旼컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴커 � THIS FILE WAS PROVIDED BY | � � �袴� �袴� �袴� �袴 �袴� �袴� �袴� �袴� �袴� (tm)| (604) 875-6259 � � 훤敲 勁暠 勁攷 � 勁� 勁攷 勁攷 훤敲 勁� (c) | Vancouver, Canada � � 袴暠 � � � 훤� 훤袴 훤暠 � � 袴暠 훤袴 1991| (1200; 2400 baud) � � The Astronomy and Space Sciences Educational | (FidoNet 1:153/719) � � Information Service | � 읕컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴켸 How To View Shuttle Launches and Landings Thanks to werners@novavax.UUCP for additional hints on Shuttle Viewing. You Can view of shuttle launches right from the base. The KSC visitor center offers bus rides from the visitor's center to a site about 6 miles from the launch pad. The cost is $6 for adults, $3 for children. For information and reservations you will need to call 407-452-2121 Ext. 260...(This is the BEST and closest view.) You may write to the following address for a launch pass: NASA Vehicle Pass PA - Pass Kennedy Space Center, FL 32899 Each vehicle launch pass allows the entry of a vehicle up to the size of a van, as many people as you can stuff inside. One per address. In general, if you know the launch that you wish, ask for that launch. The launch pass is good for that launch no matter how many times it is postponed. If you know a general time frame, then ask for that time frame. jbatka@desire.wright.edu does, however, have a short-cut on how to get launch pass on short notice, call your Senator's or House Representative's office. For information on a pass if you have requested one, call KSC public affairs at (407) 867-2622. If you are unable to obtain a launch pass, fred-mckenzie@ksc.nasa.gov suggests: If you decide to come to the coast for the launch, I suggest you come to Titusville. Go east on State Road 50 from I-95, to US-1. Go north on US-1 to the "Miracle City Mall" at Harrison. Park somewhere north of this spot. Anywhere north along highway 1, or east (as far as you can) along highway 406 (402) is good (specifically Sand Point Park), just as long as you can see the VAB and don't have trees blocking the view. Also you can try Jetty Park at Port Canaveral. (you will be south of the launch looking north). Are you a Ham? If you have a two meter receiver or a scanner along, tune to 146.94 MHz. John Anderson, K4GCC, rebroadcasts the "NASA Select" audio channel on his repeater. Other popular repeaters in the immediate area are 145.37, 146.91, 146.97, 147.36, 444.150 and 444.750. tells us W6FXN 145.46 no longer exists. In the Los Angeles area (Redondo Beach to be exact) the Shuttle audio is now carried by the W6TRW repeater on 145.32 MHz although it is possible to "talk over" the shuttle audio. That is, users of the repeater can defeat the Shuttle audio broadcast by simply using the repeater as is done during non-Shuttle times. The W6TRW repeater is operated by the TRW Amateur Radio Club. --excerpt from rec.radio.amateur.misc FAQ Part 3------------- ** On what frequencies do JPL and GSFC retransmit the shuttle audio? Station VHF 10m 15m 20m 40m 80m Video WA3NAN 147.45 28.650 21.395 14.295 7.185 3.860 W6VIO 224.04 21.280 14.282 7.165 K6MF 145.585 7.165 3.840 W5RRR 146.64 28.495 21.350 14.280 7.227 3.850 KA9SZX 146.88 426.25 K4GCC 146.94 WA4VME 145.17 You might also try 20192 lsb which is NASA. All frequencies are in MHz. Use FM on VHF, USB on 10-20m, LSB on 40-80m. WA3NAN - NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), Greenbelt, MD W6VIO - NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Pasadena, CA K6MF - NASA Ames Research Center (ARC), Moffett Field, CA W5RRR - NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX W6FXN - Los Angeles, CA KA9SZX - Champaign-Urbana, IL K4GCC - Titusville, FL (near or at Kennedy Space Center) WA4VME - Melbourne, FL (near or at Kennedy Space Center) Regardless of where you are going to see it, arrive early (at least 2 hours before launch). Be prepared to get into some real heavy traffic, it will also take some time to get out of the area. Bring along some food and drink, umbrellas, sun glasses, sun screen, portable TV/radio, binoculars, VCR.....whatever When watching a launch, listen to FM Station 91.5 (It is a local religious station) or AM 580 out of Orlando (Thanx to Matthew DeLuca). NASA Select Television is available directly via satellite from GE Satcom F2R, transponder 13, C-Band, 72 degrees West Longitude, transponder frequency is 3960.0 megahertz, audio subcarrier is 6.8 MHz, polarization is vertical. TV : Local stations such as 56, 2, 6 & 9 sometimes have live coverage. They usually just interrupt the program that is in progress for the final 2 minutes of prelaunch, and then a couple of minutes after launch. Same for landing. gt3597a@prism.gatech.edu suggests : If you do happen to try and view the landing at KSC, do not despair when you realize actually how far away US 1 is from the runway. Even a moderately powered set of field glasses will provide good views of the orbiter as is decellerates into the KSC area. That twin sonic boom is very unique and, for me, was well worth the drive by itself. You will actually be able to see the orbiter as it comes into the KSC area and turns on the heading alignment circle better than during the final approach. 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: 296.800 MHz : Air-to-ground, or orbiter to suit 259.700 MHz : Air-to-ground, or suit to orbiter 279.000 MHz : Suit-to-orbiter, or suit-to-suit 243.000 MHz : Standard military aircraft emergency frequency 146.94 MHz & 146.82 MHz - Rebroadcast HAM frequencies. 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 Mbits/second). These transmissions are directed to TDRS satellites in geostationary orbit on a frequency of 15.003 GHz. [Info via WA3NAN, and WA4SIR] andreas@il.us.swissbank.com has some hints for photographers: - Get the longest lens available (e.g. rent one at Helix). I used a 300mm shooting from Titusville and was still too far away to clearly see the shuttle. However I could take beautiful shots of the engine's firetrail and the smoke. - Put your camera into continuous shooting mode (unless you have a VERY high speed camera like a Nikon), as the whole spectacle will be over within no time: I shot about 1 roll of film (36 pictures) until the shuttle was gone for good while almost constantly pressing the button. - Use a LOW speed film (ASA 50) as the light is so bright (Remember: NASA launches only under good weather conditions), that even with a long tele lens you still have enough light left for short exposure times (I had 1/1000 with F 5.6 and a Kodachrome 64). That way making detail enlargements is also easier, meaning less grainy. - I have not attended a night launch yet. However judged on what I've seen on TV, I would suggest a 100-200 ASA film for such a launch. - Try to AVOID a tripod, as the shuttle moves "upwards to the right" (at least from Titusville with the standard 28 degree inclination). You are more flexible if you use a onepod or even better one of those professional harnesses, that you wear like a jacket and that support your long lens (like a tripod attached to your upper body). - During the night before the launch you can see (at least sometimes) a search light illuminating the launch pad. With a tripod and a very long exposure time (> 20 secs on Kodachrome 64) you'll get nice pictures as well. Make several shots with different times according to general night time photography rules. - A final hint for the early-birds: I was lucky enough to see the big and red glowing sun rising exactly behind the VAB (from the US1 in Titusville). An incredible view, that didn't even require a tripod. Expendable Vehicles =================== These are usually launched from the southern part of the base, best viewing is at Jetty Park or south along the beaches of Cape Canaveral and Cocoa Beach. Not as crowed as shuttle launches, but still give yourself some time to arrive early. Jetty park can fill up so plan an alternate. Again bring your stuff. For a landing pass at Edwards, Thanks To Mary Shafer shafer@skipper.dfrf.nasa.gov : There are three ways to see the Shuttle landing at Edwards AFB, listed in order of restrictiveness of access and availability. 1. The East Shore area on the lakebed. Take Hwy. 14 to Avenue F and follow the signs or take Hwy. 58 to 20 Mule Team Road and follow those signs. This area is opened about 2 days before the scheduled touchdown. The viewing area is an unimproved area so don't expect many amenities. I think that there are sanitary facilities and that food and drinks can be purchased. It's suggested that you bring food and water Nothing is required for access to this area. (I've never been to this area, so I can't speak from personal knowledge.) If any viewing is allowed this site will be open. The only times they don't open it is for the DoD's classified missions. 2. The hillside viewing area. This is on the hillside, just above Ames-Dryden, and requires a special pass. This pass is good for one vehicle, with any number of passengers. You can't enter the Ames-Dryden complex but you can walk down the hill to the cafeteria and the gift shop, etc. More amenities, including radio transmissions from the Shuttle and JSC. Some of us believe that this area has the BEST view of the landing. I believe that the Hillside, like the East Shore, is open for all unclassified missions. These passes can be obtained by writing, as detailed below. Ames-Dryden employees can also obtain them. 3. Official guest. Access to the Ames-Dryden complex. You get to watch the landing from the ramp, which is right on the lakebed. (The Shuttle lands some distance away, depending on which runway it uses.) The crew speaks to the crowd just before they return to JSC. There are special aircraft displays (including the SR-71, F-15, F-18, X-29, etc.) in the hangars. The radio transmissions are broadcast. This method is only predicted for a few missions this year. Opening the Facility is fairly labor-intensive and very disruptive, so we won't do it for every possible mission. You can write, as detailed below, to obtain these badges and parking permits. To obtain a hillside pass or official guest badges, write to: NASA Ames-Dryden Flight Research Facility Public Affairs Office P.O. Box 273 Edwards, CA 92523-5000 Do this early, because there is a limited amount of space. If you get these and then discover that you can't attend, please try to pass them on to someone else who can use them. Incidentally, there is _no_ charge for any of these. Come see the Shuttle land--it's great. Wear warm clothes! If the Shuttle lands in the morning, it will be cool to downright cold. Forget the myth that the desert is always hot, it may be in the low 60s even in the summer at sunrise. It's frequently freezing in the winter. If it's much warmer, it's because the wind is blowing. However, if you're an Official Guest and will be hanging around until the Astronaut Departure Ceremony, it may be warm by then. Wear layers. Especially, wear warm footwear. Official Guests will be standing around on the cold, cold ramp and all your body heat will seep out of your feet into the concrete heat sink. Running shoes work well. Hillside Guests will be sitting up on metal bleachers. The portions of their anatomy in contact with the bleachers (feet and seat) may get _real_ cold. Here is a list of Freqs for the White Sands Missle Range Military Police: 36.100 141.250 Laser Operations: 173.5625 Drone Operations: 164.500 172.400 Cooling: 168.000 Maint: 34.490 Missle Tracking: 412.875 Range Control: Channel 1 36.510 Channel 2 34.850 Telemetry: 38.450, 38.710, 38.950, 40.100, 41.450 Photography: 30.090, 41.430, 139.440 NASA operations: 34.310, 164.100, 169.075, 169.400 The Public Affairs Office at the Johnson Space Center operates a BBS to provide information to the public. Check this board for updates to the keplerian element sets during the flight. To access the BBS, call +1-713-483-2500 using 1200 baud (do NOT connect at 2400 baud), 8-N-1, at the ENTER NUMBER: prompt, enter "62511" and you will be connected to the BBS. Direct dial numbers are 1-713-483-2419 and 1-713-483-2278. Check file area 30 or 99 for latest element sets. NASA JSC's Electronic Space Information BBS is intended to provide 24-hour access to biographies of NASA officials and astronauts, news releases, space flight mission press kits and television schedules, space shuttle systems information, flight manifests and schedules, and other information about the space program. If you are or know a teacher, and they would like some teaching material, have them write to the following address with the pertinent information : NASA PA - EAB Kennedy Space Center, FL 32899 To receive the "NASA Report To Educators" and other NASA publications, write to the address below : Educational Publications Services Mail Code XEP NASA Headquarters Washington, DC 20546 Serving inquiries related to space exploration and other activities: NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory Teacher Resource Center JPL Educational Outreach 4800 Oak Grove Drive Mail Code CS-530 Pasadena, CA 91109 (818) 354-6916 Fax: (818) 354-8080 If you're interested a phone number and address you can contact for public information from JPL concerning unmanned planetary exploration: (818) 354 - 5011 Public Information c/o JPL 4800 Oak Grove Drive Pasadena, CA 91109 Serving all states through workshops and materials: National Air and Space Museum Smithsonian Institution Education Resource Center, MRC 305 Washington, DC 20560 (202) 786-2109 Fax: (202) 786-2262 Or have them call: THE NASA SPACELINK, Huntsville, Alabama,24 Hours, 300-9600 BAUD, 8N1,(205) 895-0028, or Telnet via spacelink.msfc.nasa.gov. Or FEDIX 1-800-232-4879, 301-258-0953, 1200 or 2400 BAUD, an on-line service that links education community and the federal government. Info on NASA, Department Of Energy, Office Of Naval Research, Federal Aviation Administration & Minority Info. MSFC's spacelink.msfc.nasa.gov, now accepts ftp connects at 192.149.89.61, using username of anonymous, and a password of guest. I understand it is still in the experimental stage, and they are looking for user feedback. For science, technology and classroom demonstrations, call Argonne National Laboratory 708-252-8241, or internet newton.dep.anl.gov or 130.202.92.50. Or pubinfo.jpl.nasa.gov may be accessed by Internet via anonymous ftp to pubinfo.jpl.nasa.gov (128.149.6.2); or by dialup modem to +1 (818) 354-1333, up to 9600 baud v32/v42bis/MNP5. tkelso@afit.af.mil tells us : The most current orbital elements from the NORAD two-line element sets are carried on the Celestial BBS, (513) 427-0674, and are updated several times weekly. Documentation and tracking software are also available on this system. The Celestial BBS may be accessed 24 hours/day at 300, 1200, 2400, 4800, or 9600 bps using 8 data bits, 1 stop bit, no parity. Orbital data available on T. S. Kelso's BBS is also available by ftp at archive.afit.af.mil, in the /pub/space directory. Another good source of Space shuttle 2-line orbital elements is the RPV ASTRONOMY BBS (310-541-7299). Additional: When a shuttle is on-orbit its Orbital Elements are also distributed daily world wide to over 1,500 FidoNet member BBS's in the SpaceBase(tm) Amateur Satellite Tracking Discussion echo, SB-SAT_TRACK . The Daily Shuttle Status Reports are also carried on FidoNet, posting them each day (as they are received), in the SpaceBase(tm) READ ONLY space news echo, SB-NASA_NEWS . -END OF FILE- -----------