Gene, Danny:

Here is the time line for the MEX BSR on day 255 (local time 12 September,
Saturday, 3:25 AM to approximately 8:30 AM).

Not much will happens for the first 50 minutes.  The reflecting region drifts
slowly from about (56N, 180W) to (72N, 133W).  Then the spacecraft starts
moving in toward periapsis and we have to do some FROs during the final 17
minutes.  At about the same time we start making the frequency changes, the
specular point passes within 100 km of the PHOENIX landing site.  We end at
(54N, 102W).

There may be about 30 minutes of X-Band telemetry after BOT; I'll leave it to
you and the NOPE whether you pursue this.  The station should NOT change the
microwave configuration to collect telemetry.

After the DSS 63 experiment (2009/246 with the clipped X-RCP) I thought we
might want to change the X-RCP FGAIN to 65.  But I looked at all the previous
DSS 14 data and I think we're OK leaving FGAIN at 60 for all channels.

If you need to reach me, try 530-426-3536.  I will try to call in during the
interval when you're actually collecting echoes (6:20-7:27 AM PDT).

Thanks,
Dick


2009/255 (UTC)
- - - - - - -

10:25  Begin Pre-cal at DSS 63
       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

12:25  Begin track (X-Band telemetry ON)

12:42  S-Band transmitter ON

12:57  X-Band telemetry OFF

       Resume 25 kHz recording (SCHAN 3)

       Ask station to switch to 'planetary' coordinates at 13:02

13:02  Station switch to 'planetary' coordinates

13:05  FRO_X = +25000  (SCHAN 3)
       FRO_S = +25000  (SCHAN 3)

       Begin MINICAL #1

13:15  Begin SLEW #1 (not visible in 25 kHz)

13:20  End MINICAL #1 (end of step 5)

       End SLEW #1

       FRO_X =  -7000 Hz (SCHAN 3)
       FRO_S =      0 Hz (SCHAN 3)

       Begin 100 kHz recordings (SCHAN 4)

       Begin surface reflections
       Expect S-Band echoes to be much weaker than X-Band
       RCP echoes much stronger than LCP

14:10  FRO_X = -2000 Hz (SCHAN 3)

14:15  Passing PHOENIX landing site
       LCP echoes becoming stronger than RCP

14:18  FRO_X = +3000 Hz (SCHAN 3)

14:22  FRO_X = +8000 Hz (SCHAN 3)

14:25  Advise station of upcoming MINICAL #2 (starts 14:28)
       Advise station of return to spacecraft coordinates (14:45)

14:27  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)

14:28  Begin MINICAL #2

14:43  End MINICAL #2 (end of step 5)

14:44  FRO_X = 0 (SCHAN 3)
       FRO_S = 0 (SCHAN 3)

14:45  Return to spacecraft coordinates

14:49  End SLEW #2

14:53  S-Band OFF
       X-Band OFF

14:55  End of track

       Go to zenith

       Begin post-cal when ready

15:55  End post-cal (or earlier, if post-cal complete)

       End 25 kHz recordings

       End of Activity