Science: Practice Moon Waves

Both of the Sputniks have long been radio-silent, but after Jan. 14 radio hams will have another space broadcasting station to tune in on: the old reliable moon itself. The Army Signal Corps announced last week that it will bounce radio waves off the moon on even-numbered nights when the moon is around. The signals will be on the same frequency, 108 megacycles, that will be used by U.S. satellites-to-come, and they will come down from space in about the same way. So while the hams and the official tracking stations are waiting for another beeping satellite, they can keep their equipment space-worthy by training it on the moon.