re: TLE questions
Philip Chien (kc4yer@amsat.org)
Wed, 19 Mar 1997 10:59:26 -0500
"ROB MATSON" <ROBERT.D.MATSON@cpmx.saic.com>
>
>To anyone who might know, I'm curious about the following entry in EL970308:
>
>1996-064A
>1 24656U 96064 A 96321.91676931 .00629804 15893-4 10000-3 0 164
>2 24656 51.7378 17.3247 0447172 173.4923 162.4622 17.47029567 16
>
>Obviously this object, which based on the inclination appears to have been
>associated with Mir (a Progress or Soyuz), is no longer in orbit. But I'm
>curious about the high mean motion, and also why it's still retained after
>more than 3 months.
Actually it's the Mars 96 probe/upper stage!
> WEEKLY SATELLITE SITUATION REPORT
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> Date: November 21, 1996
>
> Period: November 14 through November 20
>
>
> Newly Cataloged Objects
>
>
>INTERNATIONAL CATALOG OBJECT LAUNCH PERIOD INCLI- APOGEE PERIGEE
>IDENTIFIER NAME NUMBER SOURCE DATE MINS. NATION KM KM
>
>1996 064A MARS 96 24656 CIS 16 NOV 86.8 51.4 121 114
obviously the reason it was in such a low orbit is that it didn't stay in
space too long since the upper stage failed.
Given the date it's probably a legitimate element set for one of the final
orbits before its reentry. But I haven't the faintest idea why it would
still be listed in any current the element sets.
Philip Chien [M1959.05.31/31.145//KC4YER@amsat.org]