From Caithness to space: School radio club makes contact with astronauts
The stars had to align for Wick High School pupils to reach space with their radios
It was an out of this world experience for everyone involved.
Pupils from Wick High School’s radio club reached further than any peers have ever done when they contacted the International Space Station.
In a feat requiring perfect alignment, Caithness amateur radio fans had an eight to 10 minute communication window to make the most of.
Chris Aitken, computing teacher and lead organiser at Wick High School, praised his pupils’ effort. “This was quite possibly the highest honour a school group can achieve in amateur radio, and having reliable, high-speed broadband in place was vital for sharing this landmark STEM event with the world,” he said.
“You could feel the excitement in the room as the space station came across the horizon and we heard the astronaut respond to our pupils.”
The live question-and-answer session with the orbiting spacecraft represented the most northerly direct educational link with the ISS ever attempted in the UK.
Pupils spoke to Canadian astronaut Josh Kutryk after establishing contact via the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station service.
The Wick High School students and other children lined up to ask a series of questions.
He told the pupils it took “years and years of training” to prepare his mind and body for space.
Answering a question from a pupil called Reese, he said: “Seeing the Earth from space is just amazing. Words will never do it justice.”
A pupil called Rory asked him: “What do movies always get wrong about space?”
Mr Kutryk answered: “I would say how easy everything is. Nothing up here is easy, everything is hard – even brushing your teeth.”
A pupil called Florence asked him how the food in space tastes, with the astronaut answering: “Everything tastes a little bit different, sometimes good, sometimes bad.
“I love coffee on planet Earth but up here it tastes a little different.”
Asked for his favourite part of his job, the astronaut said: “Next to looking out the window, is talking to loved ones back on Earth and trying to explain to them what it feels and looks like to live in space for many months.”
Operating from a high latitude, the communication window required absolute skill to handle the global live stream as the station orbited overhead at more than 17,500 miles per hour.
The historic connection was facilitated by Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS UK) for high school students and feeder primary school pupils across the region to watch seamlessly live and in high-definition.
It was made possible by high speed broadband from Highland Broadband, the only full-fibre provider building exclusively in Scotland.
Members of the Wick High School Radio Club (callsign GMØWHS) – which includes 15 licensed student radio operators – helped lead the contact as part of a wider space-themed curriculum at the school.
Education Secretary Màiri McAllan said: “Of all the wonderful and exciting experiences that we have at school, I can hardly think of one more memorable than this – getting the opportunity to speak to an astronaut on the International Space Station.
“I am absolutely thrilled for Wick High School.”
Wick High School Radio Club operates under callsign GMØWHS and introduces pupils to satellite communication, digital modes, and amateur radio licensing accredited by the Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB).
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