prg (06/24/82)
I tried the "900" number listed several times during the last shuttle and always got a recorded shuttle message. Did anyone really get to listen in on the ground to air?? Phil Gunsul ..lime!we13!prg
karn (06/25/82)
The correct "dial-it" number for the shuttle missions is 900-410-6272. (This is different from an earlier message, but I experimented with different numbers during the last mission and the last digit didn't seem to matter). The service is, by default, a recording containing a status report which repeats indefinitely until updated. Whenever there is activity on the communications channels, a voice-actuated switch turns off the recording and turns on the real-time audio. When they stop talking, a long-time-constant switch gradually brings back the recording. There are large fractions of the orbit during which the shuttle is not in view of a ground command station; also, the astronauts DO sleep occasionally, so there can be long periods of just the recorded message. I find the service quite useful for verifying an orbit model (which I also use to pick good times to call), and for just listening to the conversations without the trigger-happy news reporters talking on top of them. Phil Karn Bell Labs, Murray Hill
hansen (06/25/82)
I listened in on the 900 columbia number for a while last time. For the most part, it's just a message being repeated over and over, but now and then ship-to-ground talk CAN be heard. The number last time was 900-410-6272, I'm not sure if the number's the same now or not. Sincerely, Tony Hansen houxs!hansen