Girl Scouts to build a radio to talk to astronauts

Girl Scout Troop 1089, in Sacramento, has been selected as one of only eleven educational institutions and organizations across the United States to participate in a program allowing students to communicate directly with astronauts aboard the International Space Station.

Each year, the organizations that are chosen make ham radio contact with the International Space Station for a 10 minute Q&A with an astronaut. The program is a joint venture between ARISS and NASA.

Working with the River City Amateur Radio Communications Society and the greater Girl Scout Council, Heart of Central California, the Troop 1089 is leading educational sessions this Fall about Space, the Space Station, and Amateur Radios, their build, and associated careers, a program that was open to all Girl Scouts Seniors and Ambassadors in the greater Sacramento Area.

The Troop and volunteers at the River City Amateur Radio Communications Society (RCARCS) have completed their equipment plan in order to build a radio that will be able to execute ham radio contact with the International Space Station sometime the week of February 19, 2024.

The Scouts are now gathering the necessary equipment and have identified the pieces that they will need to purchase. The total amount needed to buy all the necessary equipment to make this radio contact with the International Space Station possible is $5,000.

Please consider a generous gift to this exciting project to make it possible for these Scouts to experience the live-changing and STEM career-interest generating possibilities of this program!

Make it possible for them to tell colleges and jobs they are applying to: “I learned about space science and communications and careers, and communicated live with an astronaut flying by on the International Space Station.”

After the contact, the Scouts will sell some pieces to members of the River City Amateur Radio Communications Society, donate others to active ham radio clubs in the area, and sell remaining equipment online.

ALL proceeds realized will then be immediately donated to the STEM Center at the Girl Scouts, Heart of Central California headquarters where participants of this program are committed to volunteering for the Girl Scouts in additional STEM based programs and activities.