Globalstar & Iridium Prelaunch Elsets

Ron Lee (ronlee@pcisys.net)
Wed, 04 Feb 1998 21:00:23 -0700

Globalstar is as follows for a launch at 13:22 UT on 5 Feb 98

Globalstar, Delta, 13:22 UT, 5 Feb 98
1 90909U 98-0xx A 98036.55694444  .00000500  00000-0  00000-0 0    11
2 90909  52.0000 232.0000 0001001 180.0000 210.0000 13.05000000    17

This is my best guess from available web site info on the launch so I 
cannot guarantee its accuracy.  I assumed a northerly launch trajectory
since going south would be over Cuba, which is against international
treaties concerning sugar cane protection   :)

Since the launch window is one hour long, the adjustments are as follows:

a)  For each minute delay, add 0.00069444 to the epoch (98036.55694444)
    This is 1/1440

b)  Add 0.25 to the right ascension (232.0000)

As always, if I am incorrect on these adjustments, someone please correct me.


Iridium is to be launched around 7 Feb, but no launch time has been given.
It should be easy to determine from the previous deltas for a one day slip,
but I will wait until the formal announcement is made.   Will also check
the apparent discrepancy that slipped into a previous posting.

Ron Lee