Re: GFO/ORBCOMM Obs, 13 Feb 98
Ron Lee (ronlee@pcisys.net)
Fri, 13 Feb 1998 18:37:39 -0700
Those be the names on the elsets as I get them.
Thanks for the update on the correct name. Do I win a coffee mug
for being the first to see them (grovel grovel)?
Ron Lee
>
> Interesting to note Ron's categorization of objects associated with
> this week's Taurus launch.
>
> I asked my colleagues in Orbcomm's Flight Dynamics Group what objects
> were really there (noting Ron's 'Orbcomm deb?') note and the response
> was that there are five (5) objects:
>
> GFO
> Orbcomm sat G1 (FM3)
> Orbcomm sat G2 (FM4)
> 3rd stage of Taurus rocket.
> DPAF (adapter between GFO and Orbcomm)
>
> There is no Orbcomm debris!
>
> Eric
>
>
>
>______________________________ Reply Separator
_________________________________
>Subject: GFO/ORBCOMM Obs, 13 Feb 98
>Author: <SeeSat-L@cds.plasma.mpe-garching.mpg.de> at INTERNET
>Date: 13-02-98 06:08
>
>
>Set up the 8 inch telescope this morning for a nicely spaced in time,
>but close in position, pass of the 98-007 objects. Timing between
>them was 20-30 seconds and I only had to make a slight change in right
>ascension to get to the next viewing location.
>
>The pass, just east of Arcturus, was at 5:25 to 5:27 AM local
>or 12:25 UT. References to Name and number are from the elsets below:
>
>The first object, #25160, MAY have been fluctuating but I am uncertain
>of that.
>
>Second was #25159, an ORBCOMM. I mad a mental note that it WAS fluctating.
>Seems odd but that was my obs.
>
>Third was #25158, another ORBCOMM. This was different in that it was much
>brighter than all the other objects...possibly 5th magnitude while the
others
>were 7-8.
>
>The fourth and fifth objects, #25161, and #25157 (GFO), were steady and
>faint but easy to see.
>
>Ron Lee
>
>GFO 877 x 781 km
>1 25157U 98007A 98043.22204666 .00001658 00000-0 83749-3 0 92
>2 25157 107.9867 30.8304 0066621 185.7156 174.3213 14.18883248 246
>Orbcomm FM3 875 x 782 km
>1 25158U 98007B 98043.85617129 .00000559 00000-0 32121-3 0 80
>2 25158 107.9924 32.1066 0064901 184.8463 175.2089 14.19126064 328
>Orbcomm FM4 875 x 781 km
>1 25159U 98007C 98043.22160925 .00006853 00000-0 32505-2 0 87
>2 25159 107.9863 30.8344 0064580 185.3871 174.6549 14.19263287 230
>Celestis+Taurus r ? 873 x 782 km
>1 25160U 98007D 98043.78514440 -.00001647 00000-0 -70534-3 0 77
>2 25160 107.9871 31.9634 0063409 184.9644 175.0865 14.19466842 314
>Orbcomm deb ? 876 x 782 km
>1 25161U 98007E 98043.15140120 -.00004305 00000-0 -19560-2 0 142
>2 25161 107.9875 30.6911 0065373 185.5930 174.4516 14.19006958 224
>
>
>
>
>