Hello everybody, I have been trying to access the links to Seesat archives provided by Ted but I find myself blocked by "Apache". When I google the archives or main website, for Seesat, I also receive an "access denied by Apache". Is something wrong? Gordon ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ted Molczan" <ssl2molcz@rogers.com> To: <seesat-l@satobs.org> Sent: Monday, December 31, 2007 7:31 PM Subject: RE: USA 144 debris > Gordon wrote: > > > I recently observed 1999-028C with the unaided eye. > > Calsky informs me that it is debris from USA 144 with a > > magnitude of 4.8 and an orbit 2680kmx3140km. To be visible at > > all this must be quite a piece of debris! > > It is an unusual object. Until 2002, it was generally believed to be the > payload, mainly due to its brightness, and so we used to call it 99028A. > > There were a couple of problems with the theory that it was the payload. It > rotated slowly, and it exhibited apparent orbital drag that was about 10 times > greater than expected for a payload at its altitude. > > In 2002, a re-analysis of our large collection of hobbyist observations revealed > that the apparent drag was due to solar radiation pressure, which led to the > conclusion that the object was debris-like, as posted here: > > http://satobs.org/seesat/Aug-2002/0045.html > > In a follow-up message I speculated that the object could be a decoy, intended > to draw attention away from the deployment of the actual payload, which now is > generally believed to be the second Misty stealth imaging reconnaissance > satellite, probably in a quasi 65 deg, 700 - 800 km orbit: > > http://satobs.org/seesat/Aug-2002/0075.html > > In recognition that the object in question cannot be the payload, we eventually > changed our designation for it to 99028C. > > > > Can anyone tell me what it is and how large it is? > > Some of us believe the decoy theory; others prefer the debris theory; at this > time there is no way to be certain which theory is correct. > > I estimate that it is about 5 m across, with a mass of perhaps a few hundred > kilograms. > > > Is there an on-line catalogue of debris, with descriptions? > > Jonathan McDowell maintains an excellent catalogue of all objects ever launched > into orbit, which identifies many pieces of debris cast off during the launch > and deployment of satellites, as well as those resulting from fragmentations: > > http://www.planet4589.org/space/log/launchlog.txt > > Ted Molczan > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- --- > Subscribe/Unsubscribe info, Frequently Asked Questions, SeeSat-L archive: > http://www.satobs.org/seesat/seesatindex.html ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe/Unsubscribe info, Frequently Asked Questions, SeeSat-L archive: http://www.satobs.org/seesat/seesatindex.html
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