More than 150 students communicate with UAE astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi via ham radio call

Dubai: The Mohammed bin Rashid Space Center (MBRSC) successfully hosted its fifth amateur radio conference with astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi from the International Space Station (ISS) at GEMS Wellington International School in Al Sufouh, Dubai on Thursday.

The event is part of the ‘Calling From Space’ series of events and is jointly organized by the Emirates Amateur Radio Society (EARS) and the Emirates Literary Foundation (ELF). Amateur radio, or amateur radio, utilizes a wide range of frequencies to communicate between individuals, groups, and even remote areas and spaces, making it a valuable communication tool.

The amateur radio event, the fifth in a series of 10 events, took place as the International Space Station flew over the region. The conference, which attracted 150 students from various grade levels, was part of the ELF in Space initiative, a joint venture between MBRSC and the Emirates Literature Foundation to make space more accessible to the public.

Adnan Al Rais, Mission Manager, UAE Astronaut Programme, MBRSC, said: “Interacting with Sultan Al Neyadi from the International Space Station provided a unique experience for the students. experiences that showcase the wonders of space. The desire that students demonstrate in these lessons as they learn more about the importance of space missions for the benefit of humanity is both inspiring and rewarding. We believe , these types of experiences can play an important role in nurturing the UAE’s expanding ambitions by increasing interest in STEM fields among the country’s youth.”

The session began with a brief overview of MBRSC and its projects, followed by an introduction to the space station, giving attendees a comprehensive understanding of human activities in space. In addition, students learn how to operate a ham radio, an important communication tool that has been in use since the 20th century.

Afterwards, the students had the opportunity to conduct a 10-minute live ham radio broadcast with astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi. They asked various questions related to missions and life on the ISS, such as the hardest part of living in space, the risks of going to space, what it’s like to be in space, experiments currently in progress, dealing with emergencies in space, and more. The space station and how to cope with being away from family and friends for long periods of time, and more.

Responding to a question about what advice he would give to kids who want to be astronauts, Sultan Alneyadi said: “I always advise kids to get a STEM education. It will bring a lot of opportunities for the future, whether it’s in space, Engineering or medicine.”

The UAE Astronaut Program is one of the projects managed by MBRSC under the UAE National Space Program and funded by the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) ICT Fund, which aims to support research and development in the field of ICT in the UAE to promote the integration of the country into the global arena.