Astronaut Kjell Lindgren, KO5MOS, has tweeted greetings to the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) program on the 15th anniversary of the first Amateur Radio contacts between the ISS and Earth. “First QSOs conducted from the ISS ham radio station 15 years this weekend. Happy Anniversary ARISS! 73!” Lindgren tweeted on November 15.

ARISS International Chair Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, noted the auspicious occasion on November 13, in a post to the AMSAT-BB. “15 years ago today the ARISS team inaugurated the ham station on ISS with the first set of QSOs with the crew,” Bauer recounted. “These contacts were conducted on this date in Moscow, Russia; Greenbelt, Maryland, and Houston, Texas. Lou McFadin, W5DID, and I were on the mic at the Greenbelt, Maryland location.”

That occasion marked the first use of the NA1SS call sign from space. Lindgren arrived at the ISS in July and will return to Earth in late December.

During his duty tour, he has participated in several ARISS school contacts. The very first ARISS school contact took place 15 years ago in December 2000.