Gene and Danny:

Here is the time line for the MEX BSR on day 041 (local time 08 February
20:00 to 09 February 02:20) at DSS 14.

Word from Stefan Remus is that S-Band is back in the spacecraft sequence; but
now we have the S-RCP maser 'red' at DSS 14.  So we will collect S-LCP (and
check that the recurring problems in late 2009 have been fixed), but the S-
Band science will be limited without both polarizations.

The surface observations start at (32S, 54W) and end at (42S, 65W); this is
lightly cratered terrain northwest of the large basin Argyre.  The spacecraft
has just passed apoapsis, so everything happens slowly and signals are
relatively weak; but we have just passed Mars opposition, so the small Earth-
Mars distance makes the weak signals stronger.  Incident angle on the surface
varies from 45 to 56 degrees, meaning LCP should be stronger than RCP
throughout but with RCP making gains toward the end.

I should arrive in Burbank at 6:05 PM.  I'll plan to grab some dinner en
route to JPL and get to the main gate a little before 8 PM.

Thanks,
Dick


2010/041 (UTC)
- - - - - - -

04:00  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

06:00  Begin track (X-Band may be ON; the DKF is not clear)

06:37  S-Band ON

06:50  Resume 25 kHz recording

07:00  Advise DSS 14 of switch to planetary coordinates at 07:10

07:05  Begin SLEW #1

07:10  DSS 14 switch to planetary coordinates

07:11  FRO_X = +29600 Hz (SCHAN 3)
       FRO_S =  +5000 Hz (SCHAN 3)

07:12  Begin MINICAL #1

07:27  End of MINICAL #1 (end of step 5)

07:29  End SLEW #1

       Begin 100 kHz recording (SCHAN 4)

08:25  Advise station of MINICAL #2 starting at 08:32 and
       Advise station of return to S/C pointing predictions at 08:47

08:31  End 100 kHz recording (SCHAN 4)

       Begin SLEW #2

08:32  Begin MINICAL #2

08:47  End MINICAL #2 (end of step 5)

       DSS 14 return to spacecraft pointing predicts

08:48  FRO_X = 0 Hz (SCHAN 3)
       FRO_S = 0 Hz (SCHAN 3)

08:50  End SLEW #2

09:06  X-Band telemetry ON

09:07  Early end of track (scheduled EOT 09:20)

       Go to zenith

       Begin post-cal when ready

10:20  End post-cal (or earlier, if post-cal complete)

       End 25 kHz recordings

       End of Activity