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

[Andrew Clegg]

No joy for me on this evening's pass, although my situation was far from 
ideal -- I stopped in the IHOP parking lot in an RF-heavy environment, using 
my Home Patrol with the stock antenna. I'm hoping to have a better chance on 
Saturday's pass.

--------------------------------------------------
From: "Clegg, Andrew W." <aclegg at nsf.gov>
Sent: Thursday, January 20, 2011 3:16 PM
To: <scan-dc at mailman.qth.net>
Subject: Re: [Scan-DC] NASA Seeks Amateur Radio Operators' Aid to 
ListenforBeacon Signal

> 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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