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How to Get a Launch Pass

(and Other Miscellaneous Information)




The space shuttle press kit is at http://www.osf.hq.nasa.gov/shuttle/(sts#)/, substituting the mission number where (sts#) is shown (e.g., http://www.osf.hq.nasa.gov/shuttle/sts69/).

For up-to-date and detailed information call the following:

1-407-867-4636: Visitor Information Center information and next launch.
(407)-867-4636: Space Shuttle mission information.
(407)-867-2314: Space shuttle status line.

Shuttle Frequencies

The Space Shuttle transmits on three frequency bands: UHF, S-Band, and Ku-Band. The UHF frequencies are simple AM voice and are very easy to copy. These frequencies are used for launch and landing operations, EVA operations, and as an additional voice downlink when other channels are in use for the current ground station has no S-Band capability.

The frequencies in use are:

The S-Band system is one of the primary Orbiter downlink bands. The voice channels are digital slope delta modulated and are multiplexed in with the rest of the Orbiter telemetry and is very difficult to copy. Much of the downlink TV is on S-Band also, but is wideband FM and should be easy to copy. The frequencies are:

2287.500 Mhz:
Primary digital downlink
2250.000 Mhz:
Wideband FM with either main engine analog telemetry during launch, or TV during orbit operations.

The Ku-Band system is used in conjunction with the tracking and data relay satellites and is used much more heavily in Spacelab flights than in others. The data rate is very high (50 Mbit/s). These transmissions are directed to TDRS satellites in geostationary orbit on a frequency of 15.003 GHz.

Shuttle Audio Retransmissions

You can also telnet "spacelink.msfc.nasa.gov" and follow the menus to a listing of repeaters in the USA that offer this service.

Retransmissions of Shuttle audio on amateur radio frequencies

All frequencies are in MHz ; note for the lower half of the database applet :
Use FM on VHF, USB on 10-20m, LSB on 40-80m ; you might also try 20192 LSB which is NASA.
( Excerpt from "rec.radio.amateur.misc" FAQ Part 3 [ content modified by NASA - JAVA(TM) adaption by the
ROCKET-SITE ] )