ARISS SSTV Event April 11-13

Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) logoAn ARISS Slow Scan TV (SSTV) event is scheduled from the International Space Station (ISS) April 11-13 on 145.800 MHz FM to celebrate Cosmonautics Day and Women in Space

The event is slated to begin on April 11 at 17:25 UTC for setup and operation and continue until April 13 ending at 12:00 UTC. These times are tentative and are subject to change due to crew availability.

Images will be downlinked at 145.8 MHz +/- 3 kHz for Doppler shift and the expected SSTV mode of operation is PD-120.

The theme for this event will be celebrating Cosmonautics Day and Women in Space.

Radio enthusiasts participating in the event can post and view images on the ARISS SSTV Gallery at https://www.spaceflightsoftware.com/ARISS_SSTV/

Source ARISS

The signal should be receivable even on a handheld with a 1/4 wave whip. If your rig has selectable FM filters try the wider filter for 25 kHz channel spacing.

You can get predictions for the ISS pass times at https://www.amsat.org/track/

ARISS SSTV Blog https://ariss-sstv.blogspot.com/

Useful SSTV info and links https://amsat-uk.org/beginners/iss-sstv/

ARISS Europe to Perform Special Digital SSTV Experiment

Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) logoAmateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) is planning for a special SSTV experiment. ARISS is the group that puts together special amateur radio contacts between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses on the International Space Station (ISS) and develops and operates the amateur radio equipment on ISS.

As part of its ARISS 2.0 initiative, the ARISS International team is expanding its educational and life-long learning opportunities for youth and ham radio operators around the world. ARISS Slow Scan Television (SSTV), which is the transmission of images from ISS using amateur radio, is a very popular ARISS mode of operation. To expand ARISS SSTV capabilities, the ARISS Europe and ARISS USA teams plan to perform special SSTV Experiments using a new SSTV digital coding scheme. For the signal reception, the software “KG-STV” is required, as available on internet.

We kindly request that the amateur radio community refrain from the use of the voice repeater thin this SSTV experiment on February 20, 2022, over Europe.

This is a unique and official ARISS experiment. We kindly request keeping the voice repeater uplink free from other voice transmissions during the experiment time period. Also note that ARISS is temporarily employing the voice repeater to expedite these experiments and make a more permanent, more expansive SSTV capability fully operational on other downlink frequencies.

The first experiment in the series will utilize ARISS approved ground stations in Europe that will transmit these digital SSTV signals. These will be available for all in the ISS footprint when SSTV transmissions occur. The first SSTV experiment is planned for February 20, 2022, between 05:10 UTC and 12:00 UTC for five ISS passes over Europe. Please be aware that this event depends on ARISS IORS radio availabilities and ISS crew support, so last-minute changes may occur.

To promote quick experimental SSTV investigations—to learn and improve–the ARISS team will employ the ISS Kenwood radio in its cross-band repeater mode. The crossband repeater operates on a downlink of 437.800 MHz. Each transmission sequence will consist of 1:40 minute transmission, followed by 1:20 minute pause and will be repeated several times within an ISS pass over Europe.

The used modulation is MSK w/o error correction. For the decoding of the 320 x 240 px image, the software KG-STV is required. The KG-STV software can be downloaded from the following link:
http://amsat-nl.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/kgstv_ISS.zip

The ZIP file contains the KG-STV program, an installation and setup manual, some images and MP3 audio samples for your first tests as well as links for additional technical information about the KG-STV use.

The members of the ham radio community youth and the public are invited to receive and decode these special SSTV signals.

Experiment reports are welcome and should be uploaded to “sstvtest@amsat-on.be”

More information will be available on the AMSAT-NL.org web page:
https://amsat-nl.org/?page_id=568

(for the team: Oliver Amend, DG6BCE)

ISS SSTV in late December

Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) logoThe ARISS team will be supporting Slow Scan TV (SSTV) operations from the International Space Station during the period of December 26-31.

The images will be related to lunar exploration. The transmissions should be available worldwide on 145.800 MHz FM. The planned SSTV mode is PD 120.

Planned start and stop times are currently listed as:
Start – Dec 26 about 18:25 GMT
Stop – Dec 31 about 17:05 GMT

The signal should be receivable even on a handheld with a 1/4 wave whip. If your rig has selectable FM filters try the wider filter for 25 kHz channel spacing.

In this video Randy Hall K7AGE shows you how to receive Slow Scan TV (SSTV) images from the International Space Station (ISS).

Several times a year SSTV images are sent from the ISS. In December 2021 from the 26th through the 31st SSTV images will be transmitted.

A simple two-meter amateur radio, or scanner, is able to receive the signal on 145.800 MHz. You can receive the signal using the antenna on an HT, mobile antenna, or a vertical antenna mounted outside.

I show you how to learn when the ISS will be in the range of your station.
Heavens-Above is a good website to use and it will generate a list of passes for your station.

To decode the SSTV signal you will need software on a computer or portable device. I show MMSSTV on my Windows computer decoding the SSTV signal. I also show decoding SSTV on my iPad.

Watch How to receive SSTV images from the ISS

After you receive your ISS images, you may apply for a certificate at –
https://www.spaceflightsoftware.com/ARISS_SSTV/submit.php

K7AGE video of SSTV sample transmissions
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sG4UhlByFyw&t=870s

K7AGE video shows how to build a simple 2 meter antenna
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkmD3Sgz7Q0&t=697s

Heavens Above https://www.heavens-above.com/main.aspx

MMSSTV https://hamsoft.ca/

iPad SSTV https://www.blackcatsystems.com/software/sstv.html

Android https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=xdsopl.robot36&hl=en_US&gl=US

Linux http://users.telenet.be/on4qz/qsstv/index.html

Check the ARISS SSTV blog for the latest information http://ariss-sstv.blogspot.com/

ARISS SSTV Award https://ariss.pzk.org.pl/sstv/

You can get predictions for the ISS pass times at https://www.amsat.org/track/

Useful SSTV info and links https://amsat-uk.org/beginners/iss-sstv/

Video of Mary Hare School students contacting Space Station

International Space Station - Image Credit NASA

International Space Station – Image Credit NASA

The ARISS Operations UK Team have released a 57 minute video of the ARISS event at Mary Hare School for the deaf in Newbury, on Tuesday, October 12, 2021.

Radio amateurs in the UK and across Europe were able to receive the signal from the ISS on 145.800 MHz FM.

The Amateur Radio contact between students at the school, call sign GB4MHN, and astronaut Mark Vande Hei KG5GNP using the call sign NA1SS from onboard the International Space Station, takes place at about 46 mins into the video.

Watch ARISS School Contact between Mary Hare School for the deaf and Mark Vande Hei NA1SS

The contact featured in the BBC TV programme South Today on Tuesday evening. UK viewers can watch the programme online, fast forward to 20:40 in this recording
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0010lxt

BBC News https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-berkshire-58912458

Newbury Today story
https://www.newburytoday.co.uk/news/mary-hare-pupils-reach-for-the-stars-in-contact-with-interna-9220499/

Mary Hare School ARISS contact information
https://amsat-uk.org/2021/10/08/ariss-contact-scheduled-for-students-in-newbury-uk/

What is Amateur Radio? http://www.essexham.co.uk/what-is-amateur-radio

Free UK amateur radio Online Training course https://essexham.co.uk/train/foundation-online/

ARISS contact scheduled for students in Newbury UK

International Space Station - Image Credit NASA

International Space Station – Image Credit NASA

Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has received schedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact with astronauts. ARISS is the group that puts together special amateur radio contacts between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses on the International Space Station (ISS).

This will be a direct contact via amateur radio between astronaut Mark Vande Hei KG5GNP onboard the International Space Station and students at the Mary Hare School, Newbury, UK.

Amateur radio station GB4MHN will be the ham radio ground station for this contact.

The downlink frequency for this contact is 145.800 MHz FM and may be heard by listeners in Europe that are within the ISS-footprint.

The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for Tuesday, October 12, 2021 at 11:12:33 UTC, which is 12:12:33 BST or 13:12:33 CEST.

A live feed from the school will be available here https://live.ariss.org/

School Information:

Mary Hare is an aural school for the deaf, we don’t use sign language, instead we teach students to develop lip reading skills and make use of technology. The contact is important for the school as not only will it help inspire students to STEM, it will hopefully demonstrate that no matter the difficulties they have with communication; there are still ways they can accomplish amazing things (“the sky is not the limit!”).

During the week the students will see some exciting chemistry demonstrations, design and fly model rockets, see some space suits, and do some astronomy (observing Jupiter and Saturn in the evening). In lessons they have researched and discussed what it might be like to live in space, done some space themed art, and looked at astronaut food. Hopefully it will be an exciting and inspiring week.

Students First Names & Questions:

1. Rosie (13 yrs): Do you have to learn a sign language to communicate if something goes wrong with the radios in your suit?

2. Jacob (18 yrs): How do you tell directions in space?

3. Harrison (11 yrs): What do the northern lights look like from space?

4. Hollie (16 yrs): How can you shower in zero gravity?

5. Jasper (13 yrs): What’s your most favourite space technology?

6. Milly (18 yrs): If there was a fire, how would you evacuate?

7. Dominika (14 yrs): Do mobile devices work in space? For example, a Smart Phone?

8. Oliver (13 yrs): If you could take one thing from home into space, to make life more fun what would you take and why?

9. Zak (17 yrs): What is it like to wake up and see the earth from space

10. Julia (15 yrs): How long have you been in space for?

Watch the That’s TV Solent interview with Alex Ayling from Mary Hare School
https://twitter.com/TTVSolent/status/1440952287883632641

Deaf pupils to talk to astronaut on the International Space Station in a world first
http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2021/september/deaf-pupils-to-talk-to-astronauts.htm

Reading Chronicle newspaper report on the planned contact
https://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/news/19582950.deaf-newbury-pupils-talk-astronauts-iss-space-station/

The latest information on the ARISS operation mode can be found at
https://www.ariss.org/current-status-of-iss-stations.html

What is Amateur Radio? http://www.essexham.co.uk/what-is-amateur-radio

Free UK amateur radio Online Training course https://essexham.co.uk/train/foundation-online/

UK school to contact the ISS using amateur radio

International Space Station - Image Credit NASA

International Space Station – Image Credit NASA

At 11:12:33 GMT on Tuesday, October 12, students at Newbury’s Mary Hare School for deaf children will be using amateur radio to talk to astronaut Mark Vande Hei KG5GNP aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

Mark will be using the ISS callsign NA1SS and Mary Hare School GB4MHN. The contact should be receiveable across the UK and Europe on a frequency of 145.800 MHz FM.

Watch the That’s TV Solent interview with Alex Ayling from Mary Hare School
https://twitter.com/TTVSolent/status/1440952287883632641

Deaf pupils to talk to astronaut on the International Space Station in a world first
http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2021/september/deaf-pupils-to-talk-to-astronauts.htm

Reading Chronicle newspaper report on the planned contact
https://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/news/19582950.deaf-newbury-pupils-talk-astronauts-iss-space-station/

The latest information on the ARISS operation mode can be found at
https://www.ariss.org/current-status-of-iss-stations.html

What is Amateur Radio? http://www.essexham.co.uk/what-is-amateur-radio

Free UK amateur radio Online Training course https://essexham.co.uk/train/foundation-online/