Re: GOCE Orbit and Flares

From: Gerhard HOLTKAMP (grd.holtkamp@t-online.de)
Date: Mon Sep 08 2008 - 12:22:43 UTC

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    On Sunday 07 September 2008 21:42, Gerhard HOLTKAMP wrote:
    > On 10-SEP-08 at 14:21 UTC the European GOCE (Gravity field and steady-state
    > Ocean Circulation Explorer) satellite is scheduled for launch from
    > Plesetsk. Insertion is into a Sun-synchronous orbit of 285 km, 96.7
    > inclination and 18:00 LST ascending node. The following elset is based on
    
    Sorry - I should have waited another day or two for the announcement. I just 
    got the news that the GOCE launch has been delayed until 5-OCT-08, 14:21 UT  
    due to an anomaly identified in one of the units of the guidance and 
    navigation subsystem of the launcher's upper stage Breeze KM. 
    
    This means that observers on the Southern Hemisphere will miss their season of 
    visual observations of GOCE and us Northernes should get the first chance of 
    seeing GOCE and its flares (if indeed they exist). 
    
    But you folks Down Under shouldn't give up hope yet: My past experience is 
    that if a launch suffers various long delays it is bound to be delayed a few 
    more times until it finally lifts off - so you might still get your chance of 
    First Sight of GOCE down there!
    
    Gerhard HOLTKAMP
    Darmstadt, Germany
                        
    
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