First-Ever ARISS Contact in Namibia During World Space Week 2025

Windhoek, 9 October 2025 — Namibia reached for the stars as it successfully established its first-ever contact with an astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) through the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) programme. This marked a major highlight of World Space Week 2025.

The live event took place at Windhoek Afrikaanse Privaatskool, where over 800 Grade 7 learners from 11 schools across the Khomas region gathered alongside members of the public, media, and invited guests. The Namibia Scientific Society (NSS), Africa Millimeter Telescope (AMT) and the National Commission on Research, Science and Technology (NCRST) took the lead in organising the contact, following months of preparation after the application was submitted in February 2025. All planning was done to align this milestone event with World Space Week 2025, helping to highlight the importance of space science and education. The Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture also played a key role by selecting the 11 participating schools from across the Khomas region and providing lunch for every learner, ensuring an inclusive, supportive, and memorable experience for all attendees.

The ISS orbits Earth every 90 minutes at roughly 28,000 km/h, which means communication is possible for only a few minutes as it passes directly overhead. This made the nine-minute contact window even more thrilling, giving learners a brief but extraordinary opportunity to speak directly with astronaut Mike Fincke, currently aboard the ISS.

The successful transmission was made possible through the coordinated efforts of Frank Bauer (ARISS, USA), Jan Poppeliers (ARISS, Belgium), and Namibia’s RB Media team, whose on-the-ground technical expertise ensured a clear and stable connection.

The ARISS team played a vital role in establishing and maintaining the radio link with the ISS. Because Namibia does not yet have an ARISS-certified ground station capable of tracking the ISS, Frank Bauer and Jan Poppeliers provided essential support from their stations in the United States and Belgium. As the ISS passed over the Northern Hemisphere, their ground stations captured the signal and relayed it through amateur radio networks to RB Media in Namibia, who handled the local setup, timing, and live audio transmission.

This complex international coordination between multiple ground stations, time zones, and technical teams ensured the connection was clear, stable, and precisely timed — enabling Namibian learners to speak directly with astronaut Mike Fincke in real time.

The day’s programme set an inspiring and engaging tone, reflecting the teamwork and excitement behind this historic moment. Proceedings opened with Zandré Duvenhage, representing the Africa Millimeter Telescope (AMT) and a board member of the Namibia Scientific Society. He welcomed the audience and highlighted the significance of this achievement for Namibia.

To ensure everything was ready for the big moment, the audience then participated in a “practice contact” session, during which Frank Bauer from the ARISS team connected with the learners to confirm that all communication channels were clear and audible — a crucial step in ensuring the success of the main contact later in the day.

The programme continued with a series of inspiring talks. Prof. Anecia Peters, CEO of the NCRST, shared her personal journey in computer science, motivating students to embrace innovation through curiosity and perseverance. Andreas Leonard from Mindsinaction STEM Learning Centre captivated the learners with fun facts about the International Space Station and interactive insights into science and discovery. Dr. Lott Frans encouraged learners to dream boldly, work hard, and continue asking questions about the world around them.

As anticipation reached its peak, the hall fell completely silent — and then came the moment everyone had been waiting for: contact was established with astronaut Mike Fincke aboard the International Space Station. Over nine minutes, Fincke answered 17 of the 21 pre-prepared questions, each asked by a learner representing one of the participating schools. The questions ranged from personal reflections, such as “Would you recommend your current occupation to another individual?” to complex scientific curiosities like “If black holes and white holes exist, could there also be something like a grey hole?” and “What role will robots and artificial intelligence play in future space missions?”

Fincke’s thoughtful answers inspired students to remain curious, continue studying, and pursue careers in science and technology. “We need young people like you to find the answers,” he encouraged.

After the successful contact, Robert from the Namibian Amateur Radio League (NARL) concluded the event with a fascinating demonstration on how radio communication works. He invited learners to explore the world of amateur radio and welcomed schools to host future visits by NARL for hands-on learning experiences.

This historic contact marked a major milestone for Namibia, aligning with this year’s World Space Week theme and highlighting the nation’s growing engagement in global science and space exploration.