Re: Dogleg in T-4B launch?
Björn Gimle (b_gimle@algonet.se)
Mon, 24 May 1999 11:24:58 +0200
Allen Thomson <thomsona@flash.net> wrote:
> This is quite preliminary, based on some graph-paper and protractor work
> with the NOTAM, and I'm not sure it actually happened. But it seems as if
> the T-4 launch out of Vandenberg this weekend may have taken a left (east)
> turn of something like ten degrees as it passed ca. 30 degrees north
> latitude.
>
A ten-degree-turn from 167 to 157 degrees would put it towards a 67-degree orbit, with RAAN only 0.7 degrees lower than previously suggested - hardly a reason for missing it.
If it could be launched to az. 154 and turn to 144, it would get the Lacrosse 3 inclination of 57 degrees. This would be in a plane just 12 degrees West of Lacrosse 3 ! Replacement ?
Lacrosse 4(3)
1 99144U 99144A 99138.01054485 .00000450 00000-0 80476-4 0 09
2 99144 57.0100 123.8489 0005000 135.7946 242.2053 14.66555263 09
As reported here by someone, the positions ov L2 and L3 at launch are interesting.
Both passed close southbound a minute earlier.
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