Barry Pinson wrote: > > Rob Matson wrote: > > > > Subject: Time: 13:46 > > OFFICE MEMO After ZZ Date: 96/10/09 > > > > Actually, they have 3 spaces reserved for letters, so after ZZ they'll go to > > AAA, AAB, etc. Probably the first time they've ever had to! > > Actually, it has been done...for the Westford Needles project Scanning my satellite data base I have to disagree with Barry. The Westford Needles were only catalogued to FJ. There could have been more in orbit, but the never get catalogued. My database up to date to NORADnumber 23700. Still have to update it from 96 17 A onwards. Beside a lot of fragmentation that is catalogued to B. C. or D., there are also quite a few with a bigger population. Last fragment Name catalogued 61 15 MM Ablestar rocket 63 14 FJ Westford Needles 65 12 FZ Cosmos 57 65 20 FF Cosmos 61 65 82 UQ Transtage 6 68 97 EV Cosmos 252 69 82 LF Timation 2 70 25 QP Nimbus 4 rocket 72 58 JL Landsat 1 2nd stage 73 21 HE Cosmos 554 73 86 HF NOAA 3 2nd stage 74 89 FG NOAA 4 2nd stage 75 04 HR Landsat 2 2nd stage 75 52 JZ Nimbus 6 2nd stage 76 72 KJ Cosmos 844 76 77 FR NOAA 5 2nd stage 78 26 HT Landsat 3 2nd stage 79 17 LZ Solwind (Blown up in F15 ASAT test) 81 53 MU Cosmos 1275 82 33 HJ Salyut 7 83 44 FQ Cosmos 1461 86 17 LF MIR 86 19 VM Ariane 1-11 3rd stage 87 04 HC Cosmos 1813 92 93 JH Cosmos 2227 So 86 19 was the recordholder and now surpassed by 94 29. The reason that there are so few big fragmentations in the last years is due to the fact that most of the times the excess fuel in the spent rocketstages is vented out or buned up to prevent explosions. No more small debris is then added to the already big debrispopulation. Greetings, Leo Barhorst Alkmaar The Netherlands 52.6333 North 4.7833 East 3 m ASL Member of Seesat-L ------------------------------------------------------------ Every day I wonder about the things I see in the (night)sky