Pupils at Wick High School in the Highlands held a live radio conversation with Canadian astronaut Josh Kutryk on board the International Space Station (ISS) on Thursday, asking about everything from space food to Hollywood mistakes.
Live link-up with the ISS
The school in Caithness is thought to be the most northerly in the UK to connect to the ISS in this way. Pupils eagerly awaited their window of around 10 minutes to chat to the space station as it passed overhead just after noon.
Contact was established via the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station service, and students lined up to ask the astronaut a series of questions.
Astronaut answers pupils' questions
Mr Kutryk told the pupils it took “years and years of training” to prepare his mind and body for space. Answering a question from a pupil called Reese, he said: “Seeing the Earth from space is just amazing. Words will never do it justice.”
A pupil called Rory asked him: “What do movies always get wrong about space?” Mr Kutryk answered: “I would say how easy everything is. Nothing up here is easy, everything is hard – even brushing your teeth.”
A pupil called Florence asked him how the food in space tastes, with the astronaut answering: “Everything tastes a little bit different, sometimes good, sometimes bad. I love coffee on planet Earth but up here it tastes a little different.”
Asked for his favourite part of his job, the astronaut said: “Next to looking out the window, is talking to loved ones back on Earth and trying to explain to them what it feels and looks like to live in space for many months.”
Support and reaction
The call was facilitated by Highland Broadband’s gigabit-capable internet connection. Chris Aitken, computing teacher and lead organiser at Wick High School, said: “This was quite possibly the highest honour a school group can achieve in amateur radio, and having reliable, high-speed broadband in place was vital for sharing this landmark Stem event with the world.
“It was an incredible opportunity for our school that wouldn’t have happened without the support of Highland Broadband. You could feel the excitement in the room as the space station came across the horizon and we heard the astronaut respond to our pupils.”
Education Secretary Mairi McAllan said: “Of all the wonderful and exciting experiences that we have at school, I can hardly think of one more memorable than this – getting the opportunity to speak to an astronaut on the International Space Station. I am absolutely thrilled for Wick High School.”
Colin Woodward, managing director of Highland Broadband, said: “Our mission has always been to close the digital divide and bring world-class infrastructure to rural communities across Scotland.
“Seeing our full-fibre network support Wick High School pupils in connecting live with space demonstrates the limitless possibilities that ultrafast connectivity brings to the Highlands.”
