Scouts make contact with the International Space Station
Over 100 Scouts from Leamington Spa took part in a rare live Q&A session with a NASA astronaut while he was aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
During the session on Saturday 18 October, the Scouts asked NASA astronaut Jonny Kim 22 questions, all of which he answered. This is the most that any UK contact has ever had.
Taking part helped them gain first hand insights into life in space and develop their skills for life.
Sound and vision
The TV connection was also successful, which meant for the first time since 2018, participants were able to see the astronaut in real time as he orbited 400km above the Earth’s surface. Jonny showed his daughter’s teddies, which floated in front of him while he spoke.
Can you drink hot chocolate in space?
The Scouts’ questions were equally brilliant. When Reuben asked, ‘What happens if you drop something in space?’, Jonny answered ‘It'll keep floating forever.’
Ethan, a Beaver, asked ‘Can you drink hot chocolate in space?’, to which Jonny replied ‘Absolutely. It’s one of my favourite drinks, especially to warm up with!’
Elyssa, a Scout, asked ‘Do you feel dizzy when you get back to Earth?’, and Jonny answered ‘Yes, we feel very dizzy. That’s because our bodies get used to having no gravity.’
Preparing for the mission
To prepare for the cosmic conversation, the Scouts worked toward their Space Activity Badge, introduced last year through a pioneering partnership with the UK Space Agency. The badge has ignited a passion for space exploration, inspiring curiosity, innovation, and a deeper understanding of space science among young people.
‘You’re never too old to learn something new,’ Jonny told the Scouts from space, ‘and if you remember that, you can do anything that you put your mind to.’
Owen, Cub Scout, age 8, shared 'I’m so excited that I got to speak to a real astronaut in space. We’ve been learning about space at Cubs, and we got our questions answered by an astronaut.’
Thanking our volunteers
This extraordinary opportunity was made possible through Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS), a volunteer-led initiative that connects young people with space exploration.
Gavin Gill, a Beaver Team Leader at 1st Radford Semele Scout Group, was part of the great volunteer effort.
It’s a true privilege to have been chosen to make contact with the International Space Station (ISS). Witnessing the joy and excitement has made it all worthwhile. Our young people are the future leaders in STEM and I believe this opportunity will inspire them for years to come.
Gavin, Beaver Team Leader at 1st Radford Semele Scout Group
Inspiring the astronauts of the future
Ahead of the event, astronaut and Scout Ambassador, Tim Peake, offered these words of encouragement. He said, ‘I’m thrilled that Scouts in Leamington Spa are speaking with astronauts aboard the ISS. It’s the perfect opportunity to learn more from those living there. Who knows, maybe this is the moment that inspires another Scout to head to space?'
The experience encouraged critical thinking, curiosity, and confidence, while showing that even the most distant dreams can be within reach.
This is a fantastic opportunity through our partnership with Scouts to give young people a direct interactive experience with the astronauts on board the International Space Station (ISS). But this experience is more than talking to astronauts. It's connecting to the thousands of workers in the space sector that enable us to have a human presence in orbit, and to the scientists and researchers that develop the life changing experiments that the astronauts conduct.
Ingmar Kamalagharan, Head of Education and Future Workforce at the UK Space Agency
Well done to all the Scouts, volunteers (and astronauts!) who took part and made this possible.