Zarya - Soviet, Russian and International Spaceflight
Satellite Radio Frequencies

Lincoln, UK
2010 Mar 10, UTC
Wednesday
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Coherent Transmission Frequencies

The two frequencies are coherent in the ratio 8:3. Both the Soviet Union and the USA chose these frequency pairings for their navigation satellites, driven partly by space available in the worldwide radio spectrum. Both nations (the Soviet programmes having been taken over by Russia) and others now have satellites that transmit in this fashion.

US Satellites

The USA's Transit navigation satellites and their derivatives found their way here. The Transit system no longer operates but some of the later, Transit-O (OSCAR) vehicles still transmit, though their function has changed to ionospheric monitoring under the US Navy's Ionospheric Monitoring System (NIMS).

A coherent pair also exists for use by the US military for Doppler tracking and orbit measurement.

Soviet and Russian Satellites

The Soviet Union's 'Tsikada' navigation satellites, later 'Nadezhda', also operated here also but the system was switched off when GPS-style navigation satellites took over.

Another former Soviet system currently operated by Russia also transmits here. The 'Parus' transmissions are Tsikada-like in content but they hide another purpose. They may have included a navigation function originally but they carry a second, clandestine, payload for communications. The 'navigation' transmissions are probably more about allowing the user to calculate where to point the transmitting aerial rather than working out their location on the Earth's surface.

Occasional launches of 'Cometa' recoverable spacecraft can be found using coherent frequencies at 150/400 MHz.

Chinese Satellites

Many of the PRC's early launches used coherent frequency pairs at 180 and 480 MHz for orbit determination, still in the ratio 8:3. Currently, only CBERS and Fengyun satellites can be detected at these frequencies.

Other Satellites

In 2006, the Cosmic/Formosat satellites arrived on orbit, using coherent frequencies in the 150/400 MHz bands but adding another one near 1066 MHz. This higher frequency is, as before an 8:3 relationship but with 400 MHz as the lower frequency. These satellites, like the Oscar/NIMS are used for ionospheric measurements.

Freq (MHz) Satellite Payload Signal Type Notes
149.910 Cosmos 2341
(Parus)

1997-017A
24772
Comms FM time and position information - sidebands at 3 kHz, 5 kHz and 7 kHz Transmission contains an almanac for all active satellites in the constellation - Use for navigation has probably ceased but is still supporting whatever other system requires reasonably precise positional information for the satellites - Coherent transmission at 399.920 MHz
149.910 Cosmos 2398
(Parus)

2003-023A
27818
Comms FM time and position information - sidebands at 3 kHz, 5 kHz and 7 kHz Transmission contains an almanac for all active satellites in the constellation - Use for navigation has probably ceased but is still supporting whatever other system requires reasonably precise positional information for the satellites - Coherent transmission at 399.760 MHz
149.940 Cosmos 2378
(Parus)

2001-023A
26818
Comms FM time and position information - sidebands at 3 kHz, 5 kHz and 7 kHz Transmission contains an almanac for all active satellites in the constellation - Use for navigation has probably ceased but is still supporting whatever other system requires reasonably precise positional information for the satellites - Coherent transmission at 399.840 MHz
149.940 Cosmos 2454
(Parus)

2009-039A
35635
Comms FM time and position information - sidebands at 3 kHz, 5 kHz and 7 kHz Transmission contains an almanac for all active satellites in the constellation - Use for navigation has probably ceased but is still supporting whatever other system requires reasonably precise positional information for the satellites - Coherent transmission at 399.840 MHz
149.970 Cosmos 2336
(Parus)

1996-071A
24677
Comms FM time and position information - sidebands at 3 kHz, 5 kHz and 7 kHz Transmission contains an almanac for all active satellites in the constellation - Use for navigation has probably ceased but is still supporting whatever other system requires reasonably precise positional information for the satellites - Coherent transmission at 399.840 MHz
149.970 Cosmos 2389
(Parus)

2002-026A
27436
Comms FM time and position information - sidebands at 3 kHz, 5 kHz and 7 kHz Transmission contains an almanac for all active satellites in the constellation - Use for navigation has probably ceased but is still supporting whatever other system requires reasonably precise positional information for the satellites - Coherent transmission at 399.920 MHz
149.979 Oscar 29
(Transit/NIMS)

1987-080B
18362
Ionospheric modelling for US military (NIMS) Modulated CW carrier Maintenance frequency - Coherent transmission at 399.944 MHz (has been heard to transmit tones similar to the other OSCAR satellite but 2003 December 28 - this frequency was occupied by a modulated 'buzzing' signal - No longer transmitting as of 2008 Feb 1
149.979 Oscar 31
(Transit/NIMS)

1988-074B
19420
Ionospheric modelling for US military (NIMS) FM telemetry (tones) +/- 2.4 kHz from carrier Maintenance frequency - Coherent transmission at 399.944 MHz - Occasionally changes between this frequency and the operational one - Sometime between 2007 Dec 21 and 2008 Feb 7, the normal transmissions at both frequencies were replaced with a highly unstable CW carrier (wandering frequency + variations in strength)
149.988 Oscar 27
(Transit/NIMS)

1987-080A
18361
Ionospheric modelling for US military (NIMS) FM telemetry (tones) +/- 2.4 kHz from carrier Operational frequency - Coherent transmission at 399.968 MHz - Occasionally changes between this frequency and the maintenance one) - No longer transmitting as of 2008 Jan 1
149.988 Oscar 23
(Transit/NIMS)

1988-033A
19070
Ionospheric modelling for US military (NIMS) FM telemetry (tones) +/- 2.4 kHz from carrier Operational frequency - Coherent transmission at 399.968 MHz - Occasionally changes between this frequency and the maintenance one)
149.988 Oscar 32
(Transit/NIMS)

1988-033B
19071
Ionospheric modelling for US military (NIMS) FM telemetry (tones) +/- 2.4 kHz from carrier Operational frequency - Coherent transmission at 399.968 MHz - Occasionally changes between this frequency and the maintenance one)
149.988 Oscar 25
(Transit/NIMS)

1988-074A
19419
Ionospheric modelling for US military (NIMS) FM telemetry (tones) +/- 2.4 kHz from carrier Operational frequency - Coherent transmission at 399.968 MHz - Occasionally changes between this frequency and the maintenance one)
150.000 Nadezhda Navigation - plus Search and Rescue monitoring FM time and position information - sidebands at 3 kHz, 5 kHz and 7 kHz Several satellites - the system is no longer operational, has been silent since 2003 November 26 - Coherent transmission at 400.000 MHz
150.000 Tsikada Navigation - plus Search and Rescue monitoring FM time and position information - sidebands at 3 kHz, 5 kHz and 7 kHz Several satellites - the system is no longer operational, has been silent since 2003 November 26 - Coherent transmission at 400.000 MHz
150.012 Unknown Not known 'Wandering' CW Satellite in GEO, possibly graveyard orbit, also transmits 400.032 MHz
150.012 Geosat

1985-021A
15595
Oceanography - wave height measurement CW - Doppler tracking beacon Detected being switched on and off over Europe, not continuously active. Sometime around 2007, transmissions ceased to be detected but Geosat was subsequently determined to be transmitting continuously while in sunlight. Coherent transmission at 400.032 MHz
150.012 RADCAL
(STEP P92-1)

1993-041A
22698
Radar calibration CW - Doppler tracking beacon Radar Calibration satellite - Coherent transmission at 400.032 MHz, operation is intermittent
150.012 GFO

1998-007A
25157
Oceanography - wave height measurement CW - Doppler tracking beacon Geosat Follow On satellite - Coherent transmission at 400.032 MHz and also transmitted at 2207.5 MHz. Ceased to transmit 2208 November.
150.012 ARGOS
(STEP P91-1)

1999-008A
25634
USAF space experiments CW - Doppler tracking beacon Coherent transmission at 400.032 MHz - Ceased to transmit 2003
150.012 USA 147
(DMSP F-15)

1999-067A
25991
RADCAL secondary payload aboard US military metsat CW - Doppler tracking beacon Defense Meteorological Satellite Program - Also transmits at 2237.5 MHz and 2252.5 MHz, and 400.032 MHz - Post-launch testing revealed interference with other equipment from the 150/400 MHz transmitters so they remained inactive (apart from further testing) until 2006 Aug 14
150.012 Picosat 9
(STEP P97-1)

2001-043B
26930
USAF Space Test Program (STEP) CW - Doppler tracking beacon Coherent transmission at 400.032 MHz - Ceased to transmit late-2004
150.012 Formosat 3A
(Cosmic FM-6)

2006-011A
29047
Atmospheric studies using CW beacons at coherent frequencies CW Switched on when observation required, European observations usuall 08:00-17:00 UTC Mon-Fri, also transmits 400.032 MHz and 1066.752 MHz
150.012 Formosat 3B
(Cosmic FM-1)

2006-011B
29048
Atmospheric studies using CW beacons at coherent frequencies CW Switched on when observation required, European observations usuall 08:00-17:00 UTC Mon-Fri, also transmits 400.032 MHz and 1066.752 MHz
150.012 Formosat 3C
(Cosmic FM-5)

2006-011C
29049
Atmospheric studies using CW beacons at coherent frequencies CW Switched on when observation required, European observations usuall 08:00-17:00 UTC Mon-Fri, also transmits 400.032MHz and 1066.752 MHz
150.012 Formosat 3D
(Cosmic FM-3)

2006-011D
29050
Atmospheric studies using CW beacons at coherent frequencies CW Switched on when observation required, European observations usuall 08:00-17:00 UTC Mon-Fri, also transmits 400.032 MHz and 1066.752 MHz
150.012 Formosat 3E
(Cosmic FM-4)

2006-011E
29051
Atmospheric studies using CW beacons at coherent frequencies CW Switched on when observation required, European observations usuall 08:00-17:00 UTC Mon-Fri, also transmits 400.032 MHz and 1066.752 MHz
150.012 Formosat 3F
(Cosmic FM-2)

2006-011F
29052
Atmospheric studies using CW beacons at coherent frequencies CW Switched on when observation required, European observations usuall 08:00-17:00 UTC Mon-Fri, also transmits 400.032 MHz and 1066.752 MHz
150.030 Cosmos 2361
(Parus)

1998-076A
25590
Navigation (+ comms?) FM time and position information - sidebands at 3 kHz, 5 kHz and 7 kHz Coherent transmission at 400.080 MHz
150.300 Cosmos 2373
(Yantar-1KFT11Ф660 №20, Kometa)

2000-058A
26552
Yantar/Cometa' recoverable satellite - photographic mapping AM telemetry - wide bandwidth Coherent transmission at 400.800 MHz - Cameras and film recovered after mission running between 2000 September 29 and 2000 November 14 - no longer in orbit
150.300 Cosmos 2415
(Yantar-1KFT11Ф660 №21, Kometa)

2005-034A
28841
Yantar/Cometa' recoverable satellite - wide-area photographic reconnaissance CW - Doppler tracking beacon Coherent transmission at 400.800 MHz - Cameras and film recovered after mission mission running between 2005 September 2 and 2005 October 14 - transmissions heard over the USA - no longer in orbit
179.951 Zi Yuan 2
(Jiang Bing 3A)

2000-050A
26481
Remote Sensing CW carrier on centre frequency plus telemetry sidebands at +/- 20 kHz- and further carriers at +/- 40 kHz Coherent transmission at 479.865 MHz
180.006 Fengyun 1C

1999-025A
25730
Meteorological imaging CW carrier on centre frequency plus telemetry sidebands at +/- 5 kHz- and further carriers at +/- 10 kHz Active transmitter until 2007 February when attacked in ground-based interceptor test - Coherent transmission at 480.017 MHz
180.007 Fengyun 1D

2002-024B
27431
Meteorological Imaging CW carrier on centre frequency plus telemetry sidebands at +/- 5 kHz- and further carriers at +/- 10 kHz Coherent transmission at 480.017 MHz
180.011 CBERS 1

1999-057A
25940
Remote sensing CW carrier on centre frequency plus telemetry sidebands at +/- 20 kHz - and further carriers at +/- 40 kHz China Brasil Earth Resources Satellite - Coherent transmission at 480.025 MHz - Silent since mid 2003, the last public report being 2003 Jun 6 by Maik Hermenau of www.satellitenwelt.de
180.013 CBERS 2B

2007-042A
32062
Remote sensing CW carrier on centre frequency plus telemetry sidebands at +/- 20 kHz- and further carriers at +/- 40 kHz China Brazil Earth Resources Satellite - Coherent transmission at 480.033 MHz, also transmits 2204.400 MHz
180.014 CBERS 2

2003-049A
28057
Remote sensing CW carrier on centre frequency plus telemetry sidebands at +/- 20 kHz- and further carriers at +/- 40 kHz China Brazil Earth Resources Satellite - Coherent transmission at 480.037 MHz, ceased to transmit 2007
399.760 Cosmos 2341
(Parus)

1997-017A
24772
Comms CW - Doppler tracking beacon Coherent transmission at 149.910 MHz
399.760 Cosmos 2398
(Parus)

2003-023A
27818
Comms CW - Doppler tracking beacon Coherent transmission at 149.910 MHz
399.840 Cosmos 2378
(Parus)

2001-023A
26818
Comms CW - Doppler tracking beacon Coherent transmisiion at 149.940 MHz
399.840 Cosmos 2389
(Parus)

2002-026A
27436
Comms CW - Doppler tracking beacon Coherent transmisiion at 149.940 MHz
399.840 Cosmos 2454
(Parus)

2009-039A
35635
Comms CW - Doppler tracking beacon Coherent transmisiion at 149.940 MHz
399.920 Cosmos 2336
(Parus)

1996-071A
24677
Navigation CW - Doppler tracking beacon Coherent transmission at 149.970 MHz
399.944 Oscar 29
(Transit/NIMS)

1987-080B
18362
Ionospheric modelling for US military (NIMS) Modulated CW carrier Maintenance frequency - Coherent transmission at 149.979 MHz (known to change between this frequency and the operational one) - No longer transmitting as of 2008 Jan 1
399.944 Oscar 31
(Transit/NIMS)

1988-074B
19420
Ionospheric modelling for US military (NIMS) Modulated CW carrier Maintenance frequency - Coherent transmission at 149.979 MHz (known to change between this frequency and the operational one) - Sometime between 2007 Dec 21 and 2008 Feb 7, the normal transmissions at both frequencies were replaced with a highly unstable CW carrier (wandering frequency + variations in strength)
399.968 Oscar 27
(Transit/NIMS)

1987-080A
18361
Ionospheric modelling for US military (NIMS) Modulated CW carrier Operational frequency - Coherent transmission at 149.988 MHz (known to change between this frequency and the maintenance one) - No longer transmitting as of 2008 Feb 1
399.968 Oscar 23
(Transit/NIMS)

1988-033A
19070
Ionospheric modelling for US military (NIMS) Modulated CW carrier Operational frequency - Coherent transmission at 149.988 MHz (known to change between this frequency and the maintenance one)
399.968 Oscar 32
(Transit/NIMS)

1988-033B
19071
Ionospheric modelling for US military (NIMS) Modulated CW carrier Operational frequency - Coherent transmission at 149.988 MHz (known to change between this frequency and the maintenance one)
399.968 Oscar 25
(Transit/NIMS)

1988-074A
19419
Ionospheric modelling for US military (NIMS) Modulated CW carrier Operational frequency - Coherent transmission at 149.988 MHz (known to change between this frequency and the maintenance one)
400.000 Nadezhda Navigation - plus Search and Rescue monitoring CW - Doppler tracking beacon Coherent transmission at 150.000 MHz - no longer active (see 150 MHz note)
400.000 Tsikada Navigation - plus Search and Rescue monitoring CW - Doppler tracking beacon Coherent transmission at 150.000 MHz - no longer active (see 150 MHz note)
400.032 Unknown Not known 'Wandering' CW Satellite in GEO, possibly graveyard orbit, also transmits 150.012 MHz
400.032 Geosat

1985-021A
15595
Oceanography - wave height measurement CW - Doppler tracking beacon Detected being switched on and off over Europe, not continuously active. Sometime around 2007, transmissions ceased to be detected but Geosat was subsequently determined to be transmitting continuously while in sunlight. Coherent transmission at 150.012 MHz
400.032 RADCAL
(STEP P92-1)

1993-041A
22698
Radar calibration CW - Doppler tracking beacon Radar Calibration satellite - Coherent transmission at 150.012 MHz, operation is intermittent
400.032 GFO

1998-007A
25157
Oceanography - wave height measurement CW - Doppler tracking beacon Geosat Follow On - Coherent transmission at 150.012 MHz and also transmittedat 2207.5 MHz. Ceased to transmit 2208 November.
400.032 ARGOS
(STEP P91-1)

1999-008A
25634
USAF space experiments CW - Doppler tracking beacon Coherent transmission at 150.012 MHz - Ceased to transmit 2003
400.032 USA 147
(DMSP F-15)

1999-067A
25991
RADCAL secondary payload aboard US military metsat CW - Doppler tracking beacon Defense Meteorological Satellite Program - also transmits at 2237.5 MHz, and 150.012 MHz - Post-launch testing revealed interference with other equipment from the 150/400 MHz transmitters so they remained inactive (apart from further testing) until 2006 Aug 14 .
400.032 Picosat 9
(STEP P97-1)

2001-043B
26930
USAF Space Test Program (STEP) CW - Doppler tracking beacon Detected being switched on and off over Europe, not continuously active - Coherent transmission at 150.012 MHz - Ceased to transmit late-2004
400.032 Formosat 3A
(Cosmic FM-6)

2006-011A
29047
Atmospheric studies using CW beacons at coherent frequencies CW Switched on when observation required, European observations usuall 08:00-17:00 UTC Mon-Fri, also transmits 150.012 MHz and 1066.752 MHz
400.032 Formosat 3B
(Cosmic FM-1)

2006-011B
29048
Atmospheric studies using CW beacons at coherent frequencies CW Switched on when observation required, European observations usuall 08:00-17:00 UTC Mon-Fri, also transmits 150.012 MHz and 1066.752 MHz
400.032 Formosat 3C
(Cosmic FM-5)

2006-011C
29049
Atmospheric studies using CW beacons at coherent frequencies CW Switched on when observation required, European observations usuall 08:00-17:00 UTC Mon-Fri, also transmits 150.012 MHz and 1066.752 MHz, during 2007 December, Formosat 3C appeared to be about 5 kHz lower than the nominal frequency - the other frequencies may be shifted pro-rata
400.032 Formosat 3D
(Cosmic FM-3)

2006-011D
29050
Atmospheric studies using CW beacons at coherent frequencies CW Switched on when observation required, European observations usuall 08:00-17:00 UTC Mon-Fri, also transmits 150.012 MHz and 1066.752 MHz
400.032 Formosat 3E
(Cosmic FM-4)

2006-011E
29051
Atmospheric studies using CW beacons at coherent frequencies CW Switched on when observation required, European observations usuall 08:00-17:00 UTC Mon-Fri, also transmits 150.012 MHz and 1066.752 MHz
400.032 Formosat 3F
(Cosmic FM-2)

2006-011F
29052
Atmospheric studies using CW beacons at coherent frequencies CW Switched on when observation required, European observations usuall 08:00-17:00 UTC Mon-Fri, also transmits 150.012 MHz and 1066.752 MHz
400.080 Cosmos 2361
(Parus)

1998-076A
25590
Navigation CW - Doppler tracking beacon Non operational but still transmitting 2000 December 13 - Coherent transmission at 150.030 MHz
400.800 Cosmos 2373
(Yantar-1KFT11Ф660 №20, Kometa)

2000-058A
26552
'Yantar/Cometa' recoverable satellite - photographic mapping CW - Doppler tracking beacon Coherent transmission at 150.300 MHz - Cameras and film recovered after mission running between 2000 September 29 and 2000 November 14 - no longer active
400.800 Cosmos 2415
(Yantar-1KFT11Ф660 №21, Kometa)

2005-034A
28841
Yantar/Cometa' recoverable satellite - wide-area photographic reconnaissance CW - Doppler tracking beacon Coherent transmission at 150.300 MHz - Cameras and film recovered after mission running between 2005 September 2 and 2005 October 14? - no longer active
479.865 Zi Yuan 2
(Jiang Bing 3A)

2000-050A
26481
Remote sensing CW - Doppler tracking beacon Coherent transmission at at 179.951 MHz
480.017 Fengyun 1D

2002-024B
27431
Meteorological Imaging CW - Doppler tracking beacon Coherent transmission at 180.007 MHz
480.019 Fengyun 1C

1999-025A
25730
Remote sensing CW - Doppler tracking beacon Active transmitter until 2007 February when attacked in ground-based interceptor test - Coherent transmission at 180.007 MHz
480.025 CBERS 1

1999-057A
25940
Remote sensing CW - Doppler tracking beacon China Brasil Earth Resources Satellite - Coherent transmission at 180.011 MHz - silent since mid-2003
480.033 CBERS 2B

2007-042A
32062
Remote sensing CW - Doppler tracking beacon China Brazil Earth Resources Satellite - Coherent transmission at 180.013 MHz, also transmits at 2204.400 MHz
480.037 CBERS 2

2003-049A
28057
Remote sensing CW - Doppler tracking beacon China Brazil Earth Resources Satellite - Coherent transmission at 180.014 MHz, ceased to transmit 2007
1066.752 Formosat 3A
(Cosmic FM-6)

2006-011A
29047
Atmospheric studies using CW beacons at coherent frequencies CW Switched on when observation required, European observations usuall 08:00-17:00 UTC Mon-Fri, also transmits 150.012 MHz and 400.032 MHz
1066.752 Formosat 3B
(Cosmic FM-1)

2006-011B
29048
Atmospheric studies using CW beacons at coherent frequencies CW Switched on when observation required, European observations usuall 08:00-17:00 UTC Mon-Fri, also transmits 150.012 MHz and 400.032 MHz
1066.752 Formosat 3C
(Cosmic FM-5)

2006-011C
29049
Atmospheric studies using CW beacons at coherent frequencies CW Switched on when observation required, European observations usually 08:00-17:00 UTC Mon-Fri, also transmits 150.012 MHz and 400.032 MHz
1066.752 Formosat 3D
(Cosmic FM-3)

2006-011D
29050
Atmospheric studies using CW beacons at coherent frequencies CW Switched on when observation required, European observations usuall 08:00-17:00 UTC Mon-Fri, also transmits 150.012 MHz and 400.032 MHz
1066.752 Formosat 3E
(Cosmic FM-4)

2006-011E
29051
Atmospheric studies using CW beacons at coherent frequencies CW Switched on when observation required, European observations usuall 08:00-17:00 UTC Mon-Fri, also transmits 150.012 MHz and 400.032 MHz
1066.752 Formosat 3F
(Cosmic FM-2)

2006-011F
29052
Atmospheric studies using CW beacons at coherent frequencies CW Switched on when observation required, European observations usuall 08:00-17:00 UTC Mon-Fri, also transmits 150.012 MHz and 400.032 MHz
 

Frequency lists, transmission details

Techniques, analysis and results of tracking activities

Consolidation of individual mission diaries from the site (and more!)

Ongoing Calendar of comings and goings in space

People, reminiscences and tracking equipment

Korolyov's efforts in getting the first satellite into orbit

The Soviet Union's programme of automatic exploration

First pilot to orbit the Earth

Soviet programme to put multiple passengers into space

First docking in orbit of piloted spacecraft

First docking of piloted spacecraft from different nations

Chronology of missions to the first space stations

Detailed calendar of launches and activities in orbit

Mission calendar for the early years

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