The Kenya Space Agency (KSA) is set to make history on August 5, this year, when it hosts the country’s first-ever live radio contact with an astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
In a statement on Friday, July 31, the agency announced that the event will take place at the Shree Cutch Satsang Swaminarayan Academy in Lang’ata, Nairobi, beginning at 1pm, marking a major milestone in Kenya’s growing space program.
The live communication will be conducted under the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) program, an internationally recognised initiative that connects students, educators and members of the public with astronauts orbiting the Earth.
According to the KSA, the event is designed to inspire the next generation of Kenyan scientists, engineers and space professionals by giving them a rare opportunity to interact directly with an astronaut in space.
“On 5 August 2026, the Kenya Space Agency (KSA) will host Kenya’s first live Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact. This educational initiative will link a Kenyan audience directly with an astronaut in orbit aboard the International Space Station (ISS),” KSA confirmed in a statement.
During the event, students will ask a series of pre-selected questions, which will be answered live by an astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) as it passes within radio range of Kenya.
The communication will be made possible through amateur radio technology, which allows specially equipped ground stations on Earth to establish direct contact with the ISS without relying on internet or satellite phone services.
However, the conversation will only last for about eight to ten minutes because the ISS travels at approximately 28,000 kilometres per hour, orbiting the Earth once every 90 minutes before moving out of radio range.
The ARISS program is coordinated globally by ARISS International in partnership with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the European Space Agency (ESA) and international amateur radio organisations to promote science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education.
Kenya now joins a growing list of countries that have hosted live ARISS contacts, with the programme having enabled thousands of students worldwide to engage directly with astronauts since its launch more than two decades ago.
The event also shows Kenya’s expanding footprint in the global space sector following the establishment of KSA and the country’s increasing participation in international space research, satellite technology and STEM education initiatives.
KSA said the historic contact is expected to inspire more young Kenyans to pursue careers in science, engineering, technology and space exploration while showcasing the country’s growing role in international space education and innovation.
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