Re: Question about visibility of Falcon 9 and Dragon

From: Paul Floyd (p.n.floyd@gmail.com)
Date: Sat Jun 05 2010 - 02:15:27 UTC

  • Next message: Ted Molczan: "RE: Question about visibility of Falcon 9 and Dragon"

    Is anyone able to let me know if Falcon 9 would have been visible from
    Eastern Australia this morning.
    
    I have put a brief post on my blog about it and I would like to add
    this information if possible. http://nightskyonline.info/?p=524
    
    Regards,
    
    Paul Floyd.
    
    
    
    
    On Sat, Jun 5, 2010 at 11:27 AM, Greg Hammond <ham0@optusnet.com.au> wrote:
    > http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/06/05/2919095.htm?section=justin
    >
    > It looks like Dragon/Falcon 9 may be responsible for these 'UFO' sightings.
    >
    > Greg, Sydney Australia
    >
    > ----- Original Message -----
    > From: "Ted Molczan" <ssl3molcz@rogers.com>
    > To: <SeeSat-L@satobs.org>
    > Sent: Saturday, June 05, 2010 7:38 AM
    > Subject: RE: Question about visibility of Falcon 9 and Dragon
    >
    >
    >> Joe Rao asked:
    >>
    >>> I just received this from my editor at SPACE.com.  Can
    >>> anybody  provide an answer that I can relay back to him?
    >>> -- joe  rao
    >>>
    >>> QUESTION:  SpaceX just stunned me by launching Falcon 9 and
    >>> Dragon  mkockup today. The Dragon capsule mockup is going to
    >>> stay in orbit for up to 1 year before burning up on re-entry.
    >>
    >> Seems unlikely, unless it has a very high areal density. Will be able to
    >> estimate once elsets with reliable decay rates appear.
    >>
    >>> I'm just wondering if you had any idea if people can try and
    >>> see it in space at all or not. Supposedly it's at 250 km, not
    >>> sure of launch trajectory or inclination.
    >>
    >> The first TLE of 10026A / 36595 has appeared on Space Track. Orbit is 34.5
    >> deg, 239 km X 280 km.
    >>
    >> A quick check of current visibility north of the equator, reveals the tail
    >> end of evening visibility at latitudes south of about 30 N; no visibility
    >> further north. Morning window opens in a couple of weeks. South of the
    >> equator, around 35 S, has tail end (several days) of morning visibility.
    >>
    >> Ted Molczan
    >>
    >> _______________________________________________
    >> Seesat-l mailing list
    >> http://mailman.satobs.org/mailman/listinfo/seesat-l
    >
    > _______________________________________________
    > Seesat-l mailing list
    > http://mailman.satobs.org/mailman/listinfo/seesat-l
    >
    _______________________________________________
    Seesat-l mailing list
    http://mailman.satobs.org/mailman/listinfo/seesat-l
    



    This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Sat Jun 05 2010 - 02:16:07 UTC