At approximately 9:45 AM EST (1445 UTC) on Tuesday, February 19, the International Space Station (ISS) experienced a loss of communication with the ground. At that time, flight controllers in Houston were updating the software onboard the ISS’s flight computers when one of the ISS’s data relay systems malfunctioned. The primary computer that controls critical station functions defaulted to a backup computer, but it did not allow the ISS to communicate with NASA’s tracking and data relay satellites.

An International Space Station school contact has been planned with participants at Breadalbane Academy, Aberfeldy, United Kingdom on 12 February.

After experiencing issues with the Kenwood D700 on two consecutive
school contacts, ARISS will use the Ericsson radio on the Columbus
module for ARISS contacts until problems with the D700 are resolved.