Re: ACCELERATION REPORT 9 April 96
Tristan Cools (tcools@nic.INbe.net)
Wed, 10 Apr 1996 23:03:35 +0200 (MET DST)
>88- 1 B = 18749
>This is an object from the group of Cosmos rockets with an inclination
>of 82.5 degrees. The PPAS shows that most of these satellites were S,
>in contrast with other groups of Cosmos rockets, for instance with
>74 degrees inclination.
Not quite true Kurt. This object isn't a Cosmos rocket but a Tsyklon rocket
and there is a significant difference between a Cosmos and a Tsyklon rocket.
According to the WSL table from Phillip Clark:
C1 Cosmos second stage: 4.205m/2.4m with a mass of 1.434kg empty.
F2 Tsyklon third stage: 2.2m/2.7m with a mass of 1.000kg empty.
The stubby appearance of the Tsyklon rocket could explain the small
amplitudes we are observing with such cylinders. Maybe those Tsyklon
objects are initially in a sort of tumble but we simply don't see those
flashes because of its stubbyness.
>One of the exceptions in this group is 91- 42 B that was flashing very
>fast at the beginning.
Yes, there are a few exceptions. I remember this one as a rapid flasher but
it also had a small amplitude. One other Tsyklon flasher(like this one) was
89-68B. It was in a higher orbit but flash-appearence was almost the same.
By the way, thanks for the acceleration reports, I hope to check some of
them real soon !
Tristan Cools
tcools@nic.INbe.net