John Locker wrote: > Hi Ted...... and list. > > As Ted has found in the past , sometimes the mission patch can reveal > some info... > > Have a look at... > > http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/satcom_transits/B26patches.jpg > > especially the one on the right. > > Are those just random stars , or do they hint at the satellite > constellations. Very interesting indeed, John! The three bright stars on the right could be symbolic of the three KeyHoles already in orbit. The one immediately to the right of the rocket would be USA 129 (96072A / 24680), in the standard western KH plane. The next one further right would be USA 161 (01044A / 26934), in the standard eastern KH plane. The one on the farthest right would be USA 116 (95066A / 23728), which had been in the eastern plane until replaced by USA 161, and which now is in a retirement orbit, not far to the east of USA 161. The lone bright star to the left could be Misty 2 (99028A / 25744). Unlike the KHs, its orbit is not sun-synchronous, so its plane moves in relation to the others, so it makes sense to draw it far away from them. Then there is the rocket's fairing. The bottom of the fairing's boat tail appears to be 134 pixels from the top of the image. The top of the cone appears to be 75 pixels from the top, for a length of 59 pixels. The width of the fairing is about 20 pixels. Given the fairing's known standard 16.67 ft diameter, the height = 59 / 20 * 16.67 = 49 ft. That is close to the announced 48 ft, which to me suggests a Misty. As a reality check, if the fairing was to have been 66 ft, as used for the previous KH, USA 161, then the top of the cone should have been 55 pixels from the top, which is a bit higher than the hyphen in the "T-IV" caption above the rocket. Let's see what the photographs reveal. Ted Molczan ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe/Unsubscribe info, Frequently Asked Questions, SeeSat-L archive: http://www.satobs.org/seesat/seesatindex.html
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