
Just FYI, this weekend is the SSTV special event aboard the International Space Station. Find out more details from the website information below. It looks like the best time to see the International Space Station in Chesapeake this weekend will be Saturday night (Feb 9, 2019) at 6:45pm EST and should be visible for approximately 6 minutes. It should appear about 10 deg above NW and disappear 16 deg above SE with a maximum height from the horizon of 63 deg.
ARISS is planning another of their popular Slow Scan Television (SSTV) experiment events. Transmissions are scheduled to begin Friday, Feb. 8 at 18:25 UTC and run through Sunday, Feb. 10 at 18:30 UTC. SSTV operations is a process by which images are sent from the International Space Station (ISS) via ham radio and received by ham operators, shortwave listeners and other radio enthusiasts on Earth, similar to pictures shared on cell phones using twitter or instagram.
When this event becomes active, SSTV images will be transmitted from the ISS at the frequency of 145.80 MHz using the SSTV mode of PD120 and can be received using ham radio equipment as simple as a 2 meter handheld radio or a common shortwave or scanner receiver the covers the 2 meter ham band. After connecting the audio output of the radio receiver to the audio input of a computer running free software such as MMSSTV, the SSTV images can be displayed.
Transmissions will consist of eight NASA On The Air (NOTA)
images (see https://nasaontheair.wordpress.com/). In additional, four ARISS commemorative images will also be included.
Once received, Images can be posted and viewed by the public at http://www.spaceflightsoftware.com/ARISS_SSTV/index.php . In addition, you can receive a special SSTV ARISS Award for posting your image. Once the event begins, see details at https://ariss.pzk.org.pl/sstv/ .
Please note that the event is dependent on other activities, schedules and crew responsibilities on the ISS and are subject to change at any time. Please check for news and the most current information on the AMSAT.org and ARISS.org websites, the AMSAT-BB@amsat.org, the ARISS facebook at Amateur Radio On The International Space Station (ARISS) and ARISS twitter @ARISS_status.
ARISS SSTV – Award Info:
http://ariss-sstv.blogspot.com/2019/02/announcing-arissnota-slow-scan-tv-event.html
To get this award one should receive and decode at least one picture in the session. The quality of the received image does not have to be perfect, but good enough to be able to identify. The picture does not have to be full. It is acceptable to send just some part of the picture as well.
The award is in an electronic format (PNG). It will be sent by e-mail.
The criteria as follows must be met to obtain the Award:
- Load your decoded images on the page:
www.spaceflightsoftware.com/ARISS_SSTV/index.php
If you have done it before, you don’t have to do it again. - Fill in application form >>>
The status of your application is available at
The full version of the award rules can be found here
Deadline is the end of the February 14th, 2019. Diplomas will be sent by February 24th.
More information on ARISS:
ARISS Website:
ARISS Facebook Page:
https://www.facebook.com/Amateur-Radio-on-the-International-Space-Station-ARISS-153679794647788/
Looks like the best time to see the International Space Station in Chesapeake this weekend will be Saturday night (Feb 9, 2019) at 6:45pm EST and should be visible for approximately 6 minutes. It should appear about 10 deg above NW and disappear 16 deg above SE with a maximum height from the horizon of 63 deg.
https://spotthestation.nasa.gov/sightings/view.cfm?country=United_States®ion=Virginia&city=Chesapeake#.XF5iuFxKi00
Thanks & 73,
Van Rowe (KM4KBS)