SpaceX F9: Bandwagon-3 - 2025-04-22 00:48:33 UTC

[fredy]

Bandwagon-3 mission is read to launch later today, except from the main payload, there are some Tomorrow-S7 satellite and Atmos Space Cargo’s PHOENIX re-entry capsule according to - SpaceX - Launches (attached as an image below).

We will attempt to track with the Network PHOENIX capsule. The mission will be short, less than two hours and active during re-entry:

After suggestion from the mission team, we have an entry in DB with the temporary NORAD ID 98608 and below is the TLE set that we are going to use for tracking the object changed to use the temporary NORAD ID:

PHOENIX ONE
1 98608U 25999AAA 25112.10763889  .00000000  00000-0  10137-3 0    28
2 98608  45.4149 358.0920 0457924 278.3514 244.2776 16.00000000000007

We expect GMSK signal at 41,9 ksps baud/symbol rate at 434 MHz. As you can see the opportunity to receive the capsule transmissions will be over North-West America, continuing to Central America and end up to South-East America before splash down in Atlantic Ocean.

The precise time that capsule is expected to start transmitting is at 2025-04-22 02:24:57 UTC, T+01:36:24.

Other info about this launch can be found in SpaceX F9 : Bandwagon 3 Rideshare : CCSFS SLC-40 : 21/22 April 2025 (00:48 UTC)

[dl7ndr]

ATMOS Space Cargo is located only 9 km from me.

[fredy]

For those that will track this over US, they can also try this TLE shared by the team as more accurate on that part of the orbit:

PHOENIX ONE
1 99999U 25999AAA 25112.11355150  .00000000  00000-0  10137-3 0    10
2 99999  45.4193 358.0895 0465128 277.9732 278.8672 16.00000000000001

As we can use only one TLE in Network, we are going to use the ones in the initial post, which are close to the ones above.

[n5zkk]

I will be able to observe Bandwagon-3 tonight with my station and will follow this thread for updates.

[PE0SAT]

If you are able, please record some data in IQ format

[fredy]

There may be a small delay on the launch, I’ll update this thread if any and also share new TLE in that case. Stay tuned…

[fredy]

The launch was on time, so no changes on TLE.

[fredy]

~5 minutes for the transmission to start. Network is fully scheduled.

[K4KDR]

Saw the first observation hit; it’s unfortunate that people chose a frequency without realizing how much competition there is at certain places on the spectrum…

[fredy]

Indeed in most observation there was a lot of noise. We’ve managed to receive signals in a couple of them. The object comes after the expected time for some seconds.

[n5zkk]

I was switching between SDRs and recorders. Strong signal here at EM00 with my helical antenna.

https://network.satnogs.org/observations/11452361/

[fredy]

Any chance you have an IQ file from that observation?

[N6RFM]

same here; signals on helix stronger than on the beam (H-pol). Full IQs and a snippets made using Inspectum uploading now to my fileshare. Timestamps in UTC.

[n5zkk]

Yes I have good IQ files and am looking through them now. I can just put them all on my google drive for you now.
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1X-xFyDvVTnvvnw08XvPUUarHyxQxoqzZ?usp=sharing

[fredy]

@n5zkk

I can just put them all on my google drive for you now.

That would be awesome! Thanks!

[co2esp]

OK, what’s next? is there a decoder available or a place to upload the IQ recording?

[n5zkk]

Okay done. I used SDR# and SDRPP on two different SDRs and also the SatNOGs SDR.

You will see the antenna switch between the three(3) SDRs during the pass.

[fredy]

@co2esp Is it possible to temporarily upload them somewhere? If not let me know and I’ll try to setup something for you.

There isn’t a decoder currently but mission team may provide something later.

[fredy]

I’m downloading them to keep a copy, I’ll let you know when I’m done. Thank you again!

[pu4elt]

Many packets over Brazil (I have some IQ recordings and intend to make them available soon)