Updated Titan 4 payload elset, new observation
Ted Molczan (molczan@fox.nstn.ca)
Sat, 6 Jul 1996 10:18:08 -0400
I have received a second observation report from Igor Lissov.
This one was one rev later than the previous one, and
confirmed that the payload had made a small manoeuvre earlier
in the day. I have modified Rainer Kracht's latest payload elset
to fit Igor's two observations.
I set the epoch at the time of the first obs, for the point that
0.5 N of Vega, and rotated the RAAN accordingly. I adjusted the
mean anomaly and mean motion to fit the times of both obs. Finally,
I adjusted the eccentricity to maintain the original apogee, and
raise the perigee, because that is the most obvious (though not
necessarily the fact) type of manoeuvre to me.
I was hazed/clouded out last night. I will have at least one poor,
but doable, pass each night for the next several nights, after which
the south-bound portion of the visibility window will be better
placed for observation. I believe that more northerly observers will
have better circumstances. I have not checked the southern hemisphere
situation, but I trust that observer's down-under will keep an eye
on things.
Also, my doubts about the NORAD numbers have been confirmed -
I have learned that 23942 and 23943 belong to other objects, so I
have changed them to 96038 and 96039. I apologize for the confusion.
I should have known better.
96038A 10.0 3.0 0.0 5.0
1 96038U 96038 A 96187.86234954 .00229888 00000-0 73137-3 0 08
2 96038 55.0040 173.7200 0003500 323.2701 131.7300 15.88500000 00
96038A r 9.8 3.0 0.0 5.0
1 96039U 96038 B 96187.00000000 .00366614 00000-0 10362-2 0 07
2 96039 54.9884 177.9302 0011116 300.2390 268.8210 15.92650952 04
Finally, here is the text of Igor's second observation report for
5 July (3rd obs of these objects):
And now, OBS #3.
First of all, B and A were separated by 5 min 45 sec now. So, my previous
OBS #2 is correct.
Times of pass S of 68 Oph (18 h 01.8 min, +1 deg 18 min, 2000.0) were
as follows:
96 038B 1.5 deg S of 68 Oph 22:09:43 UTC
96 038A 2 deg S of 68 Oph 22:15:28 UTC
bye for now
Ted