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WG3K > ANS 16.11.25 06:31l 57 Lines 3056 Bytes #179 (0) @ AMSAT
BID : ANS320.6
Subj: ARISS SSTV Event Continues
Path: IZ3LSV<I3XTY<I0OJJ<N6RME<CX2SA<N3HYM<WG3K
Sent: 251116/0527Z 24856@WG3K.#SMD.MD.USA.NOAM LinBPQ6.0.24
The worldwide Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) team
and the global family of ham radio enthusiasts celebrated 25 years of
continuous amateur radio operations on the International Space Station
(ISS) on November 13, 2025.
Only eleven days after the Expedition 1 crew took up residence on ISS the
crew turned on the ham radio system and began speaking with teams in Star
City Russia, the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland,
and the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.
Throughout it all volunteer ARISS team members have worked side by side
with space agencies and astronauts and cosmonauts around the world to
develop, certify, launch and operate the ham radio systems that enable
creation of an amateur radio bridge between people on earth and spacefarers
in orbit.
During 25 years of continuous operations, ARISS has connected 1 million
kids in classrooms and information educational settings to the ISS through
nearly 1,800 ham radio contacts. Itâ€Ös all about Science, Technology,
Engineering and Math (STEM) educational opportunities. Maximum value is
added by working with educators to ensure that their students learn about
space science, living and working in space, ISS research and radio
communications. This educational element starts 4-6 months before the ARISS
contact.
When the time comes for their once-in-a-lifetime radio contact with the
ISS, they use an amateur radio ground station at their host organization or
one of our international ground stations to talk directly to the astronauts
and cosmonauts on ISSâ€öLIVE!
There are two amateur radio stations on ISS, one in the Columbus Module and
one in the Service Module, supporting 24/7 communications with hams on the
ground via voice and digital repeaters in space. ARISS also provides
opportunities for youth and radio amateurs to downlink pictures, called
Slow Scan Television (SSTV), from ISS as well as standard Television
downlinks using our HamTV system and our L/S-Band antennas.
Itâ€Ös important to note that these amateur radio systems are completely
independent from the ISS communications systems. Because of that, they also
serve as a pivotal ISS backup communications capability. If the main ISS
communications systems fail or are rendered unusable, our flight hardware
and ground operations team is ready to spring into action 24/7.
As we cross the threshold of 25 years of continuous operations on ISS and
look forward to many more, ARISS will begin a one-year commemoration of its
achievements. Several interactive initiatives for youth, educators, ham
radio operators and the public are planned. Stay tuned to the ARISS website
and social media channels to find out what what is planned. As
reported in *AMSAT
News Service* bulletins last week, the first commemorative event is already
underwayâ€öan SSTV (picture downlink) event that started November 12 and runs
through November 19.
*[ANS thanks Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, ARISS International Chair, ARISS-USA
Executive Director, for the above information.]*
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