Re: Skipper
Josh R. Williams (sponge@rocco.nebula.net)
Sat, 20 Jan 1996 15:57:11 -0500 (EST)
Have they begun testing yet?
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| Josh R. Williams | ** JRW Satellite Page ** |
| E-Mail: sponge@nebula.net | URL: http://www.nebula.net/~sponge/ |
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| Location: Monroe, Michigan - United States of America |
| Latitude: 41 deg 59' 29" N -- Longitude: 83 deg 27' 41" W |
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On Sat, 20 Jan 1996, Leo Barhorst wrote:
> The 8th January 1996 issue of Worldwide Satellite Launches gives the
> following information about Skipper:
> " Skipper is a joint US-Russian satellite: Utah State University provided the
> forward instrument section an the Moscow Aviation Institute the satellite bus.
> Shape is a cilinder, 0.8 m diameter and 1.3 m long. Satellite is to investigate
> aerothermochemistry and aerobraking as it dips into the atmosphere. After
> checkout the satellite will manoeuvre to a 150 km perigee orbit and then
> perigee will be reduced in 10 km steps until orbital dacay takes place".
>
> Mass is 230 kg.
>
> Seems to be a bit too small to be easely visible, as its apogee will be close to
> 800 km. At perigee it will be moving very fast.
>
> Greetings
>
>