Space Shuttle Discovery Launch

I caught the launch of the Space Shuttle Discovery yesterday evening. I used NASA TV on the web to keep up with the launch as I checked in to the GA SSB Net and the GA Emergency and Traffic Net. Meanwhile, Al Stern gave me a heads up on 5.711 USB for the Booster Recovery Net. As soon as the nets were over, I tuned over to 5.711 USB and kept an ear on BRD (Booster Recovery Director) and the Booster Recovery Vessel FREEDOM STAR. As soon as the Discovery lifted off on NASA TV, I opened up the squelch on on of the BC-780s tuned to 259.700. I caught 5-6 transmissions as the Discovery ascended.

Mac McCormick, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

Space Shuttle Endeavour Launch

The Space Shuttle Endeavour launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida this evening at 1836 local time. I've had no luck monitoring HF communications using my indoor setup despite Al Stern's excellent postings on the email groups but I was able to get five good transmissions out of the UHF air-to-ground communications on 259.700:

"Two Engines...."

"Negative Return"

"Press to AG?"

"Single Engine...."

"Press to MECO"

This is about average for what I get from here in Savannah during a shuttle launch: five to six transmissions. There was a sixth transmission between "Single Engine..." and "Press to MECO" but it was quite garbled and I was unable to make it out.

Here's to Good Luck on the the STS-118 Mission.


Mac McCormick, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

NASA 836 Update!

I received some emails this morning that offer some updates on NASA 836. The most recent project for NASA 836 has been sonic boom reduction. It was at the Gulfstream Facility at Savannah International Airport to have the "Quiet Spike" equipment removed. The Quiet Spike is a nose mounted device developed by Gulfstream for sonic boom mitigation.

There is an article in the Savannah Morning News about 836's visit that has some great photos of the aircraft (I particularly like the 3rd photo): http://savannahnow.com/node/228414

Mac McCormick, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

NASA 836

This morning, I caught NASA 836 passing through the area on 387.100 with Savannah Departure, 363.200 with Jax Center, and 282.300 with Jax Center; it possibly departed Savannah International Airport based on that frequency sequence.

I have to admit that I don't know too many of the NASA aircraft callsigns, so I had to do some web research to figure out which NASA bird I was hearing. I am familiar with the Active Research thrust vectoring project, so I was excited when I discovered 836 was the F-15B that is part of the Active Research project!


Mac McCormick, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net