UNIVERSUM UNAM HOSTS LIVE CONNECTION WITH ISS ASTRONAUTS

Universum, UNAM’s Science Museum, hosted its first live connection with the International Space Station (ISS), orbiting 400 km above Earth.

During the event, astronaut Tyler “Nick” Hague responded to questions from students attending a UNAM-affiliated school.

Jaime Israel Salas, an amateur radio operator key to facilitating the connection, explained that this achievement resulted from an extensive process led by the Federal Telecommunications Institute, which selected Colegio Vermont to participate in this unique experience.

The ISS signal was received and broadcast live with support from Italian amateur radio operators, who collaborated to ensure seamless communication. María Emilia Beyer, Director of Universum, described the event as a milestone, marking the museum’s first direct interaction with an orbiting astronaut.

The connection required months of coordination across disciplines and nations to ensure flawless signal transmission. Beyer emphasized that the questions were carefully selected for their originality and relevance.

The ten-minute session allowed 17 questions to be asked in quick succession, with sufficient time for the astronaut’s responses. This event set a new benchmark for Universum, solidifying its role as a bridge between science and society.