Re: Unidentified Geosat

From: Rick Baldridge (rickbaldridge@msn.com)
Date: Thu Mar 15 2001 - 23:06:40 PST

  • Next message: Phillip Clark: "SZ 2 orbital module chugs again"

    Michael McCants wrote:
    
    > I have fit Rick's positions with the following  elset:
    >
    > Unknown 010313
    > 1 90009U 01572A   01072.66500009 0.00000000  00000-0 +00000+0 0    01
    > 2 90009   3.9100 308.5650 0001000 359.9991   0.0009  1.00264024    04
    >
    > The original nominal node for the Milstar 4 Centaur was 301, but it
    > was late launching, so a lower value would be expected.
    _____________________________________________________
    Thanks as always, Mike!
    
    NEW OBSERVATIONS -
    Viewing location (same as last time) 37.2618N 121.9770W Alt 72M
    
    Unknown geosat passed DIRECTLY over same two stars reported on March 14th,
    but 47.8725 hours later!  THAT should nail down the Mean Motion pretty good,
    close to 1.0026633 if I calculated that correctly (help Mike!)
    March 16, 2001   5:36:10 U.T  10h 40.09436m  -6.398180
    March 16, 2001   5:44:50 U.T.  10h 48.785120m  -6.513480
    Both observations -- Dec. accuracy 0.001 deg, RA accuracy 0.006 (includes
    timing error).
    
    Mike's elements above put the satellite a bit too far west (about 1.5
    degrees) relative to tonight's observations, so a slight change to the
    Longitude of Ascending Node may be needed as well, but supplied data is
    sketchy as of yet.  Satellite still passes about 1/8th degree EAST of DBS-2
    heading south, but a bit earlier (6 - 7 minutes) each night, near 4:54 U.T.
    at present.  Satellite passed close to 8.1 mag star, looking similar in
    brightness, fading over an hour to 9.0 magnitude (passed a star that bright,
    too!)
    
    RICK BALDRIDGE
    Campbell, CA USA
    
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