Post on 19-Dec-2015
description
Frequency listsSatellite and Spacecraft Radio Transmission Frequencies
If you are interested in tracking satellites by radio, this frequency list should prove useful. It includes satellites and spacecraft tracked from the Zarya home location, with additional tracking information from other observers that is credited appropriately. Some of the frequencies have been used by past satellites but generally only transmissions logged since the year 2000 are listed here. An exception is the listing of some historic frequencies.
Specifically excluded from being listed are amateur radio satellites (eg Amsat OSCAR satellites and the Soviet/Russian 'Radio' series), and the US military satellite (milsat) point-to-point communications transponders, aboard certain geosynchronous satellites, that can be found near 250 MHz. Information on these can be found on amateur radio web sites and more-general military radio sites.
Where a satellite name is shown as "Object xxxx", it refers to the pseudo calalogue number listed in Mike McCants's "classified.tle" file. The incidence of these is becoming less as more satellites are becoming identified through radio and optical tracking.
In the menu on the left are some selective versions of the list for satellites in particular categories. There is also a list covering the now-defunct HF frequencies from earlier times in the space age. HF frequencies do not appear in the main table below.
Zarya is located at Lincoln, UK: 53°.2233 North, 0°.6004 West.
Freq (MHz)
Satellite Payload Signal Type Notes
121.750
Progress M-42(Progress 7K-TGM No 242)
1999-038A25858
Mir/ISS Logistics
Ranging pulses
Used by TORU remote control docking system as the return signal path to ISS (see also 130.167 MHz for the ISS transmission) - Also transmits at 166 MHz and 922.763 MHz
121.750
Progress M1-2(Progress M1 No252)
2000-021A26301
Mir/ISS Logistics
Ranging pulses
Used by TORU remote control docking system as the return signal path to ISS (see also 130.167 MHz for the ISS transmission) - Also transmits at 166 MHz and 922.763 MHz
121.750Soyuz TMA-1 ISS Crew Medium Frequency used
(Soyuz 11F732 No211)
2002-050A27552
transportbandwidth FM voice
during on-orbit operations to and from the Space Station, and reportedly used for recovery beacon during landing module descent - Also transmits at 166 MHz and 922.763 MHz
130.167
ISS(International Space Station)
1998-067A25544
Space StationMedium bandwidth FM voice
VHF-2 channel used as an alternative to VHF-1 (143.625 MHz) during Shuttle/ISS on-orbit operations
130.167
ISS(International Space Station)
1998-067A25544
Space Station Ranging pulses
Used by TORU remote control docking system, usually tested 1-2 days before a Progress docking is due, the Progress return path is at 121.750 MHz
136.235
Tiros 10
1965-051A1430
MeteorologyAM - 1.3 kHz tone
Payload now inactive, radio transmission is not continuous - (information contributed by Michael D Kenny)
136.260
ERS 20(OV5-3)
1967-040D2768
USAF test satellite
AM - tone (unstable)
High orbit, visible for long periods of time - (information contributed by Michael D Kenny)
136.410
Isis 1
1969-009A3669
Ionosphere studies
CW(information contributed by Michael D Kenny)
136.440ERS 15(NORAD lists as Secor 7)
1966-077C2412
Military satellite
AM with 1.3 kHz tone
Incorrectly catalogued by NORAD as SECOR 7 - (information contributed by
Michael D Kenny)
136.500
Nimbus 4(Nimbus D)
1970-025A4362
Meteorology (including imaging)
CW - sometimes modulated
Payload no longer operational - (information contributed by Michael D Kenny)
136.650
NNS O-2(Oscar O-2)
1964-083D965
NavigationCW Carrier plus telemetry tones
Second operational TRANSIT navsat, navigation system failed soon after launch but transmitter is still active (information contributed by Michael D Kenny)
136.695
Shinsei(MS-F2)
1971-080A5485
Japanese scientific satellite
CW
Continuous transmission - (information contributed by Michael D Kenny)
136.770
NOAA 9(NOAA F)
1984-123A15427
Formerly meteorological imaging
CW
Telemetry frequency, transmission is intermittent - (information contributed by Michael D Kenny) - Also has a transmission at 137.500 MHz
136.800
Solrad 7B(SR 7B)
1965-016D1291
Solar radiation studies (launched 1969)
AM IRIG telemetry channels
Continuous transmission - (information contributed by Michael D Kenny)
137.080
OPS 7898-2(NOSS B1?)
1971-110C5680
US military satellite
CW(information contributed by Michael D Kenny)
137.100
NOAA 18(NOAA N)
2005-018A28654
Meteorological imaging
APT at 4 lines per second - interlaced visible light and infrared images
Revised frequency as of 2006 Jan 4, changed from 137.9125 MHz
137.142Eutelsat I F4 Defunct CW Regular, intermittent
(ECS 4)
1987-078B18351
comsat
signal possibly due to vehicle rotation causing periodic flow of power from solar panels
137.200OrbcommMobile telephony
Digitised telephone traffic
One of several frequencies,individual satellites switch between them - Also transmits at 400.100 MHz
137.225OrbcommMobile telephony
Digitised telephone traffic
One of several frequencies,individual satellites switch between them - Also transmits at 400.100 MHz
137.250OrbcommMobile telephony
Digitised telephone traffic
One of several frequencies,individual satellites switch between them - Also transmits at 400.100 MHz
137.300Russian ImagingMeteorological imaging
APT at 2 lines per second
Frequency not currently active
137.350
NOAA 15(NOAA K)
1998-030A25338
Meteorological imaging
CW Doppler Beacon and telemetry
Continuous transmission -(information contributed by Michael D Kenny) - Also transmits at 137.500 MHz
137.350
NOAA 16(NOAA L)
2000-055A26536
Formerly meteorological imaging
CW Doppler Beacon and telemetry
Continuous transmission -(information contributed by Michael D Kenny) - Also transmits at 137.500 MHz
137.350Compass 2
2006-019A29157
Russian scientific satellite studying possible ways of predicting earthquakes -
CW/AM After launch on 2006 May 26 - bursts of CW tone one to ten seconds duration in groups with peaks at central frequency and +/- 64 kHz - As of
not operating properly
2006 Nov 16 - data transmission at 64 kHz side bands only
137.380
OPS 7613-1(NRL PL176)
1969-082B4256
Navigation technology
Mixed modulation (PAM/FM/AM)
(information contributed by Michael D Kenny)
137.400Russian ImagingMeteorological imaging
APT at 2 lines per second
Frequency not currently active
137.410
OPS 7613-6(NOSS A1?)
1969-082E4237
USAF test satellite
CW(information contributed by Michael D Kenny)
137.440OrbcommMobile telephony
Digitised telephone traffic
One of several frequencies, individual satellites switch between them - Also transmits at 400.100 MHz
137.460OrbcommMobile telephony
Digitised telephone traffic
One of several frequencies, individual satellites switch between them - Also transmits at 400.100 MHz
137.500
Tiros-N
1978-096A11060
Meteorological imaging
CW - carrier only
Inactive satellite but reportedly transmitting
137.500
NOAA 6(NOAA A)
1979-057A11416
Meteorological imaging
CW - carrier only
Inactive satellite but reportedly transmitting
137.500NOAA 9(NOAA F)
1984-123A15427
Formerly meteorological imaging
Tone for 6 seconds out of every 25 seconds (periods vary - these are averages)
Non-operational satellite but transmitter still had power long after the payload was switched off - Timings shown are as of 2001 January 6 - Probably no longer transmitting
at this frequency - Also has a transmission at 136.770 MHz
137.500
NOAA 12(NOAA D)
1991-032A21263
Meteorological imaging
APT at 4 lines per second - interlaced visible light and infrared images
Switched off occasionally when transmissions conflict with those from NOAA 15 - Also transmits at 137.770 MHz - De-commissioned 2007 Aug 10
137.500
NOAA 15(NOAA K)
1998-030A25338
Meteorological imaging
APT at 4 lines per second - interlaced visible light and infrared images
Switched off occasionally when transmissions conflict with those from NOAA 12 - Also transmits at 137.350 MHz
137.625
NOAA 14(NOAA 14)
1994-089A23455
Meteorological imaging
APT at 4 lines per second - interlaced visible light and infrared images
Switched off occasionally when transmissions conflict with those from NOAA 17 - Also transmits at 137.770 MHz - Decommissioned 2007 May 23
137.625
NOAA 17(NOAA M)
2002-032A27453
Meteorological imaging
APT at 4 lines per second - interlaced visible light and infrared images
Switched off occasionally when transmissions conflict with those from NOAA 14
137.663OrbcommMobile telephony
Digitised telephone traffic
One of several frequencies - individual satellites switch between them - Also transmits at 400.100 MHz
137.688OrbcommMobile telephony
Digitised telephone traffic
One of several frequencies - individual satellites switch between them - Also transmits at 400.100 MHz
137.713OrbcommMobile telephony
Digitised telephone traffic
One of several frequencies - individual satellites switch between them - Also transmits at 400.100 MHz
137.738OrbcommMobile telephony
Digitised telephone traffic
One of several frequencies - individual satellites switch between them - Also transmits at 400.100 MHz
137.770
NOAA 11(NOAA H)
1988-089A19531
Formerly meteorological imaging
CW Doppler Beacon and telemetry
Continuous transmission when operational - (information contributed by Michael D Kenny) - De-commissioned 2004 June 16
137.770
NOAA 12(NOAA D)
1991-032A21263
Meteorological imaging
CW Doppler Beacon and telemetry
Also transmitted at 137.500 MHz - De-commissioned 2007 Aug 10
137.770
NOAA 14(NOAA 14)
1994-089A23455
Meteorological imaging
CW Doppler Beacon and telemetry
Also transmits at 137.625 MHz - Decommissioned 2007 May 23
137.770
NOAA 17(NOAA M)
2002-032A27453
Meteorological imaging
CW Doppler Beacon and telemetry
Also transmits at 137.625 MHz
137.800OrbcommMobile telephony
Digitised telephone traffic
One of several frequencies - individual satellites switch between them - Also transmits at 400.100 MHz
137.850Russian ImagingMeteorological imaging
APT at 2 lines per second
Frequency not currently active
137.913NOAA 18(NOAA N)
Meteorological imaging
APT at 4 lines per second -
Frequency probably not active - changed
2005-018A28654
interlaced visible light and infrared images
to 137.100 MHz (2006 Jan 4?)
143.625
ISS(International Space Station)
1998-067A25544
Space StationMedium bandwidth FM voice
VHF-1 channel, also used to relay Mission Control to the Shuttle - used as part of the ISS Early Communications System over the USA working with the Wallops Facility and White Sands, detected carrying packet data transmissions during Expedition 1
145.800
ISS(International Space Station)
1998-067A25544
Space StationAmateur Radio downlink frequency
Amateur radio downlink - see NASA's ARISS Page
145.825
ISS(International Space Station)
1998-067A25544
Space StationAmateur Radio downlink frequency
Amateur radio downlink - see NASA's ARISS Page
145.990
Suitsat(Orlan-M No14)
2005-035C28933
Amateur radio experiment - life expired Orlan spacesuit equipped with a radio transmitter and released from ISS during a crew EVA
NFM - extremely weak
Voice recording + SSTV image - the low power was due to a failed amplifier - Released from ISS 2006 Feb 3 and battery exhausted 2006 Feb 18
149.910Cosmos 2341(Parus)
1997-017A24772
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)
2003-023A27818
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)
2001-023A26818
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
149.940Cosmos 2454(Parus)
2009-039A35635
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 2463(Parus)
2010-010A36519
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)
1996-071A24677
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
149.970Cosmos 2389(Parus)
2002-026A27436
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)
1987-080B18362
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)
1988-074B19420
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)
149.988Oscar 27(Transit/NIMS)
1987-080A18361
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)
1988-033A19070
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)
1988-033B19071
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)
1988-074A19419
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)
150.000Nadezhda
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
150.000Tsikada
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
150.012Unknown Not known'Wandering' CW
Satellite in GEO, possibly graveyard orbit, also transmits 400.032 MHz
150.012Geosat Oceanography CW - Doppler Detected being
1985-021A15595
- wave height measurement
tracking beacon
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)
1993-041A22698
Radar calibration
CW - Doppler tracking beacon
Radar Calibration satellite - Coherent transmission at 400.032 MHz, operation is intermittent
150.012
GFO
1998-007A25157
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)
1999-008A25634
USAF space experiments
CW - Doppler tracking beacon
Coherent transmission at 400.032 MHz - Ceased to transmit 2003
150.012USA 147(DMSP F-15)
1999-067A25991
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)
2001-043B26930
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)
2006-011A29047
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)
2006-011B29048
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)
2006-011C29049
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)
2006-011D29050
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
150.012Formosat 3E(Cosmic FM-4)
Atmospheric studies using
CW Switched on when observation required,
2006-011E29051
CW beacons at coherent frequencies
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)
2006-011F29052
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)
1998-076A25590
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)
2000-058A26552
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)
2005-034A28841
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
166.000Progress M-42(Progress 7K-TGM No 242)
Mir/ISS Logistics
FM telemetry - sidebands at +/-
Transmits during on-orbit operations to
1999-038A25858
128 kHz
and from the ISS, and while docked with the space station - The transmission sounds as a loud buzz with sharp peaks at the sideband frequencies - Also transmits at 922.763 MHz
166.000
Progress M1-2(Progress M1 No252)
2000-021A26301
Mir/ISS Logistics
FM telemetry - sidebands at +/- 128 kHz
Transmits during on-orbit operations to and from the ISS, and while docked with the space station - The transmission sounds as a loud buzz with sharp peaks at the sideband frequencies - Also transmits at 922.763 MHz
166.000
Soyuz TMA-1(Soyuz 11F732 No211)
2002-050A27552
ISS Crew transport
FM telemetry - sidebands at +/- 128 kHz
Transmits during on-orbit operations to and from the ISS, and while docked with the space station - The transmission sounds as a loud buzz with sharp peaks at the sideband frequencies - Also transmits at 121.750 MHz and 922.763 MHz
179.951
Zi Yuan 2(Jiang Bing 3A)
2000-050A26481
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
180.006Fengyun 1C
1999-025A25730
Meteorological imaging
CW carrier on centre frequency plus telemetry sidebands at +/- 5 kHz- and
Active transmitter until 2007 February when attacked in ground-based interceptor test - Coherent
further carriers at +/- 10 kHz
transmission at 480.017 MHz
180.007
Fengyun 1D
2002-024B27431
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
1999-057A25940
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
2007-042A32062
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 and 2267.500 MHz
180.014
CBERS 2
2003-049A28057
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, also transmits 2204.400 MHz and 2267.500 MHz, ceased to transmit 2007
243.695USA 125(SDS-2 F4)
1996-038A23945
Military quick reaction comms
CW - RTTY-style data
AFSATCOM Channel 1 transmission - 2005-2007, USA-137 and USA-125 were providing alternating coverage of the northern hemisphere from HEO - Second
transmission frequency at 2242.50 MHz - 2007 Oct 15, USA-125 ceased to transmit AFSATCOM