SB SPACE @ ARL $ARLS005
ARLS005 SAREX frequency changes
 
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Space Bulletin 005  ARLS005
>From ARRL Headquarters
Newington, CT  April 5, 1995
To all radio amateurs
 
SB SPACE ARL ARLS005
ARLS005 SAREX frequency changes
 
Space Shuttle flight STS-71, to be launched in June, is the first to
feature a docking between the Shuttle and the Russian Mir space
station.  Special Shuttle Amateur Radio EXperiment (SAREX) voice
frequencies will be used.
 
The special frequencies are: Downlink: 145.84 MHz worldwide; and
Uplinks: 144.45 and 144.47 MHz worldwide .
 
SAREX and Mir Amateur Radio stations normally share the same
downlink frequency, which would cause interference on the STS-71
mission.  Because of this and lessons learned from using particular
frequencies during previous SAREX missions, the SAREX Working Group
has made these changes for STS-71.  The new frequencies were chosen
after much deliberation to minimize interference between SAREX, Mir,
and terrestrial stations.
 
Most SAREX operations are split frequency, with a downlink
(astronauts transmitting to Earth stations) and an uplink (Earth
stations transmitting to astronauts).   Listen to the downlink and
transmit only when the shuttle is in range and astronauts are on the
air.
 
Mir operations are simplex and remain on 145.55 MHz.
 
Before transmitting, listen to the SAREX uplink to avoid interfering
with others, and listen for the astronauts' instructions about
frequencies they're using.  They won't favor a specific uplink, and
your ability to work them will be ''the luck of the draw.''
 
If these special SAREX frequencies prove acceptable, they will be
used for future docking missions.  If you have comments, send them
to AMSAT's Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, at his Callbook address, or to the
ARRL Educational Activities Department.
 
Please note that there is a strong chance that STS-70 will fly
before STS-71; if so, STS-70 will use the regular SAREX frequencies.
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