RE: Orion 3 / Delta 3 elset
Ted Molczan (molczan@home.com)
Wed, 5 May 1999 11:18:40 -0400
> We may not
> find out what
> really happened but I wonder if the orientation was wrong.
I see no indication of that. I believe the orbit is solely the result of the
2nd stage's failure to perform its second burn.
> The increased
> inclination is the first reason for that.
The actual 29.5 deg inclination is consistent with the planned parking orbit
after SECO-1, per the ILAM:
http://www.isi-consulting.com/tech/orion3.html
> The changed RAAN
> may just be
> an error in my prelaunch elset.
I agree. The actual RAAN is coplanar with the launch site at lift-off, as
expected, so there is no evidence of a significant out of plane burn. I note
that the RAAN in the ILAM also is erroneous. Perhaps someone forgot to
adjust it after the many launch delays.
Ted Molczan