Decay watch: August 31
Alan Pickup (alan@wingar.demon.co.uk)
Tue, 31 Aug 1999 08:16:56 +0100
I have just updated my Decay Watch page at
http://www.wingar.demon.co.uk/satevo/dkwatch/
with a prediction for #25761, the Raduga 104 aux motor, for which
SpaceCom has issued the first decay warning. I show decay at September 1
20:14 UTC +-15h, although SpaceCom has it 12 hours later. This object
was not even on my latest SatEvo decay list, the drag having increased
very sharply in the past few days as a result of the perigee being
forced lower - something I had not anticipated. I believe that this may
be observable in the evening from mid-northern latitudes as it moves
ESE-wards towards eclipse at about 20h local time near 40 deg N. The
prediction is very uncertain, though.
Alan
--
Alan Pickup | COSPAR 2707: 55d53m48.7s N 3d11m51.2s W 156m asl
Edinburgh | Tel: +44 (0)131 477 9144 Fax: +44 (0)870 0520750
Scotland | SatEvo page: http://www.wingar.demon.co.uk/satevo/