Super-Sensitive High Definition TV (SS-HDTV) - 09.17.14
ISS Science for Everyone
Science Objectives for Everyone
Super-Sensitive High Definition TV (SS-HDTV) system takes video images during orbital nights, Earth nights, lightning, auroras, cosmic showers, and other amazing events. The video images taken by SS-HDTV are recorded to SD cards, which are downlinked to the ground via data-relay satellites.
Science Results for Everyone
Sprites aren’t mythical, they’re real. “Sprites” are what astronauts called the elusive, short-lived flashes seen from space in connection with thunderstorms and lightning. They’re actually electrical discharges occurring about 80 kilometers (50 miles) up in the atmosphere and extending for 20 to 30 kilometers. Super-sensitive, high-definition TV cameras on the space station have captured images of sprites along with other orbital and Earth night phenomena such as auroras, lightning, and meteor showers -- images impossible to record with normal HDTV cameras. This investigation recorded and downlinked images to the ground via data-relay satellites.
Sponsoring Space Agency
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)
ISS Expedition Duration
March 2011 - May 2012
Previous ISS Missions
- With a normal HDTV camera, it is impossible to take the images of auroras and cosmic showers. Using the Super-Sensitive High Definition TV (SS-HDTV) system, it is possible to take the images from the International Space Station (ISS). Half of the ISS orbit is night, so the SS-HDTV system enables us to take the full-time images from ISS.
- Using SS-HDTV, we will be able to record the natural phenomenon of Aurora, Lightning, Sprites, Airglow, Meteor Shower, etc.
- Many people will have an interest of the universe by broadcasting recorded videos of SS-HDTV.