At 7:32 PM -0400 10/24/98, Philip Chien wrote: >The launch was the 61st of the 1998 calendar year, hence Deep Space 1 is >1998 61A. Based on the two element sets I received Sedsat is the *C* >object since it was deployed in the forward direction. > >Deep Space 1 Rocket Body (Delta 2nd stage) >1 25509U 98061B 98297.62368702 .00000531 00000-0 10000-3 0 22 >2 25509 31.4542 34.5533 0364397 250.7872 105.2982 14.23437438 15 >Sedsat (SO-33) >1 25510U 98061C 98297.62362948 .00000565 00000-0 10000-3 0 16 >2 25510 31.4549 34.5507 0374007 250.8775 105.0980 14.24557218 13 I am somewhat confused by the identified element sets which USSPACEOM is now distributing - DELTA 2 R/B(1) 1 25510U 98061C 98297.83386602 .00000564 00000-0 10000-3 0 22 2 25510 31.4472 33.3731 0373776 252.5693 103.3706 14.24490847 48 SEDSAT-1 1 25509U 98061B 98297.76392310 .00000546 00000-0 10000-3 0 36 2 25509 31.4430 33.7710 0370167 252.0548 104.0418 14.23717857 35 These elements identify object 25509 (1998 61B) as Sedsat, not 25510 as I previously determined based on the elements. It's not likely that USSPACECOM's radars could not differentiate between the fairly large Delta 2nd stage and the very tiny Sedsat so I have to conclude that these elements and object numbers are correct. The difference in drag between the two objects is significant so they'll move apart gradually over the next several days with the upper stage 'pulling ahead'. I'm at a loss as to why the Delta 2nd stage was ahead of Sedsat in the initial element set. It's possible that there was a minor glitch in the determination of the actual orbits, and possible - although highly unlikely - that the objects were initially misidentified and mixed up. In any case these latest elements come from "the source" and should be used to track Sedsat - or to try to view the upper stage. Philip Chien, KC4YER Earth News world (in)famous writer, science fiction fan, ham radio operator, all-around nice guy, etc.