Editing International Space Station (section)

== ISS SSTV ==
For decades, space enthusiasts have dreamed of communicating with astronauts. However, one of the most exciting and accessible ways to connect with the International Space Station (ISS) does not require a license or expensive gear. Through Slow-Scan Television (SSTV) transmissions, anyone on Earth can receive static images broadcast directly from the space station using a basic radio receiver or even a smartphone.
What is ISS SSTV?
Slow-Scan Television is an amateur radio transmission protocol that converts still images into audio tones. Instead of the massive bandwidth required to stream live video, SSTV compresses a single picture into a narrow voice channel. When these audio tones are picked up on Earth, software translates the shifting pitches back into lines of color, building an image piece by piece on a screen over the course of a few minutes.
These broadcasts are organized by the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) program. They usually coincide with space exploration milestones, student educational events, or historical anniversaries. When active, the onboard transceiver automatically broadcasts a picture, rests for a couple of minutes, and then sends the next image in a continuous cycle.