Apparently I used 7x50 binoculars. Here is the report: http://www.satobs.org/seesat/Jul-1999/0124.html GLOBALSTAR MO32 1378 x 1351 km 1 25851U 99037A 99191.43302173 -.00000107 00000-0 00000-0 0 14 2 25851 52.0103 315.9533 0017926 245.9263 114.0701 12.74308640 08 This is very close to the prelaunch elset provided. The Delta second stage was observed in binoculars just after 10:32 UT on 10 Jul 99. As it rose in elevation , I could see one fainter object on either side of the second stage. If the direction of motion is 12 o'clock, right from the satellite is 3 o'clock (southeast or to the lower left from my perspective). then the two sets of Globalstars were at about 2 and 8 o'clock. Since the objects were moving from the SSW to NE, they appeared almost parallel to the horizon from my vantage point. At 10:33:56 UT I noticed the burn. The burn was oriented to the NW or about 10 o'clock from the clock positioning I described. It was not very impressive. However, at about 10:34:30 UT I did notice a definite separation of the second stage to the SE away from the satellites. Times are plus or minus a second or so since I transcribed the times from a tape recorder. Several sources of error since I was not concerned with absolute time accuracy. After closing the shutter on the camera, I was unable to reacquire the satellites. No problem. I had wisely (for a change), created a second Skymap chart showing the depletion burn region. After finding the appropriate stars, I waited. On time at 10:41:27 UT the depletion burn started. This one was AWESOME. Soon after the burn started, I made a note that it was turning. I believe the initial plume direction was to the NE from my perspective or about 1 o'clock from its direction of motion perspective. At 10:41:56 UT it went between two target stars and I observed the plume easily with the naked eye. The size was not measured accurately but was perhaps two-three degrees in length. At 10:42:25 UT, the outgassing from the rocket was still visible although the main plume was now very faint. At 10:42:49 UT the outgassing continues and by 10:43:10 UT I felt it was over. During the time, my impression is that it corkscrewed perhaps one full turn. I suspect that the main plume was caused by the actual burn scheduled to last for seven seconds and that the remainder of the outgassing I saw was residual propellant/pressurant dumping. The elset I have show that the satellites were above (trajectory wise) the second stage during the depletion burn. The burn orientation would have been away from the satellite and in a direction to lower the perigee. I am curious if the poor showing of the evasive burn was because it was to the south (sun rising in the NE) while the depletion burn was "over" the rising sun? This would have been a great event to videotape. Does anyone here have details on a suitable videocamera that would record under these conditions? Ron Lee ___________________________________ Sent using PCI Broadband webmail _______________________________________________ Seesat-l mailing list http://mailman.satobs.org/mailman/listinfo/seesat-l
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