Over the years I've been into radio monitoring (since 1976) probably the question I hear most often is "Can I listen to the Space Shuttle?". Over the past few days I've been asked the same question from several of our readers. So I thought that I would put together a quick page of infomation on how you can monitor the Shuttle.

The easiest way which anyone with HF receiving equipment can receive the shuttle is by tuning into WA3NAN, this is the Goddard Space Center Amateur Radio Club. WA3NAN is the club station which is operated from the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, MD. This station rebroadcasts Shuttle communications during Shuttle missions. WA3NAN does a pretty good job. They only broadcast during times while the crew is awake. Usually if you're up early enough you will get to hear the weak-up call. Since WA3NAN is operated by volunteers, they only operate when volunteers are available. Their station is located just outside of Washington, DC, so if you hear of thunderstorms in the area you may not hear their transmission til after the storm has passed. WA3NAN usually startes broadcasting about 1 hour before launch time which is really neat because you'll be able to hear the final countdown and communications as the Shuttle "Clears the Tower". Below is a list of frequencies which WA3NAN broadcasts on.

WA3NAN Shuttle Retransmission Frequencies.

Frequency MHz	Modulation	Antenna Type
3.860	LSB	N-S & E-W Dipoles
7.185	LSB	N-S & E-W Dipoles
14.295	USB	3-Element Yagi
21.395	USB	5-Element Yagi
28.650	USB	4-Element Yagi
147.450	FM	???

Besides the above table of frequencies there are many 2-meter repeaters around the country which will relay WA3NAN's transmissions. Check with your local radio club, or put your scanner in search mode between 144.000 MHz - 148.000 MHz and you might luck into hearing one. Believe it or not that is how I heard my first Shuttle Transmission, totally by luck I was just searching and heard this thing which sounded like the shuttle.

One advantage of monitoring the Shuttle via WA3NAN is you don't need to worry about the position or tracking the shuttle. If you were attempting to receive the shuttle via direct frequencies, you would only be able to receive the shuttle when it was within line-of-sight. However, there are times when this is possible. If you visit www.amsat.org, you will find various satellite tracking programs which will help in this feat. Below you'll find a list of frequencies used by the Shuttle.

Click Here for Complete list of NASA Frequencies Used during Shuttle Missions If you're in the area of KSC it would make for some fun listening to put these in your scanner. NASA uses many frequencies everyday, not just when there are shuttle missions. These frequencies will have activity on almost daily, of course more when there is either a Shuttle launch/landing or a Rocket launch.


If all else fails you can receive live Shuttle Communications here via RealAudio.

If you want to hear comes between KSC and the ships used for Booster Recovery, then click here for a list of NASA HF frequencies.

If you want to watch NASA TV live and can't get NASA TV off your satellite TV systems, then you can watch it live on the Internet. Simply click here for NASA-TV Live.

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