Re: After ZZ

Leo Barhorst (leobarhorst@pi.net)
Thu, 10 Oct 1996 15:20:44 +0200

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