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Satellite Radio Frequencies


Tyneside, UK
2024 Dec 14
Saturday, Day 349

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NASA web page with full details
Radio Transmissions from the International Space Station

Most of the ISS frequencies listed here are active, It ill be obvious which ones are not but they are included in order to complete the record. With patience and knowledge of when the Space Station is above your horizon, they can be picked up by a reasonable receiver and aerial combination.

ISS in orbit
Russian transmissions are mainly restricted to Europe but the telemetry from Progress and Soyuz is occasionally detectable over other parts of the world during the 2-3 days chase of the ISS after launch. There are occasional communication checks from the ISS with US ground stations using the VHF-1 and VHF-2 channels (143.625 and 130.167 MHz). They are seldom reported.

The STS frequencies at 259.7 MHz and 2217.5 MHz are no longer used with the demise of the Shuttle programme.

A simple dipole, or even the telescopic aerial supplied with a hand-held scanner, may suffice for the frequencies used by Soyuz, the ISS for voice, and the telemetry/tracking frequencies of 166 MHz and 922.763 MHz. A pre-amplifier is recommended for the best results. There are some tips for tracking launches to the ISS in the satellite tracking area of this site. There is a link in the right hand menu.


Freq (MHz) Satellite Transmission Notes
121.500
Soyuz TM
(7K-STM)

Morse code 'AN' recovery beacon and direction finding for recovery teams Mir & ISS Crew ferry: Space station missions, three crew seats, 1986-2004 - NOTE: this is an international distress frequency
121.500
Soyuz TMA

Morse code 'AN' recovery beacon and direction finding for recovery teams ISS Crew ferry: Enlarged crew space, updated control systems, three crew seats, 2002-2012- NOTE: this is an international distress frequency
121.500
Soyuz
TMA-M

Morse code 'AN' recovery beacon and direction finding for recovery teams ISS Crew ferry: Digital control system, three crew seats, from 2011 - NOTE: this is an international distress frequency
121.750
Soyuz TM
(7K-STM)

30 kHz deviation FM voice Mir & ISS Crew ferry: Space station missions, three crew seats, 1986-2002
121.750
Soyuz TMA

30 kHz deviation FM voice ISS Crew ferry: Enlarged crew space, updated control systems, three crew seats, 2002-2012
121.750
Soyuz
TMA-M

30 kHz deviation FM voice ISS Crew ferry: Digital control system, three crew seats, from 2011
130.167
ISS
1998-067A
25544
Medium bandwidth FM voice Space station: VHF-2 channel for Russian segment, used as an alternative to VHF-1 (143.625 MHz) during Shuttle/ISS on-orbit operations
130.167
ISS
1998-067A
25544
Ranging pulses Space station: Used by TORU remote control docking system on the Russian segment, usually tested 1-2 days before a Progress docking is due, the Progress return path is at 121.750 MHz
143.625
ISS
1998-067A
25544
Medium bandwidth FM voice Space station: Russian segment VHF-1 channel for communication with Moscow, also used to relay Mission Control to the Shuttle during docking.

Used as part of the ISS Early Communications System over the USA working with the Wallops Facility and White Sands and still used there occasionally but mainly in test mode.

Sven Grahn detected it carrying packet data transmissions during Expedition 1.
145.800
ISS
1998-067A
25544
Amateur Radio downlink frequency Space station: Amateur radio downlink from US segment - see NASA's ARISS Page
145.825
ISS
1998-067A
25544
Amateur Radio downlink frequency Space station: Amateur radio downlink from US segment - see NASA's ARISS Page
145.919
Kedr
1998-067CK
37772
CW - morse code telemetry Amateur radio satellite released during Russian EVA from ISS 2011 Aug 3, still operating at the time of re-entry: Only transmitted at this frequency when 145.950 MHz was being used for BPSK-1000 digital telemetry transmission
145.939
Kedr
1998-067CK
37772
CW - morse code telemetry Amateur radio satellite released during Russian EVA from ISS 2011 Aug 3, still operating at the time of re-entry: Only used when the digital telemetry sytem switched to backup BPSK-400 mode
145.950
Kedr
1998-067CK
37772
Automatic switching between several transmission modes including BPSK telemetry Amateur radio satellite released during Russian EVA from ISS 2011 Aug 3, still operating at the time of re-entry: Ceased to operate on re-entry 2012 Jan 4
145.990
Suitsat
2005-035C
28933
NFM - extremely weak Amateur radio experiment - life expired Orlan spacesuit equipped with a radio transmitter and released from ISS during a crew EVA: Voice recording + SSTV image - the low power was due to a failed amplifier - Released from ISS 2006 Feb 3 and battery exhausted 2006 Feb 18
166.000
Progress M
(7K-TGM)

Telemetry transmission PCM-FM, sidebands ±128 kHz Mir and ISS supplies ferry: 1998-2011
166.000
Progress
M1
(7K-TGM)

Telemetry transmission PCM-FM, sidebands ±128 kHz Mir & ISS supplies ferry: Uprated propellant capacity, 2000-2004
166.000
Progress
M-SO

Telemetry transmission PCM-FM, sidebands ±128 kHz ISS module delivery: 2001 & 2009
166.000
Progress
M-M

Telemetry transmission PCM-FM, sidebands ±128 kHz ISS supplies ferry: 2008-
166.000
Soyuz TM
(7K-STM)

Telemetry transmission PCM-FM, sidebands ±128 kHz Mir & ISS Crew ferry: Space station missions, three crew seats, 1986-2005
166.000
Soyuz TMA

Telemetry transmission PCM-FM, sidebands ±128 kHz ISS Crew ferry: Enlarged crew space, updated control systems, three crew seats, 2002-2012
166.000
Soyuz
TMA-M

Telemetry transmission PCM-FM, sidebands ±128 kHz ISS Crew ferry: Digital control system, three crew seats, from 2011
259.700
STS

AM voice ISS Crew/payload transport: Detected over Europe occasionally prior to Shuttle re-entry from ISS operations, and with voice during the orbital injection phase from Kennedy SC to Europe - also transmitted at 2217.500 MHz, 1981-2011
628.000
ISS
1998-067A
25544
FM telemetry - sidebands at +/- 128 kHz Space station: Transmission from the Zvezda module.

Transmits on command from within Russia, several times per day - usually in parallel with 630 MHz - Similar transmission format to Soyuz/Progress at 166 MHz but with lower power - part of the BITS telemetry system.
630.000
ISS
1998-067A
25544
FM telemetry - sidebands at +/- 128 kHz Space station: Transmission from the Zvezda module.

Transmits on command from within Russia, several times per day - usually in parallel with 628 MHz - Similar transmission format to Soyuz/Progress at 166 MHz but with lower power - part of the BITS telemetry system.
632.000
ISS
1998-067A
25544
FM telemetry - sidebands at +/- 128 kHz Space station: Transmission from the Zarya module.

Transmissions originally reported by Sven Grahn when Zarya first reached orbit - Similar transmission format to Soyuz/Progress at 166 MHz but with lower power - part of the BITS telemetry system and probably no longer in use
633.909
ISS
1998-067A
25544
FM telemetry - sidebands at +/- 128 kHz Space station: Transmission from the Zarya module. The central frequency is 91 kHz lower than what might be regarded as the norm for this type of transmission.

Transmissions originally reported by Sven Grahn when Zarya first reached orbit - similar transmission format to Soyuz/Progress at 166 MHz but with lower power - part of the BITS telemetry system. Transmissions are infrequent.
922.763
Progress M
(7K-TGM)

CW carrier. Mir and ISS supplies ferry: Part of the REGUL command and control system - there may be other elements of signals on sidebands around this frequency. 1998-2011
922.763
Progress
M1
(7K-TGM)

CW carrier. Mir & ISS supplies ferry: Part of the REGUL command and control system - there may be other elements of signals on sidebands around this frequency. Uprated propellant capacity, 2000-2004
922.763
Progress
M-SO

CW carrier. ISS module delivery: Part of the REGUL command and control system - there may be other elements of signals on sidebands around this frequency. Version flown to deliver ISS components 2001 & 2009
922.763
Progress
M-M

CW carrier. ISS supplies ferry: Part of the REGUL command and control system - there may be other elements of signals on sidebands around this frequency. 2008-
922.763
Soyuz TM
(7K-STM)

CW carreir Mir & ISS Crew ferry: Part of the REGUL command and control system - there may be other elements of signals on sidebands around this frequency. Space station missions, three crew seats, 1986-2003
922.763
Soyuz TMA

CW carrier ISS Crew ferry: Part of the REGUL command and control system - there may be other elements of signals on sidebands around this frequency. Enlarged crew space, updated control systems, three crew seats, 2002-2012
922.763
Soyuz
TMA-M

CW carrier. ISS Crew ferry: Part of the REGUL command and control system - there may be other elements of signals on sidebands around this frequency. Digital control system, three crew seats, from 2011
2217.500
SGLS 4
STS

CW carrier plus side bands carrying data ISS Crew/payload transport: Integrated voice and data on SGLS Channel 4 - transmitter operates almost continuously while the payload bay doors are open, also transmitted at 259.7 MHz, 1981-2011
2270.000
Chibis-M
2011-062C
38051
Lightning studies satellite: Frequency information provided by Sven Grahn
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