[Scan-DC] NASA Seeks Amateur Radio Operators' Aid to Listen forBeacon Signal

[Clegg, Andrew W.]

I've been informed that the beacon signals are packet data, which should
be discernible as short bursts of digital data when listening in FM
mode. So, put your scanners in FM mode and take a listen. Note that at
the 430 MHz frequencies, the signals will be Doppler shifted by as much
as about +10 kHz when the satellites are coming up over the horizon, to
about -10 kHz when they are setting. At the midpoint of their overpass,
there will be little to no Doppler shift. (At 145 MHz, the corresponding
magnitude of the shift is 3 kHz or less, which typically doesn't warrant
retuning).

NanoSail-D will pass over the Washington DC area tonight at 6:16 - 6:23,
tomorrow night at 6:42 - 6:45 (but only at very low elevation), Saturday
night at 5:23 - 5:31, and Sunday night at 5:47 - 5:54. The highest pass
is Saturday night (46 deg elevation to the WNW, or about halfway up the
sky in the WNW direction). Heavens-above.com provides extensive
satellite tracking and visibility information. If you've never visited
that site, it's worth a look! (You should also check that site to
confirm NanoSail's passes, since its orbital elements may be refined
over time).

Andy


-----Original Message-----
From: scan-dc-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:scan-dc-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Clegg, Andrew W.
Sent: Thursday, January 20, 2011 2:23 PM
To: scan-dc at mailman.qth.net
Subject: [Scan-DC] NASA Seeks Amateur Radio Operators' Aid to Listen
forBeacon Signal

This is from the Monitoring Times web site. The beacon is probably a CW
signal, which, unless it is strong, needs to be tuned in CW or SSB mode
to hear distinctly.  Also, if you look at
http://dtusat.dtu.dk/index.php?id=121, NanoSail-D was launched with
other nanosats, some with their own beacons: O/OREOS @ 437.305 MHz; RAX
@ 437.505 MHz; FASTRAC-A @ 437.345 MHz; FASTRAC-B @ 145.825 MHz.

*****
NASA Needs YOUR Help!

NASA Seeks Amateur Radio Operators' Aid to Listen for Beacon Signal

On Wednesday, Jan. 19 at 11:30 a.m. EST, engineers at Marshall Space
Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., confirmed that the NanoSail-D
nanosatellite ejected from Fast Affordable Scientific and Technology
Satellite, FASTSAT. The ejection event occurred spontaneously and was
identified this morning when engineers at the center analyzed onboard
FASTSAT telemetry. The ejection of NanoSail-D also has been confirmed by
ground-based satellite tracking assets. Amateur ham operators are asked
to listen for the signal to verify NanoSail-D is operating. This
information should be sent to the NanoSail-D dashboard at:
http://nanosaild.engr.scu.edu/dashboard.htm. The NanoSail-D beacon
signal can be found at 437.270 MHz.

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