=====

From Ron Parise, ASTRO-1 Shuttle Astronaut:


Hi Folks!
     This is in response to the question about shuttle frequencies. I tried
to reply the other day but apparently it didn't work. The space shuttle
transmits on three frequency bands, UHF, S-Band, and Ku-Band.
The UHF frequencies are simple AM voice and very easy to copy. These
frequencies are used for launch and landing operations, EVA comunications,
(i.e. from the spacesuits back and forth to the shuttle), and as an additional
voice downlink when other channels are in use or the current ground station
has no S-Band capability. The frequncies in use are:

                 296.8 MHz - air to ground, or orbiter to suit
                 259.7 MHz - air to ground, or suit to orbiter
                 279.0 MHz - suit to orbiter or suit to suit
                 243.0 MHz - standard Mil aircraft emergency freq.

     The S-Band system is one of the primary orbiter downlink bands. The voice
channels are digital slope delta modulation and are mux'ed in with the
rest of the orbiter telemetry, very difficult to copy. Much of the
downlink TV is on S-Band also but it is wideband FM and should be
easily copyable. The frequencies are:

                 2287.5 MHz - primary digital downlink
                 2250.0 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 is *very* high rate digital (50 Mbits/sec range) and
therefore essentially impossible for you to demodulate and decommutate
in your basement. Nevertheless the shuttle transmits on 15.003GHz. You
should also note however that these transmissions are directed toward
the TDRS satellite with a high gain antenna and would therefore not be
copyable on the ground.

     The UHF frequencies are fun to listen to but are not heavily used
except during EVA's. You will almost always hear some activity on them
however sometime during a mission but you just have to be patient.

Happy Listening!
Ron WA4SIR


====


Other Frequencies of interest:


USAF/NASA Frequencies
=====================
4.510 MHz   9.974 MHz
4.760 MHz  10.780 MHz
4.855 MHz  11.104 MHz
4.992 MHz  11.414 MHz
5.350 MHz  11.548 MHz
5.810 MHz  14.615 MHz
6.727 MHz  19.303 MHz
6.740 MHz  19.984 MHz
8.993 MHz  20.191 MHz
9.315 MHz  20.475 MHz


HF USED AT KENNEDY SPACE CENTER : 2.182 MHz  3.023 MHz


Search/Rescue (Aircraft) : 164.800 MHz
              (Ships)    : 148.500 MHz, 149.100 MHz, 162.000 MHz


S-Band Microwave
================
Air-to-Ground : 2205.0, 2217.5, 2250.0, 2287.5 MHz
Ground-to-Air : 2041.9, 2201.4 MHz


NASA Aeronautical Frequencies VHF/UHF in MHz
============================================
KENNEDY SC    PATRICK AFB     EDWARDS AFB

117.8         118.4           116.4
121.7         121.7           120.7
126.2         125.1           121.8
126.3         126.2           126.1
284.0         128.7           127.8
138.3         236.6
138.45        269.9
149.925       290.3
162.6120      318.1
273.5         390.1
335.8
340.9
348.4
358.3


KSC Ground Support VHF in MHz
=============================
148.480    163.510    170.350
149.170    163.560    171.150
162.610    165.190    171.260
163.460    170.150    173.560
163.480    170.170    173.680


NASA Malabar (Palm Bay)         HF Networks (in KHz)
=============================================================================
 2405  Data Buoys                       2622  SRB Recovery (Primary)
 2664  Backup Mission Audio-Cape/Hou    2678  ETR Range Control
 2716  Navy Harbor Cntl-Port Canav.     2764  SRB Recovery Channel
 3024  Coast Guard SAR (Primary)        3187  SRB Recovery Ships Channel
 4376  Primary Recovery Zone SAR        4510  SRB Recovery Ships Channel
 4856  Cape Radio/Leader                4992  Cape Radio/Coast Guard Ships
 5180  NASA Tracking Ships              5187  NASA Tracking Ships
 5190  ETR Primary Night Channel        5350  Launch Support Aircraft
 5680  Launch Support Ships             5810  ETR Secondary Night Channel
 6720  SAR Primary Atlantic             6896  Cape Radio
 6837  Cape Radio                       7412  SAR Communications with Bahamas
 7461  Cape Radio/Launch Support A/C    7525  NASA Ground Tracking Net
 7676  Launch Support Aircraft          7765  SRB Recovery Ships
 7919  Data Channel                     7985  Data Channel
 9022  Launch Support Aircraft          9043  Launch Support Aircraft
 9132  Launch Support Aircraft         10305  Space Missile Tactical Net
10310  Malabar-to-Ascension Is-MUX     10780  ETR Primary Day Channel
11104  Launch Support Ships            11252  Launch Support Ships
11407  SRB Recovery Ships              11414  Cape Radio
11548  Cape Radio                      11621  SRB Recovery Ships
13227  Launch Support Aircraft         13237  Data Channel
13495  Data Channel                    13600  Malabar-to-Ascension Is-MUX
13878  Launch Support Aircraft         14937  Ascension Is-to-Malabar-MUX
18009  Launch Support Ships            19303  Launch Support Ships
19640  Cape Radio                      19966  Ascension Is-to-Malabar-MUX
20186  Launch Tracking Net             20192  Malabar-to-Ascension Is-MUX
20198  OCC Shuttle Mission Audio       20390  ETR-Secondary Day Channel
22755  Ascension Is-to-Malabar-MUX     23413  Cape Radio
27065  NASA CB Radios


73, de John, KD2BD
 
*** EOF