Re: Decay of 96- 60 C (Molniya Platform)

Alan Pickup (alan@wingar.demon.co.uk)
Mon, 25 Nov 1996 21:10:43 +0000

The latest OIG elset for this object is:
Molniya-3 Platform                               252 x 156
1 24642U 96060C   96330.49201672  .04814803  84726-5  71218-3 0   893
2 24642  62.7885  35.2705 0072618 115.8412 245.0248 16.25698605  5068

This indicates that it was running 20.8 seconds early with respect to
the SatEvo evolution I posted yesterday. The pattern of recent residuals
and the larger than expected drag term are consistent with an increase
in atmospheric density. The latter, in turn, is in line with elevated
geomagnetic activity yesterday, after six days of declining g.a. (and
slipping decay time).

My latest evolution leads to decay at about November 26.67 (around 16.00
UT). Final SatEvo predicted elsets:
Molniya-3 Platform                               222 x 152
1 24642U 96060C   96331.04455126  .07154397  27237-1  61555-3 0 90890
2 24642  62.7864  33.0068 0053130 115.9540 244.5940 16.32010251  5150
Molniya-3 Platform                               209 x 150
1 24642U 96060C   96331.22819282  .09178428  49827-1  58731-3 0 90891
2 24642  62.7855  32.2493 0044814 115.9919 244.4696 16.34971573  5187
Molniya-3 Platform                               191 x 146
1 24642U 96060C   96331.41144584  .13617333  12686+0  55478-3 0 90892
2 24642  62.7843  31.4896 0034577 116.0299 244.3258 16.39018873  5217
Molniya-3 Platform                               162 x 136
1 24642U 96060C   96331.59409891  .32790556  10324+1  53168-3 0 90898
2 24642  62.7818  30.7266 0019628 116.0681 244.1340 16.46363666  5241
Molniya-3 Platform                               140 x 126
1 24642U 96060C   96331.65472761  .84866221  99601+1  62587-3 0 90891
2 24642  62.7801  30.4709 0010754 116.0810 244.0297 16.52365898  5254

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
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