Re: Paleo-SeeSaters (or: Sputnik-1 elset req.)
Eberst (eberst@cableinet.co.uk)
Thu, 28 Aug 1997 18:07:30 +0100
>Hi! This is my first posting, and I hope it's not off-topic:
>
>I'm trying to find the TLE's for the Sputnik 1 (or an approximation)
>during its first orbits.
>
Following data on Sputnik 1 taken from R.A.E. TABLE OF EARTH SATELLITES
EPOCH INCLINATION NODAL SEMI-MAJOR PERIGEE APOGEE ECCENTRICITY
ARG. OF
1957 DEGS. PERIOD AXIS HEIGHT HEIGHT
PERIGEE
mins km km km
deg
Oct 4.8 65.1 96.2 6955 215 939 0.052
58
Oct 25.8 65.1 95.4 6916 213 863 0.047
49
Dec 25.1 65.0 91.0 6702 190 458 0.020
23
No values of R.A. of ascending node are given.
It is unlikely that it would have been seen by the unaided eye. However it was
accompanied into orbit by its last stage rocket - quoted as being 28 metres
long,
which would have been very visible to the naked eye, and is therefore a likely
candidate for what the public remember as having seen. Also a month later
(1957 Nov. 3), Sputnik 2 was launched, remained attached to its last stage
rocket,
total 31 metres in length, and was clearly visible to the eye - first hand
(or eye)
evidence, since I saw it on 1958 Jan 22 thru to its demise in April.
On another topic, I am not happy with the identity given for the newly announced
81-70M object. This has been given the title "Delta 1 Deb" but I think this is
an error by someone who misinterpreted the title of 81-70A which is "DE 1 ".
However the "DE" is not short for Delta, but for Dynamics Explorer.
Therefore the correct title for 81-70M is "Dynamics Explorer 1 Deb".
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best wishes Russell Eberst @ North: 55 degrees, 56 minutes, 55 seconds
West: 3 degrees, 8 minutes, 18 seconds:
43metres (150 feet) above sea-level
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