[SMCARA] SuitSat Info an Pass Time for Southern Maryland

[A.J. Farmer (AJ3U)]

Okay guys, SuitSat is due to be "launched" in about 2 hours from now
(5PM EST Friday).  You can watch it live if you have NASA TV, or you
can see it over the Internet at:

http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

The current position of SuitSat, and realtime reception reports are
available here:

http://suitsat.org/

Here are the first couple of passes for us.  If you are a nightowl and
don't mind staying up until  2:30AM, then you can be one of the first
to hear it!  Times are local:

Date--------------AOS Time------LOS Time-----Max Elevation Above Horizon
04 Feb 06      02:23:28        02:31:26        10
04 Feb 06      03:57:19        04:07:12        59
04 Feb 06      05:33:45        05:42:08        11
04 Feb 06      07:10:42        07:17:52        06
04 Feb 06      08:46:19        08:54:55        19
04 Feb 06      10:21:16        10:31:06        79
04 Feb 06      11:57:19        12:04:31        07
05 Feb 06      02:46:36        02:56:14        33
05 Feb 06      04:22:01        04:31:20        21
05 Feb 06      05:59:01        06:06:37        07

You can run your own predictions on the AMSAT website.  Just choose
"ISS" until "SuitSat" shows up in the list:

http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/tools/predict/index.php

It is best to have a small portable beam antenna to point at SuitSat,
but you should be able to pick it up with a HT with a rubber duck, or
even your home station with an omni antenna.  Telemetry is 100% voice
and there is also an SSTV image that is transmitted.

Good luck!

--
A.J. Farmer, AJ3U
http://www.aj3u.com