Several stations around the globe reported receiving slow-scan television (SSTV) images from the International Space Station on December 18. The Russian ARISS announced earlier that it would activate the Amateur Radio SSTV “experiment” from the ISS on 145.800 MHz FM (PD180 mode). Additional transmissions are planned for December 20. All of the images commemorate the birth 80 years ago of Soviet space pioneer Yuri Gagarin, the first human to orbit Earth. Twelve Gagarin-related images will be transmitted in all.

Among the many radio amateurs receiving SSTV pictures were Frank Heritage, M0AEU, in North Warnborough, England, and Martin Ehrenfried, G8JNJ, near London.

The next ISS SSTV transmissions from RS0ISS on 145.800 MHz should start at approximately 1240 UTC on Saturday, December 20, and terminate at around 2130 UTC. There will be 3-minute off periods between transmissions.

On board the ISS, the Russian ARISS team is using the Kenwood TM-D710 transceiver in the Russian Service Module, running about 5 W.

AMSAT-UK has posted additional information about the SSTV transmissions and links to free software for SSTV.

Stations receiving SSTV images from the ISS are asked to upload them to the ARISS SSTV page. — Thanks to AMSAT-UK