A British eight-year-old girl chatted to an astronaut on the International Space Station using her dad’s amateur radio kit.
Chuffed Isabella Payne spoke to Kjell Lindgren for 45 seconds as he passed over her house.
The spaceman said it was his “favourite” chat he’d ever had.
The schoolgirl, of Broadstairs, Kent, had been asleep when the call came in and her proud dad Matthew had to wake her up.
In their exchange, she said: “My name is Isabella, I’m eight-years-old.”
He replied: “Isabella it’s so great to chat with you. Thank you for getting on the radio and saying hello.”
She added: “Thank you, fly safe.”
The astronaut replied: “Thank you Isabella.”
Isabella had been mesmerized watching Brit astronaut Tim Peake as a tot.
So radio nut Matthew set up the chat with American Dr Lindgren, 49.
He has a radio licence and they do it as part of astronaut training.
Young space fan Isabella said today: “It was really amazing and a dream come true
“I can’t wait to tell my friends all about it.
“I hope it inspires other young girls to do science as it should be for both girls and boys.”
Matthew said organising an unscheduled contact with someone on the ISS is difficult.
He added: “It’s very unusual and may happen once every five or six years.
“Everything has to line up and then you have to have an astronaut on board using the equipment and who’s willing to chat.
“It was such a great experience for Isabella.
“But I have to say I was just a little bit jealous.”
Dr Lindgren tweeted: “I’ve had a lot of fun using the ARISS amateur radio station NA1SS on the International Space Station to talk with ham radio operators all over the world.
“I’ve even unofficially worked stations on all continents.
“But this may be my favorite contact so far. Thanks Isabella and Matthew.”
Matthew tweeted: “April 23, 2016, a two-year-old sat on my knee and watched the students of Wellesley House School chat with Tim Peake, an event I helped organise.
“Today she got her chance. Thank you so much Kjell Lindgren, you have changed her world.”
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