The University Space Center of Toulouse works on the development and implementation of innovative projects for nanospace systems mainly using nano-satellites to carry out scientific or technological missions.

Beyond the scientific, technological, and innovation aspects, CSUT places cooperation at the heart of its actions. It prioritizes the training of future players in the space field through innovative projects, thanks to eight academic partners: ISAE-SUPAERO, Paul Sabatier University Toulouse III (UT3), ENAC, INP Toulouse, INSA Toulouse, IRAP, LAAS-CNRS, and ONERA.

An educational project about space : SAFARISS

SAFARISS ‘Student Astronaut Face-to-face by ARISS’ is a project led by the CSUT destinated to  the students of the Pierre-Paul Riquet high school created in 2010 by the will of CNES, the Toulouse academy, and the Midi-Pyrénées region to improve the visibility of the space sector in the French education system.

The SAFARISS initiative offers high school students the opportunity to participate in a space-related project through various educational missions, aimed at encouraging and maintaining exchanges between high schools, universities, and amateur radio operators. “Although our students gain a lot of theoretical and practical experience through laboratory work, the SAFARISS project gives them the chance to experience real-life communication. Our students are very motivated to explain their passions and career choices to the younger generation. This joint project will establish a strong link between secondary and higher education,” says Nicolas Nolhier, director of the Toulouse University Space Center (CSUT).

Students will, for example, have the task of creating posters on the work of amateur radio operators under the supervision of university students. Or, they will participate in the construction of an SDR reception station at the high school with the amateur radio operators of the association REF31 of Haute-Garonne .

Communication to space with Thomas Pesquet

These missions revolve around a key highlight of the project: communication with the astronaut Thomas Pesquet. The latter will take off in the spring of 2021 towards the International Space Station (ISS) on board the American capsule Crew Dragon of SpaceX.

This communication lasting about ten minutes will take place during the passage of the ISS over Toulouse. The contact will be made on amateur radio frequencies. This project allows amateur radio operators to promote their activities within schools and thus to show students that they can communicate with space, just like professionals with the equipment graciously made available to them.
“Talking with Thomas Pesquet would be a really great opportunity, as I have always been fascinated by space and its secrets. Being able to communicate with an astronaut using amateur radio equipment would be truly enriching and encouraging to see that people are achieving incredible things, no matter who we are, if we believe in our dreams, they will come true.” Johana, a student at the Pierre-Paul Riquet space high school, exclaims.

As of today, the date of the exchange with Thomas Pesquet is still unknown. However, if all conditions are met and deadlines are respected, we could potentially establish contact with the astronaut in April, as everything will depend primarily on the launch of the ISS.

If, like Johana, you are passionate about the space field, you can follow all the highlights of this project and the news about CSUT on Twitter. (@CSUT_Officiel)