How Amateur Radio Fans Decoded SpaceX's Telemetry & Engineering Video

From HA6ANB.

https://twitter.com/HA6NAB_Tomi/status/1374672756047024132

 

From M0EYT.

https://twitter.com/r2x0t/status/1374650817257615363

 

Here ya go, OM...

 

This is so great. I think the space communication part of ham radio is one of the most interesting to share with my kids.

 

It looks like they're using standard SGLS (Space-Ground Link System) downlink frequencies and CCSDS (Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems) formatted data streams.

 

HA6NAB is one of them.
Check him on qrz.com

 

It's all over now. Today's launch was encrypted.

https://twitter.com/r2x0t/status/1379843322152431622

 

Are you SURPRISED??

 

What a pity!

 

No.

 

If there had been less press the situation would not result in this... why don't others see that?

Speaking in general (not in response to Phil...who probably already knows this..-)

SpaceX is very supportive of 'space geeks'. They also like to be in the loop. They are very, very aware of everything that comes out about them. Here's some support of that statement:

SpaceX has a cottage industry popping up around it to serve all of its hungry fans - CNN

We should just cut them some slack and give them some recognition.

If we were more DIRECTED about it, we could turn this around so they (SPACEX) would give a special feed just for hams to try to pick up, encouraging 'maker' PR.

I mean really: if you want to encourage NEW hams, including younger ones, this is it--

Assume they read the mail.

73
Chip W1YW

 

Spaceflight today has become much more competitive, not just from a national security perspective, but now commercially too.

So it wouldn't surprise me that from a business perspective SpaceX decided that certain video streams need to be encrypted to protect some development "trade secrets", such as internal images of liquid tanks.

Control of fuel "slosh" in tanks of multi-start wide-range throttled rocket-engine systems, especially in the weird dynamic environment of partial-G (landing) and zero-G, is probably still at the "bleeding" edge" of such mechanical technology.

But SpaceX would get great publicity by continuing some non-encrypted video too for amateur decoding, "Easter eggs", with views they would release to the public anyway.

Leverage this recognition of amateur initiative and talents to entice SpaceX to team up with AMSAT-NA or others from the ARS for a joint PR venture.

 

I doubt it had anything to do with the LOX tank. I've seen SpaceX put that on their own feed occasionally. I suspect they got a call from the State Department insisting that they encrypt their downlinks for ITAR reasons.

 

SpaceX has lowered the cost of getting to low earth orbit so much, it's created a shift in launch technology all across the space business.
From Wikipedia, the cost of getting 1 kilo into LEO using the Space Shuttle was about $54,500. SpaceX has lowered that to $2,700 with the Falcon 9 rocket, $1,400 with a Falcon Heavy. The Starship, now being built and tested at their Boca Chica, Texas launch facility is expected to bring that cost down to an unbelievable $10! Both the Starship and the Starship Heavy booster will be re-useable, which is key to SpaceX's low costs. They should be flying the next Starship in just a few weeks. Blow or go, these are always exciting to watch!
73
Guy
KC2PMM

 

Totally Cool. Maybe I will launch my own Ham Satellite one day. I have the money. Just need some Hams to build one for me. I wonder of anyone knows people at SpaceX that can help out. Need Elon to help with the reliability. That seems to be a problem these days. Looks like the future of satellites is on the rise at a rapid pace.