SSTV Experiment - World Space Week 2025 - ARISS Series 29 - Period: 3-9 October 2025

October 4, 2025 — Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) announces an SSTV event to be held this week in recognition of the 68th anniversary of the launch of the world’s first satellite, Sputnik-1 on October 4, 1957. This event will feature 12 images that will be transmitted at 145.800 MHz using SSTV mode PD120.

The operation times are as follows and are tentative:

Oct. 3 Start time: 12:20 UTC / 08:20 AM ET

Oct. 9 End time: around 7:30 UTC / 3:30 AM ET

(Expect interruptions due to scheduled ARISS educational contacts.)

For submitting your received images

Go to https://ariss-usa.org/ARISS_SSTV/ to submit your decodes. Check the box after submis-sion to the SSTV gallery for an award certificate. You must submit your decodes and your re-quest for an award certificate within 72 hours after SSTV event transmissions end. Certificates are delivered via email (watch your spam folder).

For more information about the ARISS SSTV Award Certificate, go to https://ariss.pzk.org.pl/sstv/ .

Thanks to our user community for participating in ARISS.

 Why download SSTV images from the ISS?

Every radio amateur that participate 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.  

World Wide Participation Statistics:

Herewith some images (Click on images to enlarge)

Steyn Truter ZS1STE -  Klein Brak River

 

Gerrit Klopper ZS1KLO - Rheebok

Rulhof vd Merwe ZS4RM - Bloemfontein

Christi Grobbelaar ZS4CGR -  Luchoff

Jacobus de Jager ZS1JDJ - Aberdeen

Bernie Wentzel ZR1ACP - Agulhas

Francois Joubert ZS1Q - George

Working Satellites and Receiving SSTV Images from the ISS - Andre ZS3AG and Johnny ZS3JDL, Kimberley

An ARISS SSTV event took place from  14 July 2025 to 20 July 2025.  The subject was the 50th anniversary of the ASTP and the 40th anniversary of STS-51F.   STS-51F was the second SAREX flight and had the first use of SSTV in human spaceflight.

Down-link transmissions was at 145.800 MHz FM and the mode was  PD 120.

The transmissions consisted of 12 images featuring the Apollo Soyuz mission and STS 51F which pioneered SSTV operation on Shuttles. 

Herewith a recap of participating stations in this event.

The following ZS Link Network Group radio amateurs participated:

1.  Gerrit ZS1KLO

2.  Johan ZS1I

3.  Rulhof ZS4RM

4.  Jacobus ZS1JDJ

5.  Christi ZS4CGR

6.  Andre ZS3AG

7   Johnny ZS3JDL

Andre ZS3AG and Johnny ZS3JDL participated from Kimberley.  Andre  ZS3AG explained in the  audio file how he and Johnny ZS3JDL downloaded SSTV images from the ISS.  Andre provided the images relating to his station setup and equipment that he used to download images.

Audio File available HERE

 

 

Recap ARISS SSTV Event Participation 14 July 2025 to 20 July 2025

An ARISS SSTV event took place from  14 July 2025 to 20 July 2025.  The subject was the 50th anniversary of the ASTP and the 40th anniversary of STS-51F.   STS-51F was the second SAREX flight and had the first use of SSTV in human spaceflight.

Down-link transmissions was at 145.800 MHz FM and the mode was  PD 120.

The transmissions consisted of 12 images featuring the Apollo Soyuz mission and STS 51F which pioneered SSTV operation on Shuttles. Please note that the newly updated gallery is available at https://ariss-usa.org/ARISS_SSTV/ .

Feedback on the event:

The following radio amateurs participated:

1.  Gerrit ZS1KLO

2.  Johan ZS1I

3.  Rulhof ZS4RM

4.  Jacobus ZS1JDJ

5.  Christi ZS4CGR

6.  Andre ZS3AG

7   Johnny ZS3JDL

 

A demonstration of how to download SSTV images from the International Space Station (ISS) was held on the 19 July 2025 on the farm Blandsdrift during the ZS-Link Network Group gathering.  Well the ISS cooperated nicely and there was a good flypast at 11h58 SAST at a maximum elevation of 56.2 degrees elevation on the farm. The following radio amateurs participated in the demonstration: Jacobus ZS1JDJ, Gerrit ZS1KLO, Nico ZS1ZAN.

The images below were downloaded using Robot36 installed on a cellphone and a 2m Handheld with a "rubber duck" antenna. There was great interest from several radio amateurs in the demonstration. Hopefully many new radio amateurs will participate in the next SSTV broadcasts from the International Space Station. (ISS)

Here are the pictures/images that were downloaded on the day:  (Click on the images for larger view)

 

Jacobus ZS1JDJ

 

 

Gerrit ZS1KLO

The following ARISS SSTV Awards were issued to the participating stations: (Click on the images for larger view.)

(PLEASE NOTE:  I am currently waiting for the award certificates of Andre ZS3AG and Johnny ZS3JDL.  Once received the certificates will be added to this topic.)

Downloading SSTV Images while being mobile between George and Mossel Bay. A first in South Africa?

 

Image:  N2 Road map between George and Mossel Bay.  1 & 2 - Areas where images were downloaded while being mobile.

During the recent  SSTV Experiment - Expedition 73 - ARISS Series 27 = Period: 5 May 2025 to 12 May 2025  Jacobus ZS1JDJ downloaded SSTV images from the ISS while being mobile between George and Mossel Bay.  I cannot remember that this type of operating was ever undertaken by a radio amateur in the Southern Cape, maybe even in South Africa. 

Image  1 = This image was downloaded on the 5 May 2025 at 17h09 SAST while mobile on the N2 driving at a speed of 110 km/h.  The position of the download was at the top of the Great Brak River cutting.

Image 2 = This image was downloaded on the 7 May 2025 at 17h11 SAST while mobile in the Rheebok Bricks factory area.  Driving speed was also 110km/h.

The two image above are not perfect images but taking into account that Jacobus ZS1JDJ found the passes not being in his favor this time around due to the fact that he was still at work during the ISS passes.  Remarkable is that he decided to download the images while being mobile at 110 km/h.  Great ingenuity on his part as he did not want to be left in the cold.  Well done, Jacobus!!

Equipment used:  5/8 Mobile Antenna mounted on vehicle, Robot36 Android application and a QYT KT-8900 VHF / UHF Radio

Finally:  A group of 8 radio amateurs participated in the  SSTV Experiment - Expedition 73 - ARISS Series 27 = Period: 5 May 2025 to 12 May 2025.  More information available HERE.