Phillip Clark has kindly shared his comments about the flashing of FSW 3-2, per the appended message. Ted Molczan From: Phillip Clark [molniya at dircon.co.uk] Sent: October 7, 2004 12:29 AM To: Ted Molczan Cc: Phil Clark (Home) Subject: Flashing FSWs Hi Ted, Thank you for the links which were most interesting: I had not been aware that the equipment module from the second FSW-3 had started to flash. FYI, we know that these satellites can carry CCD cameras. My currently-unpublished (but privately circulated) theory is that after the descent modules return to Earth the equipment module which remains in orbit and carries the actual camera system continues to have the CCD imaging system operating: this started, I think, with the FSW-1 series and has continued with the FSW-2 and FSW-3 series. We know from Chinese literature that there was a thruster problem with the first FSW-2 in 1992 and this led to the cancellation of the orbital manoeuvre planned for the 12th day of flight, and while the trouble was investigated the flight was extended by a day. On the next two FSW-2 missions the equipment module performed a single manoeuvre after the descent module returned, and I think that this was to extend the operations with the CCD as much as the remaining propellant allowed. There was no such manoeuvre on the first FSW-2, probably because of the prior thruster problem. Then last year the first FSW-3 equipment module also performed a manoeuvre after the descent module recovery, and once more I think that this was to allow extended use of the CCD system. So, I have been confidently waiting for the equipment module from the second FSW-3 (28402) to manoeuvre (the descent module came down just before midnight GMT on Sep 24 after nearly 27 days in orbit - an FSW duration record), but if it is now tumbling (and thus flashing) then I assume that attitude control has been lost and unless it is regained the expected manoeuvre will not take place. Still, there is always the third FSW-3 which has not yet shed its descent craft: I have heard no rumours as to how long it will be before the descent craft returns - it might be ~27 days like the previous flight, but then again all three FSW-3 missions have used different orbital regimes and #2 shed its descent craft ~10 days later than did #1. At least the Chinese can still surprise us ! It seems that I cannot post to SEESAT-L, so if you want to post these comments as a possible explanation as to what is happening then feel free ! Phil __________________________________________________________________________ Phillip S Clark Flat 2 Wellington House Molniya Space Consultancy Castle Hill Passage Hastings Compiler/Publisher East Sussex TN34 1PG Worldwide Satellite Launches United Kingdom PERSONAL PHILOSOPHY (1) The only way to comprehend the deeds and utterances of politicians is with the basic knowledge that they had their brains surgically removed before they were allowed to enter politics: no counter-examples to disprove this theory are known. (2) Why should the Universe be comprehensible to human beings ? (3) "Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana" from Beyond Coincidence by Martin Plimmer and Brian King, page 28. (4) "To live outside the law you must be honest" (The Zim, 1966). ______________________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe/Unsubscribe info, Frequently Asked Questions, SeeSat-L archive: http://www.satobs.org/seesat/seesatindex.html
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