Gene, Danny:

This is my recommendation for the MEX bistatic radar operation Thursday
evening (Pacific time).

As has been the case recently, the spacecraft attitude is fixed, so there
will be a surface echo for no more than 10 minutes.  LCP will be stronger
than RCP; but both will be very weak.  We need to use a FRO for both S- and
X-Band; on X-Band these will be different for 25 and 100 kHz and they will be
entered at different times.  There is an egress occultation around 04:03; if
the station is ready, we could begin recording at 04:00 to catch it.  The
slew angle from Earth point is 104 deg, so the pace around MiniCal time is
relaxed.

The only thing really different is that we will be using DSS 43 for the first
time since last July.  We use DSS 43 again on Saturday evening.  Then our
next BSR is with VENUS Express on 23 May, also at DSS 43.

I will fly down Thursday PM; scheduled arrival at Burbank is 5:45.  That
should get me to Building 230 in time for the pre-cal, even if I stop for a
bite to eat.  I fly home Friday morning, hoping that we can do the Saturday
experiment by phone.

Dick

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2006/111
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02:20  Begin Pre-cal at DSS 43
       FGAIN = 60 dB (all channels)
       FRO_X = 0; FRO_S = 0 (changes later)
       Start 4-channel 25 kHz recordings after Step 4
       Stop 25 kHz recording after Step 18

04:00  If the station is ready, begin 25 kHz recording to catch 04:03 egress

04:20  Official begin of track (DL = S+X; TLM = ON)

04:25  Begin 4-channel 25 kHz recordings (SCHAN 3) (if not running already)
       X TLM = OFF

04:45  FRO_X = -18000 Hz (SCHAN 4)
       FRO_S =  -5200 Hz (SCHAN 3 and 4)

04:50  Begin SLEW #1

04:55  FRO_X = -38000 Hz (SCHAN 3)

05:00  Begin Mini-Cal #1

05:15  End Mini-Cal #1 (end of Step 5)

05:19  End Slew #1

05:35  Begin 4-channel 100 kHz recordings (SCHAN 4)

05:50  Maximum echoes (LCP > RCP, but both very weak)

06:05  End 100 kHz recordings (SCHAN 4)

06:20  Begin Slew #2 (back to Earth point)

06:25  Begin Mini-Cal #2

06:40  End Mini-Cal #2 (end of Step 5)

06:45  FRO_X = 0 (SCHAN 3 and 4)
       FRO_S = 0 (SCHAN 3 and 4)

06:50  End Slew #2
       DL = X+S unmodulated

07:00  Begin Post-Cal (20 minutes early)

07:20  Official end of track
       S-Tx OFF; X TLM ON

08:20  End of activity (if not sooner)
       Stop 25 kHz recordings