When did the Space Shuttle often experience a communications blackout? Did NASA do anything about it?

Question

If there is a reliable source, can you please list it? no wikipedia, please.

Answer 1

LOS - Loss of Signal - Very common occurance in the space program. It occurs when the capsule (shuttle) cannot receive radio communication from ground control. Apollo flights behind the moon and every re entry. Obviously the moon blocks the radio signal and Apollo 8 was tedious since it would be the first time that humans were both out of sight and sound of earth. The early Mercury flights were tedious during re entry, as well as Gemini, Apollo and Shuttle. As the spacecraft re enters the atmosphere, it heats up, and ionizes tha air around it. This ionization sets up a temporary "Faraday Cage". (Same effect that stops radio signals in a metal building and protects you from lightning in your car) AOS (acquisition of Signal) returns after this phase passes.

Answer 2

Well, aside from normal technical difficulties, when the space vehicle (which ever one you are talking about) goes through the fringe of space there is usually a Com Blackout due to RF Noise from super heating of the vehicle by the Earth's atmosphere in re-entry. Then there are the periods when the space vehicle is behind the Moon if you are talking about the lunar expeditions. Space communications utilize microwave radio frequencies which are more or less line of sight in usage and capability. There are no ozone layers and F2 layers in space to create "skip" such as one might encounter on the HF and VHF frequencies. So, when the mass of the Moon came between the sending antenna and receiving antennas, communications were lost.

Answer 3

This is a space trivia question... I'm still workin on it

Answer 4

during re-entry into the earth's atmosphere.