Re: Orbital element archives, AMPTE

Jay Respler (jrespler@injersey.com)
Tue, 20 Feb 1996 00:32:33 -0500 (EST) 

On Mon, 19 Feb 1996, Allen Thomson wrote:
>    This is weird, even for Spacecom, which isn't known for rigor in 
> its maintenance of orbital elements (I blush for my country ;) ).  Here 
> is the "last five" download for 1984 88B from NASA Goddard, done today, 
> 19 Feb 1996:
> 
> Element set number = 1
> 1 15200U 84088B   85165.07498243 -.00000353 +00000-0 +10000-3 0 05776
> 2 15200 027.0326 344.5409 8932020 038.8095 018.6999 00.54276908001640
> Element set number = 2
> 1 15200U 84 88  B 85165.07494771 -.00000323  00000-0  99999-4 0  1709
> 2 15200  27.0326 344.5409 8932020  38.8095  18.6999  0.54276908  1640
> Element set number = 3
> 1 15200U 84 88  B 95165.07498243 -.00000323  00000 0  99999-4    5778  <-- !
> 2 15200  27.0326 344.5408 8932020  38.8095  18.6999  0.54276909  1640
> Element set number = 4
> 1 15200U 84088B   85165.07493614 -.00000428  00000-0  10000-3 0  3640
> 2 15200  27.0326 344.5409 8932020  38.8095  18.6999  0.54276908  1640
> Element set number = 5
> 1 15200U 84 88  B 85165.07495928 -.00000327  00000-0  00000+0 0   347
> 2 15200  27.0326 344.5409 8932020  38.8095  18.6999  0.54276908  1640
>    Objects in such highly elliptical orbits typically 
> experience strong lunar/solar perturbations which cause the 
> perigee to fluctuate significantly.  I'd guess IRM is long dead, 
> despite the "95165" epoch in the third element set.

I would think that 95 epoch is a misprint, since virtually all the other 
numbers, including the element # 164, are identical.


> (tkelso@afit.af.mil) of the Air University at Maxwell AFB in 
> Alabama is the person who seems best able to divine what is and 
> isn't possible at Spacecom, so I'd suggest asking him about a 
> Grand Archive project. 

He also has several past years of elements on  his Celestial BBS.

Joel Runes, whom we shall all miss, had elements in his Norad Cat.
Will anyone be able to carry on for him?

>    Finally, It might be worthwhile to ask the Russian Space 
> Forces about their orbital element archives -- they have a home 
> page linked to IKI's. 

Can you describe IKI?

Does someone have strong enough contacts with Russia to also get elements 
of US classified sats?  There's obviously no reason for  Russia to keep 
them secret. 

              JRespler@InJersey.com
Jay.Respler@bytewise.org        Voice 908-431-1464
  Satellite Tracker * Early Typewriter Collector
              Freehold, New Jersey