Anyone done a Gabbard Diagram to show the orbits of the objects? That might indicate the "violence" of the pieces' separations. Phil Clark ----- Original Message ----- From: "Brian Weeden" <brian.weeden@gmail.com> To: "Jonathan McDowell" <planet4589@gmail.com> Cc: "Greg Roberts" <grr@telkomsa.net>; <seesat-l@satobs.org> Sent: Tuesday, October 01, 2013 12:15 AM Subject: Re: Possible Falcon 9 explosion > If STRATCOM has catalogued the pieces, that means they have multiple > tracks from multiple sites (or at least the same site multiple times) and > good enough data to maintain orbits on the separate pieces. So something > is there. > > The excess number of pieces may be due to debris from the various payload > deployments and separations and not an "explosion" specifically. But even > if that's the case, it's still a sloppy way to do business. > > Thankfully, the pieces are low enough in altitude that they won't be in > orbit very long. > > ------- > Brian > > On Sep 30, 2013, at 19:03, Jonathan McDowell <planet4589@gmail.com> wrote: > >> Greg - My understanding is that SpX don't think they had an explosion. >> That doesn't mean they didn't get some small pieces >> flying off the vehicle. I agree we'll have to wait for more data and >> see what comes to light. >> >> My rough calculation is that the excess objects may have separated >> around 1640 UTC, while the venting that you saw >> (which I suspect was not a second burn, but a post abort propellant >> dump) was around 1700 UTC I believe? >> >> >> >> On 30 September 2013 18:23, Greg Roberts <grr@telkomsa.net> wrote: >>> Hi Jonathan ( and other readers) >>> >>> Evening - actually my morning now as past local midnight. Ive just >>> been >>> discussing on the South African FACEBOOK pages (prior to just having >>> now >>> read the SeeSat items about a possible 2nd stage exolosion) that have >>> covered the event - my page and that of the RSG group - about what >>> appears >>> to be multiple objects in severalof the numerous photographs taken here >>> in >>> South Africa of the event. In view of the comment by Elon Musk that an >>> attempt was made to restart the second stage engine but the burn was >>> aborted "due to an anomaly" the question now arises was the "anomaly" >>> an >>> actual explosion of the second stage engine/rocket ? This might also >>> explain the 20 odd pieces so far confirmed by SPACETRACK. Having not >>> seen >>> the event myself I have to rely on other peoples images/reports. The >>> satellite/satellites went into earths shadow soon after the "halo" so >>> not >>> enough time to get any seperation. But it was only in shadow for a >>> relatively short time -- did observers north of the equator observe >>> multiple >>> objects close together. From what I understand the six satellites >>> launched >>> are relatively small so not that bright...... of course this is mostly >>> guessing by me so we will have to see what becomes public knowledge - if >>> ever. >>> >>> Cheers >>> Greg >> _______________________________________________ >> Seesat-l mailing list >> http://mailman.satobs.org/mailman/listinfo/seesat-l > _______________________________________________ > Seesat-l mailing list > http://mailman.satobs.org/mailman/listinfo/seesat-l > _______________________________________________ Seesat-l mailing list http://mailman.satobs.org/mailman/listinfo/seesat-l
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