Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Breaker, breaker - Mars lander exclusive

We are about to become nationally famous (again) - heck, maybe even international! Brent, Than, Collin and I are preparing for a HAM radio licensing test, and during a session at the local radio club "shack" we got in on an unexpected transmission. Here's a condensed version:
"Uh, guys, this is an unexpected transmission..."
"Where is it transmitting from? What's the frequency?"
"Well, it's at 2341 MHz - listen, do you copy that?"
static - more static -
"It's a breaker, sounds like - yah, sounds like the space station!"
"No, no, listen - it's the MARS LANDER!!"
"Wow, get the slow wave screen up, maybe we can get some pictures!"
"HOLY MARS LANDER, gang! LOOK AT THIS!!!!"
(electronic voice transmission: "yaw 12, pitch 1.2, skin temperature increasing...static...solar flares...static...")
"The pictures are fuzzy, but that looks like the surface of Mars - someone call NASA, they gotta know about this..."


(electronic voice:..."...approaching surface at 148 miles elevation, sunrise....")
(electronic voice..."...speed decreasing...static....sunset....130 miles elevation...tempe....static..")
(electronic voice:..."landing coordinates...static...13 miles...64 lat...static...")
"Wait, guys, the focus is finally improving...yah, it's looking like....what IS that?"

"Um, guys, I think we intercepted the Intercranial Mosquito Implant Transmission, it's definately NOT the Mars Lander...."

"Well, it COULD have been Mars..."
Sunburn 2008 - final stages, following extensive topical treatments and 4 days of painful sleep.
By the way, we have just learned about MHz. Mega hertz. Collin concurs. Mega hurts.
There's gotta be an easier way to remember that radio terminology.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Now that was reallllly creepy!!!!

Love ya,

Lucy

The Farrs said...

Aren't you just hilarious! :)