Plots of the difference between predicted and measured down link frequency show the quality of the orbit prediction. The plots of the RMS during two second fits to the down link phase residuals measure the stability of the link. A history of tracking passes performed at Green Bank is given. The image on the left is the ground-only image of the radio source. The bright white component in the center of the image is due to material falling onto a giant black hole at the center of the object.
Magnetic fields surrounding the black hole accellerate the particles into a narrow jet.
The strong radio source 1334-127 was observed. Doppler Data Exchange Measurement of the range rate to the Surfsat transponder. At higher frequencies the stability of the space to ground link is more throughly tested. In collaboration with the NRAO VLBA and Engineers at JPL, the first Surfsat VLBI experiment was performed in 96 May. In this test, the NRAO GB 140' Telescope was used in its normal VLBI mode, but with the maser timing reference signal being transmitted the Surfsat Transponder.