NROL-37 is scheduled for launch from CCAFS on a Delta-IV-Heavy, on 2016 June 09. The launch period is from 17:30 to 22:30 UTC. Lift-off is scheduled for 17:59 UTC. http://spaceflightnow.com/2016/06/08/d374_journal/ The launch azimuth indicates a GEO mission, which for an NRO heavy-lift launch, means the second stage will perform three burns to place the payload directly into an inclined GEO orbit. The payload probably is Mentor 7 (aka Advanced Orion 7). Below are estimated orbital elements, based on an on-time launch. Epoch corresponds to the approximate end of a burn. SECO 1 190 X 244 km 1 77799U 77799A 16161.75819212 .00656932 00000-0 21234-3 0 07 2 77799 28.7000 350.7368 0040859 90.0000 38.0000 16.22456322 09 SECO 2 212 X 35809 km 1 77799U 77799A 16161.76697919 .00000000 00000-0 00000-0 0 00 2 77799 26.5000 350.6682 7298000 180.0000 0.0000 2.28000000 01 SECO 3 35746 X 35830 km 1 77799U 77799A 16161.98567123 .00000000 00000-0 00000-0 0 07 2 77799 5.0000 350.5864 0010000 180.1373 179.8600 1.00270000 02 Allow for cross-track errors of at least several degrees, and time errors of several minutes. The longitude at insertion into GEO will be close to 96 E. Contrary to the SECO 3 TLE, the mean motion is likely to be somewhat more or less than synchronous, depending whether the planned destination is east or west of 96 E. Inclination in GEO could be between about 3 and 7 deg. Estimated standard visual magnitude in LEO and GTO is 4 +/-2 (1000 km range, 90 deg phase angle). Once fully deployed in GEO, the payload will typically be near magnitude 8. The Delta IV 5m 2nd stage typically reaches mag 9 to 12 at GEO range. Ted Molczan _______________________________________________ Seesat-l mailing list http://mailman.satobs.org/mailman/listinfo/seesat-lReceived on Tue Jun 07 2016 - 19:51:59 UTC
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