Re: Okay here's a weird one ...
Phillip Clark (psclark@dircon.co.uk)
Tue, 13 Apr 1999 10:26:55 +0100 (BST)
On Tue, 13 Apr 1999, Philip Chien wrote:
> >From OIG tonight -
> 1999-017A 25669 USA 142 US 1999/04/09
> 1999-017B 25670 TITAN 4 R/B US 1999/04/09
> 1999-017C 25671 IUS (1) US 1999/04/09
> 1999-018A 25673 EUTELSAT W3 EUTE 1999/04/12
> 1999-018B 25674 ATLAS 2A CENTAUR R/B US 1999/04/12
> note that object number 25672 is unlisted. Apparently they're still saving
> it for the IUS (2) stage from the DSP launch??
I had assumed that USSPACECOM knew that DSP had separated from the IUS
assembly but did not know the precise orbit that it was in. They were
tracking the Titan-4B second stage and IUS stage 1 which were in their
planned orbits but they had yet to find IUS stage 2. If something has
misbehaved then it can take time to find payloads and rockets - and the
higher the orbit actually attained the more difficult it will be. Plus,
of course, objects in geosynch orbit or at that altitude are tracked by
photographic means, not radar means, and that might be somewhat slower.
So, for me, the jury is still out as to whether IUS stage 2 is attached
to stage 1, in GTO, in a near GEO or doing a quick fly-by of Pluto
(admittedly the latter is the most unlikely).
Of course, USSPACECOM is not supposed to reserve catalogue numbers for
objects which have not been tracked, even though they do so sometimes.
Phillip Clark
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Phillip S Clark 25 Redfern Avenue
Molniya Space Consultancy Whitton
Compiler/Publisher, Worldwide Satellite Launches Middx TW4 5NA
U.K.
Specialist in "space archeology" - the older and more obscure the more
interesting it is !
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