A TEENAGER from Thornbury is set to become one of the few British representatives at a prestigious international youth radio event that will make contact with the International Space Station.
Peter Barnes, 19, is one of three young radio amateurs from the UK who will be part of 80 young people from 26 countries taking part in the Youngsters on the Air (YOTA) 2017.
The event, hosted by the Radio Society of Great Britain at Gilwell Park, near London from August 5-12, will see the youngsters take part in fun and challenging amateur radio activities, visits to Bletchley Park and the National Radio Centre, Ofcom’s Spectrum Management Centre in Baldock and also the London Science Museum.
They will also have the amazing opportunity to use amateur radio to speak directly to astronaut Paulo Nespoli on the International Space Station (ISS) and see him via live video by Amateur TV.
The young radio amateurs, aged between 15 and 25, will travel from a diverse range of countries including Croatia, Tunisia, South Africa and Japan, and during the week they will be split into five streams, each one led by a member of the RSGB’s Youth Committee.
Peter, a former Monmouth School pupil, who hopes to study at Swansea University, said: "I am thrilled to be part of such a prestigious team and I'm looking forward to meeting other young people from around the world who share my hobby and interests.
“I am most looking forward to the amateur radio direction finding event (ARDF) and the opportunity to speak to astronauts aboard the International Space Station
Ahead of the event, Peter created a vlog to explain his interest in amateur radio and talk about why he is looking forward to being part of YOTA 2017, which can be watched at www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3_-GpfS9gg
Steve Hartley, RSGB board director and YOTA project manager said: “We are delighted to have the honour of hosting YOTA’s seventh international summer camp and are looking forward to welcoming so many young radio amateurs from around the world.”
ARISS (Amateur Radio on the International Space Station) is working with NASA to facilitate the ISS contact and a live web cast of the contact will be streamed by the British Amateur Television Club (BATC) on the RSGB’s YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/theRSGB
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here