ISS Time Traveller

The International Space Station raised its orbit a couple of weeks back to avoid a close approach by an Argentinian imaging satellite.

A Progress MS-22 spacecraft docked to the station fired its thrusters for over six minutes.

This changed the station's velocity by 0.7 meters per second.

This means each orbit takes a bit longer.

Amateurs using the ARISS repeaters will want to be sure to have updated Keplerian elements for prediction and tracking software.

Broadcaster Shuts Longwave Radio Transmitter in Iceland

A longwave radio transmitter in Iceland has been shut down and demolished, as Iceland phases out that form of broadcast.

A team of police stood nearby to oversee safety concerns.

Destruction of the mast, standing 218 metres, Iceland's third tallest structure, took place because of a decline in the number of listeners to longwave radio broadcasts. The transmitter had been operated on 207 kHz by the Icelandic broadcaster RUV, which is now giving priority to FM.

Another RUV transmitter will continue operating for a little longer in West Iceland on 189 kHz. This is Iceland's tallest structure at 412 metres. There are also plans for that transmitter to close, once FM broadcast replace all of its functions.

The impetus for the change is being driven in part by Iceland's Civil Defence and other organisations looking to improve emergency notification capabilities. That role is going to be transferred to FM, which is slowly being upgraded throughout Iceland.