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From: karn@ka9q.bellcore.com (Phil Karn)
Newsgroups: rec.ham-radio,sci.space.shuttle
Subject: Atlantis heard during launch
Message-ID: <20405@bellcore.bellcore.com>
Date: 28 Feb 90 08:12:53 GMT
Sender: news@bellcore.bellcore.com
Reply-To: karn@ka9q.bellcore.com (Phil Karn)
Organization: Secular Humanists for No-Code
Lines: 13


I heard UHF air-to-ground communications during this morning's launch of
Atlantis on its "secret" shuttle mission. I heard a total of four very brief
transmissions, all on a frequency of 259.7 MHz (the "secondary" UHF comm
frequency listed in the press kits). The first transmission heard here in
northern NJ was at about 2:59:30 AM EST, and the last was at 3:01:14.  The
last message clearly said "APU shutdown on time"; this seems right given
that the launch had occurred about 10 minutes earlier.

Among other things, my ability to hear the shuttle at this location
confirms the high inclination orbit.

Phil