Gene, Danny:

Here is the time line for the MEX BSR on day 185 (Saturday morning, early
afternoon PDT).

This one is very similar to what we did on day 178 except that we don't have
to cut it off before the observations have been completed.  It's aso very
similar to what we did on day 184.

I'll  plan to call in.  If you need to reach me, try 530-426-3536.

Dick


2009/185 (UTC)
- - - - - - -

15:20  Begin Pre-cal at DSS 14
       FGAIN = 60 dB (all channels, including X-RCP)
       FRO_X = 0; FRO_S = 0 (all SCHAN)
       Start 4-channel 25 kHz recordings after Step 4
       Stop 25 kHz recording after Step 18

17:20  Begin track (X-Band should be ON, one-way)

17:40  S-Band ON

17:48  X-Band telemetry OFF

17:53  Resume 25 kHz recording

       Ask station to switch to 'planetary coordinates' at 18:00

18:00  FRO_X = +10000 Hz (SCHAN 3)
       FRO_S = +11000 Hz (SCHAN 3)

       Station switch to 'planetary coordinates'

18:03  Begin MINICAL #1

       Begin SLEW #1 (not visible in 25 kHz)

18:18  End MINICAL #1 (end of step 5)

       End SLEW #1

       FRO_X = +14000 Hz (SCHAN 2)
       FRO_S =  -2000 Hz (SCHAN 3)

       Begin 100 kHz recording (SCHAN 4)

       Begin surface reflections
       Expect S-Band echoes to be much weaker than X-Band
       RCP and LCP should have similar strengths

19:06  FRO_X = +7000 Hz (SCHAN 3)

19:10  FRO_X =      0 Hz (SCHAN 3)

       Enter Valles Marineris (echoes weaken)

19:12  Exit Valles Marineris (echoes stronger)

19:13  FRO_X =  -7000 Hz (SCHAN 3)

19:15  FRO_S =  -9000 Hz (SCHAN 3) (NB: this is an S-Band FRO)

       Periapsis

19:16  FRO_X = -14000 Hz (SCHAN 3)

19:19  FRO_X = -21000 Hz (SCHAN 3)

19:22  FRO_X = -28000 Hz (SCHAN 3)

       Advise station of upcoming MINICAL #2 (19:25) and return
       to spacecraft coordinates for ground antenna pointing at
       end of mini-cal (19:40)

19:25  FRO_X = +10000 Hz (SCHAN 3)
       FRO_S = +11000 Hz (SCHAN 3)

       End 100 kHz recordings

       Begin SLEW #2 (not visible in 25 kHz)

       Begin MINICAL #2

19:39  End SLEW #2 (not visible in 25 kHz)

19:40  End MINICAL #2 (end of step 5)

       FRO_X = 0 (SCHAN 3)
       FRO_S = 0 (SCHAN 3)

       Return to spacecraft coordinates (pointing)

       Carrier returns to center of passband

19:50  X-Band range modulation ON

       Early end of track

       Go to zenith

       Begin post-cal when ready

21:35  End post-cal (or earlier, if post-cal complete)

       End 25 kHz recordings

       End of Activity