In this image taken from NASA video, NASA astronauts Mike Hopkins, center right, and Victor Glover, center left, work outside the International Space Station’s European lab on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021. The duo went spacewalking Wednesday to install a high-speed data link outside the lab. (NASA via AP)

NASHUA – Bishop Guertin High School of Nashua, NH will communicate with the International Space Station (ISS) on February 19, 2021 using Amateur Radio. The pre-program will begin at 12:30 PM with the direct contact beginning at 12:56 PM. Selected students will speak with astronaut Shannon Walker, who is currently serving as flight engineer for NASA’s Expedition 64, her second long-duration stint on the ISS. You can watch the contact here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifgMkZqYnvw&feature=youtu.be.

The students participating are:

Aya Eyceoz ’21

William McGregor ’21

Brandon Wilcox ’21

Ian Winiarski ’22

Christopher Levasseur ’22

Ella Goyette-Monin ’23

Connor Reeves ’23

Ethan Labbe ’23

Lindsay Marquis ’24

Connor Martin ’24

“We could not be more excited about this incredible opportunity,” said science teacher Karen Crivac. “Our students have shown overwhelming enthusiasm for STEM-related curriculum topics and by communicating with the ISS, we are growing their understanding of how the space program impacts their life through wireless communication, computer and software technology and health and life science research.”

Selected from submissions across the nation, BG will partner with Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) for this unique, experiential learning opportunity. ARISS was created and is managed by an international working group, including several countries in Europe as well as Japan, Russia, Canada, and the USA. The organization is run by volunteers from the national amateur radio organizations and the international AMSAT (Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation) organizations from each country. Its goal is to inspire students, worldwide, to pursue interests and careers in science, technology, engineering and math through amateur radio communications opportunities with the International Space Station (ISS) on-orbit crew. To that end, in partnership with NASA and the ISS National Lab, ARISS will assist Bishop Guertin’s students in preparing and executing their communication with the Space Station.

“The Nashua Area Radio Society is excited to work with Bishop Guertin on their upcoming contact with an astronaut on the International Space Station,” said Fred Kemmerer, President of Nashua Area Radio Society. “This project is the latest in a growing list of STEM learning projects that we’ve partnered with BG on.”

Bishop Guertin High School has a strong track record of preparing students for careers in STEM. Currently, 38% of our graduates complete their degrees in STEM; around 1 in 10 majoring in Engineering, 1 in 5 majoring in life or health science and 1 in 20 majoring in computer science.