The Wikipedia article and NASA master catalog say that it was last heard in May 1964, do you know of a more recent contact? It would be notable to hear it since its 50-year anniversary in orbit is coming up in a few months.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanguard_1 http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/masterCatalog.do?sc=1958-002B
jeff
Robert Bruninga wrote:
Anyone with an EME dish that can mount a 108 MHz feed?
Rumor has it that Vanguard 1 should still be emitting a tiny singal on 108.00 MHz since it was directly powered by solar cells. It has gotten weaker and weaker over the last 50 years using the 1957 solar cell technology, but what the heck. It would be a nice challenge for someone with a really big dish..
Just thought I'd post, since I had not heard of this frequency and the fact that it is radiating.. You just have to have good ears. And with some of the really good sound-card DSP stuff these days, maybe it would show up on a waterfall. The exact frequency depends on temperature... But it was at 108.00 MHz last time it was heard.
My dish is kaput right now, so I'm out... Bob, WB4APR
-----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Wednesday, December 19, 2007 8:18 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: Vanguard 1 information on heavens-above.com
Bob,
O.K., but they'll need lots and lots of gain. Apparently, the signal level is really, really low.
I'll also ask Joe Rothenberg at United Space Network if he'll give it a try. He has some really big dishes.
Gil
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