Re: Superbird A from SoCal

Robert Sheaffer (sheaffer@netcom.com)
Wed, 2 Oct 1996 08:13:28 -0700 (PDT)

Jim Varney
> 
> I think the axis is more or less in the plane of the orbit, and is pointing
> a little to the "left" of the sun to produce the 107.4 deg/2 = 53.7 deg
> angle of incidence I calculated earlier.  

So, in the future we can tell people: "look for flashes from Superbird A
when its sun angle is 53.7 degrees"? *This* is the kind of information
I was looking for.

> Well, we can rule out smaller area of panel.  According to AWST, Superbird
> has a wingspan (now is that a fitting metaphor or what?!) of a whopping
> 70 feet.  The body, judging by a photo with a worker standing next to it,
> is a cube 10 ft on a side.  I would put the solar panels on the order 
> of 10 sq m each.

No wonder it's so bright!

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