Re: Beginners Question

jbarker@arinc.com
Mon, 10 Feb 1997 14:11:35 -0500 

     Good question.  (And one that's hard to research before going online.)
     
     The number 20625 is the satellite number assigned by the United States 
     Space Command to enter an object in its Space Catalog.  The numbers 
     are assigned sequentially for each object placed into orbit.  
     Sometimes the number is followed by a "U" indicating that the 
     accompanying orbital parameters (TLE) are unclassified.  
     
     The other way to reference a particular satellite is by it's 
     International Designator assigned by the UN when the launch is 
     registered.  The International Designator for USSPACECOM #20625 is:
     
     COSMOS 2082 R/B         
     1 20625U 90046B   96181.59049082 -.00000322  00000-0 -14525-3 0  9906
     2 20625  70.9948  11.3358 0016522 218.0791 141.9150 14.13693466315192
     
     The first two numbers of the International Designator "90046B" 
     indicate the year of the launch and 046 indicates the 46th space 
     launch registered in 1990.  90046A was the COSMOS 2082 satellite.  
     COSMOS 2082 R/B refers to the rocket body that put COSMOS 2082 into 
     orbit.
     
     Below is an example of three satellites being placed into orbit by 
     one rocket.  Note that the USSPACECOM number increments by +1 and the 
     UN International designator uses 90045 followed by an "A", "B", and 
     "C" to designate each of the satellites.
     Glonass 44              
     1 20619U 90045A   96025.01722855 -.00000060  00000-0  10000-3 0  2655 
     2 20619  65.2318 328.8856 0026577 204.6094 155.2712  2.13102382 44235 
     Glonass 45              
     1 20620U 90045B   96024.19738023 -.00000057  00000-0  10000-3 0  2633 
     2 20620  65.2231 328.9090 0007967  44.8202 315.2510  2.13102480 44254 
     Glonass 46              
     1 20621U 90045C   96022.85682061 -.00000055  00000-0  10000-3 0  8527 
     2 20621  65.2462 329.0101 0012859 198.5265 161.4392  2.13101743 44225
     
     Most TLE lists show both the USSPACECOM number and the International 
     Designator along with the name, but that is not true of all.  Off 
     hand, I do not know of an available database that cross references the 
     two other than by looking at a complete TLE list that shows both.
     Maybe someone else in SEESAT knows of such a database.
     
     Jeff Barker
     Leavenworth, Kansas     Lat: 35N
                             Long: 95W
     
     
______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: Beginners Question
Author:  "Michael Riches" <mikey@dove.mtx.net.au> at SMTPGATE 
Date:    2/9/97 7:50 AM
     
     
Hi there.
     
Being new to this list I have a short question
     
I have found a site that gives me predictions for visual satellites I may 
observe from my location in Adelaide, South Australia.  But it identifies 
the satellites by a number, eg #20625.
     
Could someone tell me what this number is, and if there is a site or 
software that will detail what the corresponding satellite is and its 
function.
     
Thanks for your time.
     
Regards
     
Michael Riches