HRH the Duchess of Edinburgh joins 100 Girlguiding members in live contact with the International Space Station

In her first official engagement as Girlguiding Patron, Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh today joined 100 excited Brownies, Guides and Rangers in making a live Amateur Radio contact with the International Space Station (ISS) at a special STEM event held at Brooklands Museum in Weybridge, Surrey.

The event, organised by The Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB) and Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS), in collaboration with the UK Space Agency, Girlguiding Surrey West and Brooklands Museum’s Innovation Academy programme, aimed to promote the engagement and involvement of girls and young women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

Ten chosen Girlguiding Surrey West members aged between 7 and 18 years old were given the once in a lifetime opportunity of asking astronaut Sunita Williams questions about her experiences in space, direct via Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) orbiting approximately 270 miles overhead.

Curious about life on the International Space Station, the girls, joined by The Duchess of Edinburgh, asked astronaut Sunita Williams about the food they eat, where they sleep, the temperature, going on space walks, missing Earth, and what space smells like.

Following the contact from the Vickers Suite in Brooklands Museum, the space activities continued long into the day as the Brownies, Guides and Rangers made stomp rockets and learned how satellites work with a demonstration of a CubeSat Simulator.

They also built their own Morse keys in the shape of a snail and then used them to send their name in Morse and play battleships. Two teenage radio amateurs showed the girls how to use BBC Micro:bits for Morse texting – a fun activity that links together the international language of Morse code with modern technology that the girls use in school.

UK reserve ESA Astronaut Meganne Christian surprised the girls with a special appearance and answered any further questions they had about space exploration.

Her Royal Highness, who is passionate about empowering girls to discover the best in themselves, joined in the fun, and spoke with the girls about space and their interests in science and technology, before being presented with a special Girlguiding Patron badge.

Nicola Kitney, Assistant County Commissioner Girlguiding Surrey West said: “It’s incredibly important for girls to know that space and STEM is as much for them as it is for boys. We are thrilled and incredibly grateful to RSGB, ARISS, UK Space Agency, Brooklands Museum and our Patron, Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh for making today’s event a success.

“It’s not every day you get to hear from an astronaut direct from the International Space Station, and I’m sure it will be something the girls will be talking about long into the future.

“Opportunities like today’s event are what Girlguiding is all about - inspiring and encouraging girls to know they can do anything.”

Brownie, Amelie, 10 said: “Today was amazing. I loved linking up to an actual astronaut in space and it was really cool that she was overhead Brooklands Museum where we were. I was also really lucky to meet our Patron, HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh. She was very nice and spoke to us about the astronaut and space. It was a real privilege.”

ARISS UK Team lead Ciaran Morgan said: “Today’s successful contact with Astronaut Sunita Williams on the International Space Station demonstrates what can be achieved with Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics and I hope it is a huge inspiration for the young women here today to pursue these subjects as a chosen career”.

The RSGB President said: “The RSGB has always supported ARISS in its exciting mission to link young people with astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS) via amateur radio, and we understand the lasting impact this can have on everyone at each contact.

“I am delighted that the Society has been able to work with ARISS to put this special event in place allowing Brownies and Guides to make contact with the ISS in the presence of their Patron, HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh.”

Alex Patterson, CEO at Brooklands Museum, concluded: “We are thrilled to host today’s ‘live contact’ with the ISS and create lifelong memories for the Girlguiding members in attendance. It is also our great privilege to have welcomed HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh to Brooklands Museum and we extend our gratitude for her involvement in this special event.

“Encouraging and inspiring girls and young women to pursue an interest and career in STEM is integral to our mission, particularly through the Brooklands Innovation Academy. In fact, this is not the first time communication history has been made here. In the 1910s, two-way ground to air radio transmissions to aircraft was developed and tested at Brooklands – one of the many inspiring ‘firsts’ achieved by the talented men and women of Brooklands’ past.”