In the last week of March 2025, students from Maple Bear School will establish the first-ever direct radio contact between Bulgarian students and astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) through the ARISS (Amateur Radio on the International Space Station) program.
The connection will take place between March 24 and 28, 2025. A week before the event, the exact date and time will be announced on https://spacecontact.bg/, where the live broadcast will also be available.
The website provides fascinating information about the ISS, space challenges, and amateur radio, along with NASA images.
The conversation with the astronauts will last about 10 minutes. As the ISS passes over the students, they will ask their questions from Earth and receive answers directly from space.
"The idea to apply with a Bulgarian school for the ARISS program came about a year ago when I became passionate about amateur radio. Before that, I never imagined the ISS could be so accessible to us. Thanks to the collaboration between LZ1KRN – Neterra’s amateur radio club – and Maple Bear School, we are making this idea a reality. The students will have a unique opportunity to speak directly with astronauts on the ISS, inspiring many to pursue science, technology, and hopefully amateur radio," said Mariyan Rangelov, a member of Neterra’s amateur radio club (callsign LZ3MAR) and Neterra’s CFO.
"I have always believed that a person is as big as their dreams. That is the mindset we embrace at the start of every school year at Maple Bear," said Lilyana Nikolova, founder and director of Maple Bear Sofia School. "Everyone needs to dream and strive for something greater than themselves. Experiencing a scientific achievement like the ISS through the ARISS program is an incredible opportunity for our students to believe that dreams are achievable. It takes courage, imagination, and hard work.
ARISS is yet another opportunity our school provides for learning beyond the classroom. We believe real-life experiences inspire children to learn and explore the world. This project is a shining example of how we can spark their curiosity about science through hands-on experience. We are grateful to Neterra’s amateur radio club for the invitation, as well as their support and enthusiasm, which made this wonderful project possible."
To prepare for this extraordinary event, a series of educational seminars will take place in March. Speakers will include Viktor Marinov, a long-time radio amateur with call sign LZ1NY and radio electronics engineer, and Neven Dilkov, an amateur radio enthusiast (callsign LZ1COM), founder and CEO of Neterra. They will share knowledge, experience, and interesting facts with students, covering topics such as radio waves, antenna construction, and radio communication principles.
About ARISS
ARISS (Amateur Radio on the International Space Station) is a program that allows students worldwide to establish direct radio contact with astronauts on the ISS, fostering interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
About Maple Bear School
Founded in 2020, Maple Bear Sofia is part of the global Maple Bear Canadian Schools network, the world’s largest school group with a presence in 39 countries across five continents, over 400 schools, and more than 60,000 students.
At Maple Bear, the child’s holistic development – physical, intellectual, emotional, and social – is at the core of the learning process. The school’s educational approach nurtures a lifelong love of learning and key 21st-century skills such as critical thinking, communication, teamwork, creativity, problem-solving, innovation, and digital literacy.
About LZ1KRN Amateur Radio Club
Founded on June 14, 2017, by Neterra employees, the LZ1KRN amateur radio club promotes knowledge of technology and fosters friendships worldwide. Club members participate in international competitions and organize interactive radio workshops. Neterra is a global provider of connectivity, telecommunications solutions, and IT assets management. The company has won the "Best Connectivity Provider in Central and Eastern Europe" award at the Capacity Global Connectivity Awards in both 2023 and 2024.