 2022.
About ARISS:
Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) is acooperative venture of international amateur radio societies and the spaceagencies that support the International Space Station (ISS). In the UnitedStates, sponsors include the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT), theAmerican Radio Relay League (ARRL), the ISS National Lab‐Space StationExplorers, NASA’s Space Communications and Navigation program (NASA SCaN) andAmateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC). The primary goal of ARISS is to promoteexploration of science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematicstopics. ARISS does this by organizing scheduled contacts via amateur radio betweencrew members aboard the ISS and students. Before and during these radiocontacts, students, educators, parents, and communities take part in hands‐onlearning activities tied to space, space technologies, and amateur radio. Formore information, see www.ariss.org, www.ariss-usa.org.
MediaContact:
Rita M.DeHart, PE
KC4RMS
ARISS-USA Directorof Public Engagement
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