Gene and Danny:

Here is the time line for tonight's MEX BSR: day 115 (local time 11:30 PM 24
April to approximately 4:30 AM 25 April) at DSS 43.

We have not done a MEX BSR at DSS 43 since February 2008, which means they
have not followed the new (NOP) procedure and may not have done the planetary
pointing.  There are lots of opportunities for glitches.

The surface observations start at (20S, 127W) and end at (37S, 135W); this
appears to be a transition region between smooth surface southwest of the
Tharsis volcanoes to southern cratered terrain.  We don't know much about
this region, so these could be new and interesting observations.

The spacecraft is high when we start and loses about one third of its
altitude during our observations.  The incidence angle starts at 38 degrees
and ends at 55 degrees; so expect weak LCP echoes at the beginning (but
stronger than RCP).  Echoes should get stronger over the hour with RCP
approaching LCP strength at the end.

For playback, I recommend the following for the 25 kHz data (no segment
longer than 88 minutes):

       Pre-cal
       Track until start of 100 kHz data
       Surface observations until end of 100 kHz data
       Remaining track plus post-cal

For 100 kHz playback three 19 minute segments would be best; but I can carve
these up at Stanford if you give me a 57 minute file from each RSR.

I will be at home while you're collecting data.  If you need to reach me,
feel free to call 650-494-9272.

Thanks,
Dick


2010/115 (UTC)
- - - - - - -

06:30  Begin Pre-cal at DSS 43
       FGAIN = 60 dB (all channels, except X-RCP)
               65 dB X-RCP
       FRO_X = 0; FRO_S = 0 (all SCHAN)
       Start 4-channel 25 kHz recordings after Step 5 (new NOP)
       Stop 25 kHz recording after Step 20 (new NOP)

08:30  Begin track

       X-Band ON, telemetry should be ON - ignore it

08:31  S-Band ON

08:45  Resume 25 kHz recording

       Advise DSS 43 of switch to planetary coordinates at 08:54

08:51  Begin SLEW #1

08:54  DSS 43 switch to planetary coordinates

08:57  FRO_X = +45000 Hz (SCHAN 3)
       FRO_S =  +9000 Hz (SCHAN 3)

       FRO_X = +35000 Hz (SCHAN 4)

08:58  Begin MINICAL #1

09:13  End of MINICAL #1 (end of step 5)

09:15  End SLEW #1

       Begin 100 kHz recording (SCHAN 4)

09:30  FRO_X = +50000 Hz (SCHAN 3)

09:46  FRO_X = +55000 Hz (SCHAN 3)

10:05  Advise station of MINICAL #2 starting at 10:14 and
       Advise station of return to S/C pointing predictions at 10:30

10:12  End 100 kHz recording (SCHAN 4)

       Begin SLEW #2

10:14  Begin MINICAL #2

10:28  End SLEW #2

10:29  End MINICAL #2 (end of step 5)

10:30  DSS 43 return to spacecraft pointing predicts

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

10:43  X-Band LOS
       S-Band LOS

       Early end of track (scheduled EOT 12:00)

       Go to zenith

       Begin post-cal when ready

13:00  End post-cal (or earlier, if post-cal complete)

       End 25 kHz recordings

       End of Activity