HFU HF Underground

Loggings => VHF/UHF Logs, including satellites and radiosondes => Topic started by: Josh on July 05, 2019, 1658 UTC

Title: Solar Sail Satellite Lightsail-2 Now Transmitting Morse Code Beacon
Post by: Josh on July 05, 2019, 1658 UTC

Lightsail-2 is a solar sail experiment which successfully launched on a Space-X Falcon Heavy on 25 June, and was released into orbit on July 2nd. A solar sail is a type of spacecraft that uses a large metallic foil to create propulsion via photons from the sun hitting it. Lightsail-2 is still undergoing testing, so it has not yet deployed it's solar sail, but recent updates indicate that it is healthy.
https://www.rtl-sdr.com/solar-sail-satellite-lightsail-2-now-transmitting-morse-code-beacon/

Title: Re: Solar Sail Satellite Lightsail-2 Now Transmitting Morse Code Beacon
Post by: WA4FHY on July 11, 2019, 1421 UTC

Thanks, Josh. I'm gonna give it a listen after I check the orbital predictions.

Title: Re: Solar Sail Satellite Lightsail-2 Now Transmitting Morse Code Beacon
Post by: shadypyro on July 13, 2019, 2225 UTC

Would i be able to pick the beacon up with my handheld scanner?

Title: Re: Solar Sail Satellite Lightsail-2 Now Transmitting Morse Code Beacon
Post by: sat_dxer on July 14, 2019, 0002 UTC

Quote from: shadypyro on July 13, 2019, 2225 UTC

Would i be able to pick the beacon up with my handheld scanner?

2019-036A is 709 x 724 km, orbit inclination 24°...use satellite tracking to compute max elevation your location

Title: Re: Solar Sail Satellite Lightsail-2 Now Transmitting Morse Code Beacon
Post by: shadypyro on July 14, 2019, 0315 UTC

Quote from: sat_dxer on July 14, 2019, 0002 UTC

Quote from: shadypyro on July 13, 2019, 2225 UTC

Would i be able to pick the beacon up with my handheld scanner?

2019-036A is 709 x 724 km, orbit inclination 24°...use satellite tracking to compute max elevation your location

I have a satellite tracking app on my iPhone so that might help