Decay watch: Iridium 55 Delta rocket
Alan Pickup (alan@wingar.demon.co.uk)
Mon, 11 May 1998 00:03:49 +0100
Sorry for not keeping you posted regarding the imminent decay of this
Delta 2. The latest elset is:
Iridm 55 Delta r 5.9 2.4 0.0 5.6 d 223 x 144 km
1 25277U 98019F 98130.87616307 .04999006 -15423-5 24657-3 0 1255
2 25277 82.9778 298.2566 0059684 200.6952 160.0838 16.33400678 6550
I calculate that decay is just a few hours away at about May 11.49
(11:45 UTC +- 3h) near a northbound equator crossing due at May 11 11:39
near 106 deg W. The track takes it northwards in daylight across the USA
between longitudes 104 to 101 deg W, passing just E of Denver at 11:49
UTC.
Predicted elsets:
Iridm 55 Delta r 5.9 2.4 0.0 5.6 d 206 x 140 km
1 25277U 98019F 98131.05954229 .09903881 59584-1 33789-3 0 91251
2 25277 82.9767 298.0538 0049982 199.9277 159.8764 16.37287544 6581
Iridm 55 Delta r 5.9 2.4 0.0 5.6 d 186 x 137 km
1 25277U 98019F 98131.24268112 .15137894 15405+0 34892-3 0 91259
2 25277 82.9752 297.8501 0037894 199.1572 160.6999 16.41725948 6615
Iridm 55 Delta r 5.9 2.4 0.0 5.6 d 151 x 126 km
1 25277U 98019F 98131.42516014 .42076011 14803+1 39140-3 0 91252
2 25277 82.9726 297.6454 0019430 198.3830 161.5466 16.50323720 6649
Iridm 55 Delta r 5.9 2.4 0.0 5.6 d 112 x 105 km
1 25277U 98019F 98131.48566601 3.22525759 50000+2 81406-3 0 91256
2 25277 82.9711 297.5766 0005121 198.1231 161.8587 16.61809799 6658
The rocket enters eclipse in the Earth's shadow at about 62 deg S
latitude in the evening sky and leaves eclipse at 12 deg N latitude in
the morning sky.
Alan
--
Alan Pickup | COSPAR site 2707: 55d53m48.7s N 3d11m51.2s W 156m asl
Edinburgh | Home: alan@wingar.demon.co.uk +44 (0)131 477 9144
Scotland | SatEvo satellite page: http://www.wingar.demon.co.uk/satevo/