Chinese Spysat
jvarney@quiknet.com
Wed, 29 Nov 1995 01:29:50 -0500
The news carried a story today about a malfunctioning Chinese spy
satellite launched in October 1993 that the U.S. military is closely=20
tracking. The news item went to say that the spysat was designed=20
to be recovered after reentry, and has an estimated reentry date of=20
April 1996. The U.S., said the news, would very much like to=20
recover the satellite for intelligence reasons. The satellite,
though, is "expected to fall into the ocean."
A quick check of my files found Jianbing 93 was launched in October
1993. From the OIG BBS:
Satelite Situation Report
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INT-ID/Name CATALOG# SOURCE PERIOD INCL APOGEE PERIGEE RCS
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1993-063H 22870 PRC 97.9 56.5 1151 162 1.551
FSW-1 5 CAPSULE Launch Date 10/08/93
The latest set =3D=20
1 22870U 93063H 95332.17034033 .00285225 82416-5 18778-3 0 3193
2 22870 56.4583 109.1702 0612985 223.6296 131.4986 14.92607349 1999 =
=20
Personally, I found the news account rather misleading that this
object is "expected" to fall into the ocean. A more honest answer=20
would be: "we don't know yet where the satellite will fall, but since=20
most of the earth is water, don't worry about it." This thing could=20
very well end up in my back yard!
It should be fun to track the reentry of this capsule in the months
ahead.
[ I've moved! New e-mail address below ]
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Jim Varney | 121=F8 23' 54" W, 38=F8 27' 28" N | =
Sacramento, CA
Civil Engineer | Elev. 20 ft. |jvarney@quiknet.com
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