From: Alfonse, of Orlando, Fla.
To: Kelly Beck, lead flight director

Question: What would happen if the shuttle's comms went down? Are there backups? Are there other ways for the shuttle to communicate to MCC?

Answer: Alfonse,

Great question! There are three sets of communications equipment, two S-band and one Ku-band, that are powered from different sources on the shuttle. It is very unlikely that we would lose all three systems. If we do, the crew could use a fourth system, which is primarily only used during ascent and post landing. This is a UHF system that can only communicate with the ground when over a very limited set of ground stations. We can coordinate the shuttle landing with this link. Thanks for the great question.

Steve Sides (Lead Instrumentation and Communications officer)