ISS SSTV image 2 received by Mike Rupprecht DK3WN April 12, 2016 at 1556 UT

ARISS reports that International Space Station (ISS) Slow Scan TV (SSTV) transmissions on 145.800 MHz FM are scheduled between April 11-15, 2016.

UPDATE: Dmitry Pashkov R4UAB reported the ISS SSTV equipment was activated at 1200 UT, April 11 but there was no signal on 145.800 MHz. The crew resolved the problem and Nitin Muttin VU3TYG reported the ISS SSTV was active during the 0735 UT April 12 pass over India. Since then radio amateurs around the world have been receiving the SSTV pictures among them Mike Rupprecht DK3WN.

ISS SSTV image 1 of Yuri Gagarin received by Murray Hely ZL3MH January 31, 2015

The schedule for the ARISS commemorative event is currently:
• Setup and activation on April 11 about 18:25 UT.
• Paused April 12 from 12:15 until 14:15 UT to allow for a school contact with Romania.
• Paused April 13 from 12:45 until 14:30 UT to allow for a school contact with Argentina.
• Deactivation on April 14 at 11:35 UT.
This opportunity should cover most of the world during the operational period.The image transmissions should be on 145.800 MHz and the mode is planned to be PD180.

The event commemorates the 15th anniversary last November of the first Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) school contact. Since then astronauts on the ISS have made over 1,000 amateur radio contacts with schools across the globe.

April 12 is the 55th anniversary of the first human space flight by Yuri Gagarin.

In addition, MAI-75 (SSTV Experiment) will be conducting two sessions afterwards. The first one is Thursday, April 14 from 14:45 until 18:00 UT. The second session is on Friday, April 15 from 14:10 until 19:00 UT. These times do not cross N. America but will provide opportunities for Europe, Southeast Asia, Australia and S. America.

It is reported the MAI-75 tests will involve the SSTV mode PD290 which has a resolution of 800×600 and an image transmission time of 5 minutes.

Check the ARISS SSTV Blog for the latest updates http://ariss-sstv.blogspot.co.uk/

For information on how to receive SSTV from the ISS with sample audio from John Brier KG4AKV and a link to his popular hints page see https://amsat-uk.org/beginners/iss-sstv/

In the UK we use narrow 2.5 kHz deviation FM but the ISS transmits on 145.800 MHz with the wider 5 kHz deviation used in much of the world. Most base station and mobile radios can be switched been wide and narrow deviation FM filters and for best results you should select the wider filter. Handheld radios all seem to have a single wide filter fitted as standard.

As a result of Doppler shift the 145.800 MHz ISS signal may vary by +/- 3.5 kHz during a pass going from 145.835 to 145.7965 MHz. If the smallest step size your FM radio tunes in is 5 kHz you would get best results by selecting 145.805 at start of pass, then 145.800 and finally 145.795 MHz.

Local newspapers are usually keen to publish stories about the reception of signals from the Space Station. If you receive an SSTV picture why not tell your local newspaper about it to help get publicity for amateur radio and your local radio club.

Information on the MAI-75 SSTV experiment
http://www.energia.ru/eng/iss/researches/education-26.html

You can see SSTV images received from the ISS and upload your images at the ARISS SSTV Gallery http://www.spaceflightsoftware.com/ARISS_SSTV/