MEX Bistatic Radar: 4 Nov 2005

This experiment is scheduled for 15:40 - 22:40; the track itself is 18:40 -
21:40.  If we follow the published schedule, the first slew will be almost
complete by the time we get to BOT and there is at least an hour of unusable
time at the end.

So, if the pre-cal has been completed early (as is usually the case), we
could begin the track at the horizon (17:51) or shortly after and get some
baseline measurements before the slew.  We can also overlay MiniCal #1 on
Slew #1, as is our usual practice.  At the original BOT (18:40), we will be
ready for surface echoes, which peak at 19:10.

On the trailing end, we can collect about 23 minutes of carrier data after
Slew #2 and break track at 20:30 to begin the post-cal.  We will not be
collecting the telemetry, which begins at 20:47:54.  So we should be able to
wrap this up by 21:30, 70 minutes before the scheduled EOA.

I will be at a Venus Express meeting in downtown Pasadena.  My cell phone is
650-380-0675, but I won't usually have it on because there is no silent
ringer.  I will plan to call the RS Ops number from time to time after
checking in early in the morning (like 7:30 AM).  I may also be able to get
away for the echo event around 11:00 AM).


FGAIN = 60, except use FGAIN=68 for X-RCP

No frequency offsets (FRO_x = 0, FRO_s = 0)


   ERT
2005/308
--------

15:40:00  SOA - Begin DSS 63 pre-cal
          Begin recording 25 kHz after Pre-Cal Step 4
          OK to stop RSR recording if Pre-Cal completed early

17:51:00  DSS 63 viewperiod begins
          Recommend BOT if pre-cal has been completed

18:15:00  Begin RSR 25 kHz recording (SCHAN=3)
          If not at this time, as soon after as possible

18:20:11  Begin Slew #1 (DSS 63 not tracking)

18:25:00  Begin MiniCal #1
          Or as soon after this time as possible (with 25 kHz recording)

18:40:00  End MiniCal #1 (end of Step 5)
          Scheduled BOT (little or no signal)

18:42:44  End Slew #1

18:43:54  TLM OFF (but mostly invisible)

18:55:00  Begin RSR 100 kHz recording (SCHAN=4)

19:10:00  Maximum echoes

19:40:00  End RSR 100 kHz recording (SWCHAN=4)

19:41:00  Begin MiniCal #2

19:44:04  Begin Slew #2

19:55:00  End MiniCal #2 (end of Step 5)

20:06:37  End Slew #2 (S/X both 1-W, TLM OFF)

20:30:00  End BSR; begin Post-Cal

21:30:00  End Post-Cal (70 minutes early)

21:40:00  Scheduled EOT

22:40:00  Scheduled EOA

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Playback suggestions (25 kHz):
         all of pre-cal (if no more than 80 minutes)
         18:31 - 19:40
         19:40 - 20:40
         20:40 - 21:40

Playback suggestions (100 kHz):
         18:55 - 19:10
         19:10 - 19:25