Launch of SuitSat: Highlights of 3 Feb ISS Spacewalk / NASA TV / 06-02-2006

The next transmission of the ESA TV Service will be:

06-Feb-06 16:00 – 17:00 GMT

”Launch” of SuitSat: Highlights of 3 Feb ISS Spacewalk NASA TV

Background information on the transmission:

In the night 3-4 February, the two resident astronauts of the International Space Station will put one of the strangest “satellites” ever into orbit: Valery Tokarev and Bill McArthur will hurl an empty spacesuit overboard, making it an Earth-orbiting satellite – “SuitSat” for short.

To this end, a Russian Orlan spacesuit that has passed its design liftetime, was equipped with three batteries, a radio transmitter and internal sensors to measure temperature and battery power. Like Sputnik 48 years ago, radio signals of this object can be received by radio amateurs around the globe, at frequency 145.990 MHz.

Of course, the main objectives of the ISS spacewalk on 3 February are not this deployment but preparation for major maintenance and assembly work of the International Space Station. But viewers around the world will admire the pictures of an empty space suit floating away into the depth of space.

NASA-TV covers the spacewalk live, during eight hours, starting 3 February 2006 at 21:30 GMT. NASA-TV also transmits a summary report, on Monday 6 February starting 16:00 GMT which ESA TV will rebroadcast live.

More background information can be found on http://suitsat.org/.

Transmission details:

Eutelsat W2 at 16 DEG EAST

Transponder B5 Middle,

Channel 6, horizontal,

F=11.160 MHz, SR=5.632 MS/sec, FEC=3/4

For further information, visit our website at http://television.esa.int. For other enquires, contact Claus Habfast, Tel +31 71 565 3838, Fax +31 71 565 6340, e-mail claus.habfast@esa.int.

With kind regards

ESA TV Service