Junior School Leidschenveen Students to Connect with the International Space Station

On Thursday 8 December, 16 students from Junior School Leidschenveen (JSL), The British School in The Netherlands (BSN), will be talking live to the International Space Station. 

Counting down to our live connection with the International Space Station

BSN Beyond the Stars

At 12:09 CET, the school will make contact with Josh Cassada (Captain, U.S. Navy, PhD.) NASA Astronaut, who is currently on the International Space Station. 

The event will be streamed live here

Students have proposed questions to ask Dr Cassada, with those who suggested the best questions having been chosen to ask them live. These live links happen very infrequently, and it is a very exciting opportunity for the children.

Heath Monk, BSN CEO,

I can’t think of a more exciting opportunity for a young person than being able to talk live to an astronaut on the International Space Station! Events like this can help to spark a lifelong love of learning in our students.

"I am looking forward to hearing the students’ questions and the astronaut’s responses. I am sure that there will be some surprises on both sides!"

ARISS Inspires Students

The satellite links that will make this event possible have been organised through Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS). ARISS is an international working group consisting of delegations from 15 countries, including several countries in Europe as well as Japan, Canada, and the USA. The organisation is run almost entirely by volunteers from the national amateur radio organisations. ARISS provides opportunities for the school community (students, teachers, families and community members) to become more aware of the substantial benefits of human spaceflight and the exploration and discovery that occur on spaceflight journeys.

JSL in Space

The contact with the International Space Station is part of a Space theme that the children have been studying. This includes the production of their own ‘JSL in Space’ t-shirts (which they have been selling), designing their own rockets, a visit to the Space Expo in Noordwijk and talks by European Space Agency (ESA), European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC), TU Delft and Breda University of Applied Sciences.