Johannesburg — A group of learners from an inner-city Johannesburg school recently had the rare opportunity to speak directly with an astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
Learners from CityKidz Pre and Primary School, located on Mooi Street in the Johannesburg CBD, participated in a live radio contact with astronaut Chris Williams while the ISS passed over South Africa.
The exchange lasted about 12 minutes — the brief window during which the orbiting space station is within radio range of the region.
During the session, the learners asked a range of questions about life in space, including how the station generates power, whether there are doctors on board, and how astronauts deal with everyday activities in a zero-gravity environment.
The event was organised through Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS), an international educational programme that connects students with astronauts to promote interest in science, technology and space exploration.
For many of the learners, the opportunity to speak directly to someone in orbit was a memorable experience.
“I have always wondered what outer space is like,” said learner Hope Makgopa. “Being able to talk to an astronaut is like a dream come true. This gives me hope to dream big and work hard.”
Another learner, Darlene Dube, said the experience was both exciting and overwhelming.
“I had mixed emotions, but mostly I was amazed,” she said. “One day in the future, I will definitely tell my children about it.”
CityKidz Pre and Primary School was founded in 2008 and serves children living in the Johannesburg inner city. The school currently educates close to 900 learners.
Despite operating in the CBD, the school has built a strong academic reputation, with learners regularly competing in national mathematics, science, spelling and general knowledge competitions alongside well-resourced schools across the country.
The live contact with the International Space Station required months of technical preparation and coordination with international partners, as well as training for the learners who participated.
School officials say the experience was intended to inspire curiosity about science and encourage learners to think beyond traditional boundaries.
0 Comments