Kenya has been selected to host the 2026 round of the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) programme, a global initiative that enables direct communication between participants on Earth and astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The programme offers a rare opportunity for students, professionals, and the wider public to engage with human spaceflight through live radio contact with astronauts in orbit.
Notably, Kenya is the only African country selected for the 2026 ARISS cycle, underscoring the country’s growing role in space science, STEM education, and innovation on the continent. The hosting window is scheduled for July and December 2026, during which a series of live interactions is expected.
Additionally, these discoveries, now catalogued by the Minor Planet Centre at Harvard University, demonstrate Kenya’s increasing presence in global astronomy and highlight the practical, hands-on space research experiences that students and citizen scientists will have the opportunity to engage with as part of the ARISS programme.
Source: https://spaceinafrica.com/2026/01/24/kenya-selected-as-the-only-african-country-for-the-iss-ariss-programme-2026/