SCANNER RADIOS CAN PICK UP SHUTTLE TALK

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- Even if you're not an amateur radio operator, those with programmable scanner radios can listen in today as the crew of space shuttle Atlantis talks to school children in the United States from 280 miles in space.

Chuck Sommers of the Goddard Amateur Radio Club, at the Goddard Space Flight Center, in Greenbelt, Md., said Atlantis will make two passes today over the central United States when its amateur radio transmissions can be copied in the Cape Girardeau area.

Sommers said the best "window" to hear Atlantis on the ham radio band will be from 9:30-9:49 a.m. CDT today. The second window of communication will be from 11:53 a.m.-12:21 p.m. CDT today.

Sommers said most programmable scanners sold today are capable of tuning in the ham radio frequencies Atlantis is using.

If you want to listen to Atlantis, tune your scanner to either 145.55 MHz or 145.59 MHz. Sommers said the best reception from Atlantis will be with a base station antenna.