STS-106 from Qantas 747

From: Peter Hunter (funta@ozemail.com.au)
Date: Fri Sep 08 2000 - 20:33:24 PDT

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    Qantas QFA100 (B747-438) airborne Los Angeles 08 Sep 0711 UTC. Landed
    Melbourne Australia 2201 UTC.
    
    A good lookout was kept for the external tank reentry, whose footprint was
    notified by preflight NOTAM (Notice to Airmen), but no sighting as it was
    too far southeast of our track.
    
    Using StsOrbitPlus and preflight TLEs on Dell notebook, at position 14S 171E
    at time 1705 UTC I turned the a/c briefly to the left and sighted STS-106
    bearing approx 090dT elevation approx 20d (ie behind the aircraft to the
    left). This was just after it became illuminated by sunrise behind us.
    
    On arrival in Melbourne I obtained TLEs valid as at 30mins before the
    sighting, and for those interested, can forward any of the following screen
    captures from STSOrbitPlus, of the scenario. .GIF(15k), .TIF(26K),
    .PCX(32K).
    
    Peter Hunter.
    
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