Gene, Danny:

Here is the time line for the MEX BSR on day 193 (local time Sunday 7:30 AM
to approximately 2:30 PM, if you do an early EOT).

This is very similar to the ones we have been doing recently; but the
experiment ends before the really intense FRO activity.

The use of 70-m time is not very efficient.  There's 71 minutes of tracking
before X-Band even comes on, then 62 minutes of telemetry (which the station
can pick up if it wants, so long as the radio science configuration is not
changed).  The schedule also shows an hour of telemetry at the end, which we
can skip.

I'll  plan to call in.  If you need to reach me, try 650-494-9272.

Dick


2009/193 (UTC)
- - - - - - -

14:30  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

16:30  Begin track (Both X-Band and S-Band should be OFF)

17:41  X-Band ON, one-way, telemetry ON, ranging ON

18:28  S-Band ON

18:43  X-Band telemetry OFF, ranging OFF

       Resume 25 kHz recording

       Ask station to switch to 'planetary coordinates' at 18:50

18:50  Station switch to 'planetary coordinates'

18:53  FRO_X = +10000  (SCHAN 3)
       FRO_S = +11000  (SCHAN 3)

       Begin MINICAL #1

18:55  Begin SLEW #1 (not visible in 25 kHz)

19:08  End MINICAL #1 (end of step 5)

       End SLEW #1

       FRO_X =  +7000 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 slightly stronger than LCP

19:38  FRO_X = +14000 Hz (SCHAN 3)

19:45  Expect LCP echoes to become slightly stronger than RCP

20:05  Entering cratered terrain; echoes likely will weaken

20:10  FRO_X =  +8000 Hz (SCHAN 3)

20:13  FRO_X =  +2000 Hz (SCHAN 3)

       Advise station of upcoming MINICAL #2 (20:16) and return
       to spacecraft coordinates for ground antenna pointing at
       end of mini-cal (20:32)

20:16  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

20:31  End MINICAL #2 (end of step 5)

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

       Carrier returns to center of passband

20:32  Return to spacecraft coordinates (pointing)

20:36  End SLEW #2

20:47  X-Band range modulation ON, telemetry ON

       S-Band OFF

       Early end of track (73 minutes early)

       Go to zenith

       Begin post-cal when ready

23:00  End post-cal (or earlier, if post-cal complete)

       End 25 kHz recordings

       End of Activity