From: utzoo!decvax!harpo!zeppo!wheps!eagle!karn
Newsgroups: net.columbia
Title: 900 number
Article-I.D.: eagle.395
Posted: Fri Jun 25 02:43:16 1982
Received: Mon Jun 28 03:50:53 1982

The correct "dial-it" number for the shuttle missions is
900-410-6272.  (This is different from an earlier message, but I
experimented with different numbers during the last mission and the
last digit didn't seem to matter).

The service is, by default, a recording containing a status report
which repeats indefinitely until updated.  Whenever there is
activity on the communications channels, a voice-actuated switch
turns off the recording and turns on the real-time audio.  When they
stop talking, a long-time-constant switch gradually brings back
the recording.

There are large fractions of the orbit during which the shuttle is
not in view of a ground command station; also, the astronauts DO
sleep occasionally, so there can be long periods of just the
recorded message.

I find the service quite useful for verifying an orbit model
(which I also use to pick good times to call), and for just listening to
the conversations without the trigger-happy news reporters talking
on top of them.

Phil Karn
Bell Labs, Murray Hill