ARISSat-1 views of the world

I have taken a large number of the images that ARISSat-1 has captured and been received by numerous ground stations and compiled them into a "view of the world" plus a few of the other images that have been transmitted and received.

Battery fails; System still operates in sunlight

The ARISSat-1 website posted that the battery has not failed in a shorted state. That is good news in that it means the system can continue to operate when voltage levels from the solar panels permit. Images are still coming in but at a slower rates since the satellite does not transmit during eclipse periods. An interesting lens flare image taken by the top looking camera and was received by VU2UKT on Aug 14.

ARISSat-1 battery voltage causing resets

This very high quality image was received Aug 11 by ZL2BX.
The battery system on ARISSat-1 has degraded rapidly and is now dropping low enough to reset the internal control system. The system is still functional but will take longer to come up to the minimum voltage for high (or full) duty cycle operations. This will reduce your chances of hearing the satellite during the day as it may only have enough power for the low duty cycle transmission mode.

Image sumbissions decreasing

Not sure if the novelty of images from space is wearing out or if the satellite being in low power mode a bit more often is the reason but the number of images being submitted to the http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/SSTV/ site is dropping off quite a bit. Images that are not selected for publishing on the main page are still available and posted to the archives at http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/SSTV/archive.php with the most recent ones on page 1 and older postings on subsequent pages.

Looking forward to seeing more images from ARISSat-1.

Aug 9 image of the day

This image was received by JJøLTH while ARISSat-1 was over Asia. It appears to show some land features under and around the clouds.

SSTV via linear transponder

Here is an SSTV image that was sent through the linear transponder by PA3GUO using 435.75 (LSB) for the uplink and 145.9 (LSB) on the downlink. Signals from the satellite appear to be improving as the spin rate begins to slow.

Images still coming down

Several nice images were captured over the weekend. The first one (left) was received by JJøLTH and appears to show some land. The second one (below) was received by HA6KVC and shows another striking cloud view. The team now has a website that shows received telemetry from the satellite.

Spectacular

This is one of the nicest images I have seen yet. A superb shot captured by ON4CCM over Europe on Aug 6.

Red callsign image

Here is the best image I could find to date with a red callsign. I just happened to have posted the other 3 color examples previously. This image was captured by NøJY during a pass over North America on Aug 4.

Color of callsign

The color of the callsign in the upper left of the image indicates which of the 4 cameras took the photo.
Red callsign [-Y pointing camera, mirror reverses image].
Green callsign is the top view [+Z pointing camera] and sometimes has the 2 meter antenna in view.
Blue callsign is the bottom view [-Z pointing camera].
Magenta callsign [+Y pointing camera, mirror reverses image].

Looking straight down

This nice image was received over North America by KJ4ZFQ. A nearly full frame shot of the earth and lots of clouds.

Another Earth view

This earth view was captured by KC7I during the 1527 UTC pass over North America. Keep posting images to the gallery at http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/SSTV/

Another great image

This one appears to have been captured just prior to deployment by the cosmonaut and saved in memory for transmission later. Congrats to DK3WN for capturing this image.

Early images from ARISSat-1

Some really interesting images are being sent by ARISSat-1 when it is not in eclipse. This one captured by G6HMS just after ø6øø UTC on Aug 4 show the curve of the earth. Many of the images have lines across them which is due to the satellite tumbling and causing some deep fading in the signal.

ARISSat-1 deployed (Aug 3)

A bit delayed but ARISSat-1 was deployed at 1843 UTC by Sergey Volkov. An initial report of the satellite has been posted from Japan.

ARISSat-1 pre EVA test successful

A bit behind on status but ARISSat-1 had a successful checkout on July 30-31. Data, voice telemetry and SSTV images were received (some directly on VHF and others through the UHF relay on the ISS). The satellite is due to be deployed during the first part of Russian EVA #29. Hatch opening is scheduled for 1430 UTC so the satellite should be deployed and active some time after 1500 UTC. Use the ISS keps for the first day or so as ARISSat-1 will be in close proximity. Keps should be available after a short time so the predicts can be modeled post deployment. More info at

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/expedition28/russian_eva29.html

Swing and a miss

The ARISSat-1 satellite inside the ISS, was to be turned on and use an external antenna in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Yuri Gagarin's first manned space flight. No ground stations reported hearing the signals. AMSAT is working with our Russian partners to determine any problems and assist in correcting them.

The ARISSat-1 signals can be experienced during the 2011 Dayton Hamvention (May 20-22) in the AMSAT booth and around the arena. AMSAT will have the operational prototype running and people there to discuss the satellite and its operation.

Roscosmos has announced that the satellite will be deployed into orbit during the next EVA in llate July of this year.

http://www.arissat1.org/

ARISSat-1 details

AMSAT has sent a bulletin providing information about the activation test for the 50th anniversary of human space flight. See www.amsat.org for all the details.

ARISSat-1 test (part 2)

The Russian team is planning to activate ARISSat-1 from inside the ISS again as part of the commemoration of the 5oth anniversary of the first human in space. The schedule currently lists preparation for activation starting at 1430 UTC on April 11. The system should be active several minutes later and will remain active until 1030 UTC on April 13.

The small satellite is now planned for deployment from the ISS during a Russian EVA in July.

ARISSat-1 test

The Russian crew preformed a verification test on Feb 10 of the ARISSat-1 (aka RadioSkaf -B and KEDR) before it will be deployed on an EVA. JA0CAW was fortunate enough to capture one of the stored images that the satellite will be transmitting.