Kenya Selected as the Only African Country for the ISS ARISS Programme 2026
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.
“Such initiatives open up new opportunities for student participation in ISS-related projects, including through exchange programmes that provide hands-on experience,” Harold Safary told Space in Africa. “They also promote greater coordination and collaboration with other space agencies as we work towards a successful radio contact with astronauts in orbit.”
The initiative will bring together Kenyan students, industry stakeholders, and citizen scientists to stimulate interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics and strengthen local engagement in space-related activities. Preparations will be undertaken in close coordination with an assigned Pan-African Citizen Science e-Laboratory mentor and the ARISS Agency Liaison, Harold Safary, to ensure a successful and impactful contact session.
Building Kenya’s Capacity in Space Science Research
The ARISS programme in Kenya will build on the country’s growing record of space science achievements, including the recent discovery of Asteroid 2024 JJ63 by Harold Safary, an astrophysicist at the Kenya Space Agency. This marks Safary’s second confirmed asteroid discovery, following Asteroid 2023 TQ159, and was verified in collaboration with the International Astronomical Search Collaboration (IASC) and the Pan-African Citizen Science e-Laboratory.
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.