Nasa

[southhaysfireman]

I was wondering if it were possible to listen to the voice transmitions between Johnson and the shuttle in space I would think that you would be able to hear it anywhere because the shuttle is not always over houston TX any info?

 

[ka3jjz]

The question is a bit moot, since the shuttle fleet is still grounded due to the foam problem however, I understand that with the last launch there were a couple of UHF air freqs that were widely reported during the launch, and I would suspect that the JSC amateur station was doing some rebroadcasts as well.
Sadly, the shuttle fleet will stay grounded at least for the next several months, and NASA has to pay the Russian space agency to ferry our guys (and theirs, too) up and down from the ISS.

73s Mike

 

[scanfan447]

try this http://www.monitoringtimes.com/nasa.html

 

[wa8vzq]

With the exception of launch and the first rev, shuttle comms use a unified s-band system. It is a digitized, multiplexed system in which voice and telemetry are all lumped together into one data stream. NASA has been using this approach since the Apollo series. There is the possiblity to catch one of the SAREX ham radio transmissions from the shuttle and also the ham station on the ISS. This Monitoring Time magazine link has good info about frequencies in use. http://www.monitoringtimes.com/nasa.html
regards

Dan
Apple Valley, MN

 

[jlh]

southhay, not too long ago you could listen to launch control speaking to shuttle emergency landing sites during the pre-launch period on inmarsat. was interesting.

 

[DPD1]

I've never listened to launch, but I know there's a bit of clear UHF comms on landing. At least there was at the last two Edwards landings. Unfortunately, since they can't seem to get the whole foam thing worked out, it's looking more and more like there won't be any more landings in the not too distant future.

Dave
http://www.DPDProductions.com
- Custom Scanner, MURS, GMRS, & Ham Antennas -

 

[n4yek]

Just a quick thought on the foam subject, did anyone else catch the inquiry to the engineer that
designed the external tank?
They was questioning his design and asked about the foam problem. He stated he knew about it,
had the solution, NASA used it on the very first shuttle launch, then abandoned it to save weight.
He said the paint was used to hold the foam together, the paint had interlocking threads.
But NASA decided they could get away with NOT using the paint to save weight.
Just something to ponder on...
Danny
N4YEK

 

[studgeman]

There are multiple up/downlink stations around the globe. Not all of the Comms are multiplexed, but most of them are, specifically the ones you are looking for. Dont forget though that the shuttle is still an "aircraft" and has UHF and i would suspect VHF airband equipment as well. The portable radios the astronauts use on a space walk can be picked up from the ground just like any other low orbit satellite and are standard NFM. I have usually seen them listed as spacewalk frequencies. As always to hear anything you would have to be "in the window" ie shuttle above your radio horizon. Good Luck and Happy Monitoring

 

[rdale]

"He said the paint was used to hold the foam together, the paint had interlocking threads."

That's incorrect. The paint was studied and showed no improvement, with a slight chance it made things worse by taking more foam when the breaks did occur. The fracturing is likely happening on the inner side of the foam, so the outside doesn't matter.

 

[DPD1]

What kind of shocked me, was how surprised they were that the foam could do that much damage. I'm no rocket scientist, but I think if somebody smacked you with a piece of foam going even 100 mph, it would definitely hurt. They also seemed kind of baffled when they discovered it's cracking from the expansion of the tank through temp changes. Seems like kind of a no brainer. Anybody who has worked with foam knows that it has very little ability to expand or contract.

Dave
http://www.DPDProductions.com
- Custom Scanner, MURS, GMRS, & Ham Antennas -