Example Observation of a Geostationary Satellite

This GNU Radio flowgraph processes recorded data from the Allen Telescope Array (ATA) to display the radio transmissions from a WGS-F6(Wideband Global SATCOM) geostationary satellite. The flowgraph captures the raw data, filters it to isolate the satellite’s specific frequency band, and outputs a plot showing distinct peaks and blocks representing the satellite’s communications. The sharp, narrowband peaks correspond to telemetry signals, while the wider blocks represent broader communication channels used for data transmission. Narrowband signals like these are crucial for identifying artificial transmissions and are key in both satellite communications and SETI efforts, as they help distinguish between natural and intentional signals. The ability to detect and analyze these transmissions is essential for understanding how communication systems like WGS operate and for searching for potential extraterrestrial intelligence.