WORCESTER—This spring, students at the EcoTarium won’t just be learning about space. They’ll be speaking directly to it.
The Worcester science museum has been selected to host a live amateur radio contact with an astronaut aboard the International Space Station, an event that will connect local students with crew members orbiting roughly 250 miles above Earth, according to an announcement released Thursday.
The contact, part of the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) program, is scheduled for the week of March 9, 2026, though NASA will confirm the exact date and time closer to the event based on the station’s orbital passes. The EcoTarium will partner with the Central Massachusetts Amateur Radio Association and North High School, with hundreds of students participating in related programming and 10 students selected to ask questions live during the call.
“The ARISS contact is an exciting opportunity for museum visitors, and school children from across the region,” said Jason Gurtman, manager of educational programs at the EcoTarium, in the announcement. “By giving students the chance to speak directly with an astronaut aboard the ISS, we’re sparking wonder and affirming that there is a place for everyone in space science.”
Following the live contact, the EcoTarium will host a public community celebration on March 14, featuring hands-on activities focused on amateur radio and space exploration, according to the release.
EcoTarium CEO Noreen Johnson Smith described the event as both a technological milestone and a teaching moment. “What a thrill to be able to place a call to outer space using radio waves,” Smith said in the announcement, noting the long history of radio communication as a scientific tool.
Parents, guardians, and educators of students ages 4 to 16 are invited to submit questions for the astronaut through an online form by Jan. 21. Final questions will be selected by EcoTarium educators, with input from public online voting. The museum will also offer classroom-ready educational resources and host interactive programs leading up to the event.
The initiative aligns with the EcoTarium’s broader focus on science, technology, engineering, and math education. The museum offers year-round astronomy programming, including the NASA-funded “Lift Off! Space Explorers” exhibit, fulldome planetarium shows, and a monthly Astrophysics Speaker Series.
“Space science and wireless communications technology are foundational to our high-tech future,” said Fred Kemmerer, an ARISS technical mentor and director of the American Radio Relay League’s New England Division, in the announcement. “An ARISS contact gives young people hands-on exposure to these technologies and often sparks a lifelong interest in high-tech communications and related career paths.”
George Gumbrell, a board member of the Central Massachusetts Amateur Radio Association, pointed to the lasting influence of early exposure to amateur radio. “If you’re interested in science and engineering,” he said in the release, “amateur radio provides a foundation for lifelong exploration.”
Have news, tips, or a story worth telling? A good recipe or a funny joke? Reach Editor Charlene Arsenault at carsenault@theworcesterguardian.org—because good stories (and great scoops) deserve to be shared.
- The Worcester Guardian is an independent nonprofit news organization. Support local journalism by making a DONATION today.
