Lacrosse 4 elements from observations

From: Ted Molczan (molczan@home.com)
Date: Sun Aug 20 2000 - 09:40:33 PDT

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    I derived the following elements from observations by myself and Paul Gabriel,
    on 2000 Aug 20 from 09:49 to 11:26 UTC:
    
    Lacrosse 4      18.0  4.5  0.0  3.6 v
    1 26473U 00047A   00233.47013889  .00001500  00000-0  27904-3 0    05
    2 26473  68.0033  32.3325 0020000 224.4988 135.4731 14.64890720    06
    
    Prediction times should be accurate to well within 1 min over the next day or
    two. Nevertheless, observers would be prudent to allow a bit more of a margin
    for error.
    
    I allowed Elcor to adjust RAAN, mean anomaly and mean motion. I found the
    eccentricity and argument of perigee by trial and error.
    
    I chose to fit the orbit to my single point, and Paul's fourth point, which he
    judges to be his best. The result is in reasonable agreement with his other
    three points, plus three appulses that I timed.
    
    This orbit was closest to the parking orbit on 2000 Aug 19 at about 23:48 UTC,
    within line of sight visibility from Diego Garcia. This confirms the time and
    location I had predicted for the circularization manoeuvre, following the
    pattern of Lacrosses 2 and 3.
    
    Ted Molczan
    
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