87 74G (Cosmos 1875-1880 Rk)

On Thursday evening, Feb 23, 1995 CST, I observed 87 74G on two
consecutive passes with a period of 9.6 seconds.  This is unusual
for a G rocket.

All elsets available to me since September have the same small,
negative Bstar value.  However, there has been a "significant"
(for a G object in a 1440Km circular orbit) change in its
mean motion between Jan. 10, 1995 and Feb. 3, 1995.

(The other recent G objects do not show such changes in their mean motion.)

Elements are not given in Ted's file - these are from Allen Thomson's
weekly files.  (Thanks, Allen.)

Aug. 31, 1994
1 18340U 87074  G 94243.30043550  .00000004  00000-0 -35253-4 0  7247
2 18340  82.5668 202.8303 0038850 263.2670  96.3997 12.55485675319904

Jan 10, 1995:
1 18340U 87074  G 95010.82471987  .00000004  00000-0 -35253-4 0  7651
2 18340  82.5696 119.2592 0039510 327.9745  31.8941 12.55486386336532

A change in mean motion of +0.0000071 in over 4 months.
This is typical for a G object.

Jan 19
1 18340U 87074  G 95019.35149332  .00000004  00000-0 -35253-4 0  7676
2 18340  82.5724 113.8863 0039248 308.5559  51.2017 12.55487642337606

The change in mean motion is +0.0000125 in 9 days.

Jan 23
1 18340U 87074  G 95023.73441315  .00000004  00000-0 -35253-4 0  7680
2 18340  82.5730 111.1242 0038694 298.3238  61.3955 12.55488124338159

A further change of +0.0000047 in 4 days.

1 18340U 87074  G 95034.17373972  .00000004  00000-0 -35253-4 0  7717
2 18340  82.5685 104.5348 0039019 274.4268  85.2366 12.55489575339468

A further change of +0.0000145 in 11.5 days.

1 18340U 87074  G 95038.23790965  .00000004  00000-0 -35253-4 0  7724
2 18340  82.5680 101.9710 0038991 265.0417  94.6215 12.55489667339972

No significant change.

1 18340U 87074  G 95046.60532835  .00000004  00000-0 -35253-4 0  7746
2 18340  82.5669  96.6916 0038996 246.1850 113.5145 12.55489613341026

No significant change.

Mike