Shuttle Discovery (STS-133) launch

[Gary]

Was looking for info on the NanoSail-D and i stumbled on this image all i can say is

Rob Bullen
Feb. 26, 2011
Location:
Forest of Dean, Gloucestershie, England, UK
Details:
After a very cloudy day the skies cleared to allow a view of this stunning pass of the ISS and Discovery. I could not believe the timing was so fortuitous to show the shuttle closing in on the station. I captured this, what I guess could potentially be, a once in a lifetime image of these two spaceships traveling as separate craft using Canon EOS 40D using eyepiece projection through a hand guided 8.5 inch Newton.

original can be found here http://www.spaceweather.com/submissions ... 758133.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Also the first EVA or spacewalk is tomorrow at 16.15GMT

[RichC]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GE_USPTm ... r_embedded" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

as seen from an airliner

[Gary]

Spacewalk due to start at 16.15GMT.

Also being shown along with the spacewalk preparations is Endeavour being moved from the Orbiter Processing Facility to the Vehicle Assembly Building So she can be mounted to the external fuel tank

Spaceflight now Endeavour footage
NASA TV EVA preparation
Spacevidcast or Spacevidcast.com EVA preparation

[RichC]

Endeavor
Got so close to this Orbiter it was like looking up to a skyscraper!

[Gary]

Endeavor
Got so close to this Orbiter it was like looking up to a skyscraper!

Hi Rich

NASA spells Endeavour the British way so it has the "u" Confuses NASA as well http://space.about.com/b/2007/07/16/nas ... -error.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

First EVA or Spacewalk starting early Just leaving the air lock. If you've never watched one its compelling viewing

Spaceflight now
NASA TV
Spacevidcast or Spacevidcast.com

[RichC]

Well i normally spell it that way too but i missed the letter out by accident!

[Gary]

Second and final spacewalk happening today from 15.18GMT

Coverage on any of

Spaceflight now
NASA TV
Spacevidcast or Spacevidcast.com

[davedubya]

Got plenty of Russian on 143.625 on both passes so far today, but nothing of the EVA. Will they be using 259.7?

The Milair guys can almost certainly elaborate on this, but I think 259.7 is only used for launches and returns from the ISS.

The others I know of are in the 145. range - http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/station/reference/radio/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Gary]

Never had much luck getting ISS comms Just to confirm are these NFM or FM?

[davedubya]

I thought they were AM...perhaps that's why I've never had much luck with ISS comms either.

[RichC]

143.625 FM is for ISS-Shuttle comms and ISS to Mission Control
145.800 FM is for ISS to Earth for Amateur Radio downlink (to us lowly civvies so we can talk with the ISS crew).
259.700 AM is for Shuttle - Houston launch/pre-orbit and re-entry (Air-Ground Ch.1)

The first frequency is mostly Russian because over here in Europe, the ground stations are in Russia using the Russian Mission Control. It's not that good reception wise in the UK because they don't normally start speaking until they get inside the footprint for each ground station (several within Russia). And by that time, the ISS is already over Germany.

For the re-entry of the Shuttle, you "may" get comms on 259.700 AM on it's last orbit of earth over the UK when it is lower down again.

Apart from those, SATCOM is used for everything else including most of the ISS/Shuttle - Ground communications. They use several bands including a lot of INMARSAT up in the 2GHz range.

HF is used for re-broadcasts of the HAM Radio enthusiasts talking to the crews. This via Johnson Space Centre.

To get good decent AM comms on post launch window over the UK, try using a Yagi Beam cut for 260MHz (SATCOM) and point it towards the Shuttle when its coming over the Horizon.
If you are directly beneath the shuttle (like i am) when it comes over (Its landfall over the UK is Devon) then you won't hear much as it nulls out underneath the shuttle itself. Hence why some monitors up north get better reception than those down south.

[davedubya]

My word....I just picked up a cosmonaut speaking.

[Gary]

Finally got comms that time on 143.625 on my little 7100 Will have to try the base station next time. Thanks for the help

[RichC]

Heard it clear as day that last pass, and saw it clear as anything too

Thanks for the 260Mhz freq Rich, I'll try it next pass

Tony

Oops didn't make myself clear on that one. What i mean't was, have an antenna "cut" for the 260MHz frequency which is what people do for listening to SATCOM as it is mid-range.
The frequency is of course 259.700 which is near 260MHz so that is what the antenna should be cut at.
Keep with the VHF 143.625 until the re-entry is initiated and on the last or second orbit over the UK you might get some comms on 259.700 AM.

[RichC]

Finally got comms that time on 143.625 on my little 7100 Will have to try the base station next time. Thanks for the help

If you have a decent antenna then connect the 7100 up, its very sensitive and is a favourite for those listening to Satcom with a dedicated antenna over most radios.

[RichC]

Yep, the only Satcom stuff you will catch during the whole episodes are the TAL Support teams setting up (C130s, Pararescues, DOD Cape Osborne, Ramstein etc) These are on 261.575 and 261.700 NFM and AM.
259.700 is the only UHF you will catch throughout the mission which is not SATCOM.

Apart from those, INMARSAT is used heavily between 1.5 - 2.0GHz. Before and During the orbit.

EVA Comms i assume will be intercom type comms fed through the umbilical cord and then relayed through Inmarsat to Houston so this is why no one has heard it yet.

[Gary]

Finally got comms that time on 143.625 on my little 7100 Will have to try the base station next time. Thanks for the help

If you have a decent antenna then connect the 7100 up, its very sensitive and is a favourite for those listening to Satcom with a dedicated antenna over most radios.

From memory its a Scanking Royal Discone, will that be ok? Never really got into the technical side of the hobby. Should take a interest really

[RichC]

Should be okay, something more closer to 140MHz specific with a preamp would work wonders.

[davedubya]

Just caught it really clear again on that last pass.

[Gary]

One highlight for today if you can call it that and if anyone is interested At 22.03 GMT Mr Long Legged Mack Daddy aka Obama is going to call Discovery/ISS