Gene and Danny:

Here is the time line for the MEX BSR on day 291 (local time 18 October,
Sunday 2:15 AM to 06:50 AM) at DSS 14.

This is another experiment where the S-Band may be limited; let's hope it
stays on for the duration of the experiment instead of going off 2 minutes
after egress occultation.

At occultation egress, the reflecting region is in Mars northern plains.  It
then approaches to within 150 km of the North Pole and ends by drifting back
into northern plains.  Except for the last 5 minutes, RCP should be much
stronger than LCP.  It will be interesting to see whether the very structured
echo (like a waving hand) shows up in this experiment again.

If you need to reach me, try 650-494-9272.  I was expecting to be away for
the weekend, but I've come down with something flu-like and will probably be
at home recuperating.

Thanks,
Dick


2009/291 (UTC)
- - - - - - -

09:15  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

11:15  Begin track (spacecraft in occultation)

       Switch DSS 14 to planetary pointing predicts

       FRO_X = +25000  (SCHAN 3)
       FRO_S = +25000  (SCHAN 3)

11:16  Resume 25 kHz recording

11:18  Begin MINICAL #1

11:21:23  S-Band ON

          Occultation egress  (X-Band OFF)

11:23:21  S-Band OFF (or maybe not)

          X-Band ON

11:26  X-Band telemetry OFF

11:31  Begin SLEW #1

11:33  End of MINICAL #1 (end of step 5)

       FRO_X =  -5000  (SCHAN 3)
       FRO_S =      0  (SCHAN 3)

       End SLEW #1

       Begin 100 kHz recording (SCHAN 4)

12:20  Remind station of MINICAL #2 starting at 12:25 and
       Remind station to return to S/C pointing predictions at 12:40

12:25  FRO_X = +25000 Hz (SCHAN 3)
       FRO_S = +25000 Hz (SCHAN 3)

       End 100 kHz recordings (SCHAN 4)

       Begin SLEW #2 (not visible in 25 kHz)

       Begin MINICAL #2

12:40  End MINICAL #2 (end of step 5)

       DSS 14 return to spacecraft pointing predicts

12:41  FRO_X = 0 Hz (SCHAN 3)
       FRO_S = 0 Hz (SCHAN 3)

12:43  End SLEW #2

12:49  X-Band telemetry ON

12:50  End of track

       Go to zenith

       Begin post-cal when ready

13:50  End post-cal (or earlier, if post-cal complete)

       End 25 kHz recordings

       End of Activity