ISS FLASH PROJECT

For the 1st time the San Antonio & Austin Astronomical Associations were able to successfully contact an inhabited object in space and have that contact confirmed photographically via astronauts onboard the ISS!! The video is of the actual flash project which involved the use of two 800 Millon Lumen spot lights and a 1 watt blue laser along with numerous participants with handheld spot lights!

• Category

  Science & Technology

[Barry Armstead]

Well done Rob! Your observatory is becoming famous and a very good community resource.

[Robb Lozano]

Thanks Baz, this has been overwhelming! Tons of press and it was a lot of fun to have everyone there!

[Yiman54]

What is the morse code for?.... HELP US!! WE ARE GETTING F*CKED DOWN HERE....lol ♥^j^♥

[Robb Lozano]

Too funny!!!!!!



[TrueMenDontKillCoyot]

This is fascinating! Is the blue dot just from the laser? Or from the spot lights/laser? Also what kind of spotlights are those? What bulbs. And what brand of laser? I assume it was a 445nm Lab style laser. Was it mounted to any kind of computer so it could track the station?

GREAT JOB!!!

[Robb Lozano]

@TrueMenDontKillCoyot The lights were from a company caled Sky-View Search lights and put out 800 million lumens. Send Ron and email at ron@sky-view.com and he can give the specs on the lights. The laser was a 1watt pro laser but I'm not sure on the specs. The laser was actually mounted on a home made rifle like mount complete with a rifle scope and it was guided manually. Keith Little @ alittle1@satx.rr.com can give you the info on the laser! Thanks!!! Robb

[Lo Brian]

only 1 W?

Why not a 30W YAG laser?

[gjgjkg]

Yea I doubt that those searchlights are 800 million lumens or even candlepower. I would say those searchlights are about 300 million cp. Still bright though anyway and definitely enough to be seen at the iss

[YoudSayOmg]

sounds like me when i try photo'ing it with telescope, i track,girlfreind clicks the shutter remote...Go Stop Go Stop Go Stop...hehe, I'm glad the ISS saw it!!

[numquamretro]

Cool story! Amazing that they wer able to see the lights! But i have a little correction: its 800 million candlepowers, not lumens. 800 million lumens would definately be too much :) The strongest serchlights the company offers are the Dominator with 2,1million lumens: .sky-view.com/searchlight-domi­nator.htm

[kreutzere]

Watch it from 3:57! 

[Chris Belair]

artic s3 was the laser

[Chris Belair]

it is made by wicked lasers

[Chris Belair]

it ms the artic s3 i just bought it

[JMChladek]

Very good work guys! It was nice of Don to get a great image of San Antonio from space at night (and night photos are his speciality) as I used to live there. All in all, I would say it was a pretty successful experiment!