Updated elements of NOSS 3-4

From: Ted Molczan (ssl2molcz@rogers.com)
Date: Sun Feb 17 2008 - 17:26:32 UTC

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    I have updated the elements using recent observations by Tony Beresford, David
    Brierley and Peter Wakelin.
    
    NOSS 3-4 (A)     0.0  0.0  0.0  4.9 v
    1 31701U 07027A   08048.24657984  .00000012  00000-0  20000-4 0    05
    2 31701  63.4064 124.7179 0127516 147.4510 213.4458 13.41267325    03
    Arc 2008 Feb 13.16 - 17.27, WRMS residuals = 0.012 deg
    
    NOSS 3-4 (C)     0.0  0.0  0.0  4.9 v
    1 31708U 07027C   08048.24670245  .00000012  00000-0  20000-4 0    07
    2 31708  63.4052 124.9222 0126257 146.8812 214.0199 13.41291491    07
    Arc 2008 Feb 16.22 - 17.27, WRMS residuals = 0.017 deg
    
    The arc is short; therefore, the elements may still be a bit rough, despite the
    low residuals.
    
    At the epoch, C trailed A by 10.5 s at the ascending node, and was closing at
    the rate of about 0.116 s/rev; therefore, the observed nominal separation for
    3rd generation NOSS, about 8 s, should be achieved within roughly 22.4 revs,
    late on day 08049 = February 18 UTC. Eventually, the pair will manoeuvre to
    synchronize their mean motion to that of the other operational NOSS groups,
    currently about 13.40515 rev/d.
    
    The NOSS 3-4 pair have nearly completed their manoeuvres to compensate for the
    under-burn of the Centaur upper stage that inserted them into too low an orbit,
    during launch on 2007 June 15 UTC.
    
    Over the past 7 months, both spacecraft have made in excess of 50 corrective
    manoeuvres. Here is a plot of their manoeuvre history, expressed as the
    percentage of completion of the approximate required altitude-raising:
    
    http://www.satobs.org/seesat_ref/NOSS_3-4/NOSS_3-4_altitude_progress_3.pdf
    
    Additional information on the NOSS satellites is available here:
    
    http://www.satobs.org/noss.html
    
    Ted Molczan
    
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