As I write this article the SSTV Experiment has closed. The Theme this time around was: "Humans in Space"
What did the Experiment entail?
Expedition 72 - ARISS Series 26 "Humans in Space" mission
April 11-16, 2025 – "Humans in Space"
April 12 is the International Day of Human Spaceflight so, what better theme for the April 11-16 Slow Scan TV transmissions.
Start: Friday, April 11 1700 GMT
End: Wed, April 16 1430 GMT
Frequency: 145.800 MHz FM (+/-3.5 kHz Doppler Shift)
The callsign is RSØISS, frequency is 145.800 MHz, and the mode is PD120. (Transmission cycle 2 minutes on, 2 minutes off)
Many FM rigs
can be switched to wide and narrow deviation FM filters. For best
results you should select the filter for wider deviation FM. Handhelds
generally have a single wide filter fitted as standard.
Reports are requested: please send ARISS uploading your decoded pictures in the official ARISS SSTV gallery: https://www.spaceflightsoftware.com/ARISS_SSTV/
ARISS uploading are closing Saturday, 19 April 2025
Useful information to receive the pictures can be found here: https://amsat-uk.org/beginners/iss-sstv/
Follow ARISS on X for official updates during the event https://x.com/ARISS_Intl
I am pleased to announce that there was plenty of interest and participation in the Southern Cape and South Africa in the SSTV Experiment - ARISS Series 26.
Why download SSTV images from the ISS?
Every
radio amateur that participated set his/her own goals and has a reason
for participating in the experiment. Unfortunately I do not have all
the information on hand why some radio amateurs download images. During this event the "modus operandi" differ substantially from Series 23. The current TX cycle 2 min on, 2min break and 2min on as well as the fact that all passes took place at night time and the trajectory of the passes differed was challenging especially for inexperienced operators. This time around two radio amateurs participated for the first time ever. I am sure they learned from this experience and that they will download good clean images in the future.
Herewith some images (Click on images to enlarge) of the radio amateurs that participated in the ARISS SSTV Experiment:
Bernie ZR1ACP - Agulhas
Christi ZS4CGR - Luckhoff
Francois ZS1Q - George (New Participant)
Gerrit ZS1KLO - Rheebok, Mosselbaai
(Image download with a HT and Rubber Duck Antenna while Gerrit was in Pretoria)
Jaco ZR1JPA - Langebaan (New Participant)
Jacobus ZS1JDJ - Da Nova, Mosselbaai
Johan ZS1I - Mossel Bay
Rulhof ZS4RM - Bloemfontein
