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
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