Matthew > > Does anyone know what the oldest objects still in Earth Orbit > are? > Is Telstar 1 the oldest of them all? > Most elset listings start with the following objects: Vanguard 1 0.2 0.0 0.0 10.3 v 0.12 1 00005U 58002B 00088.79323596 +.00000336 +00000-0 +40487-3 0 04724 2 00005 034.2650 267.8426 1859653 284.0783 056.0927 10.82369685403803 Vanguard 2 0.5 0.0 0.0 9.8 d 0.43 1 00011U 59001A 00088.89891216 +.00005340 +00000-0 +29392-2 0 05813 2 00011 032.8697 291.6026 1510104 157.9248 209.4034 11.76501293741990 Vanguard 2 r 1.2 0.5 0.0 9.1 d 0.70 1 00012U 59001B 00088.48425900 .00004255 00000-0 25350-2 0 79 2 00012 32.9184 155.0603 1707370 301.7183 42.7987 11.36064516678269 Vanguard 1 r 1.2 0.5 0.0 9.1 d 0.35 1 00016U 58002A 00088.45739868 +.00000308 +00000-0 +45711-3 0 09305 2 00016 034.2558 217.8031 2035874 089.4958 293.6949 10.46610672683844 Vanguard 3 2.5 0.5 0.0 8.4 d 0.82 1 00020U 59007A 00089.13746849 +.00001701 +00000-0 +70228-3 0 09342 2 00020 033.3553 033.4938 1726816 236.9191 105.3802 11.43046483379000 Explorer 7 0.8 0.8 0.0 8.8 d 0.87 1 00022U 59009A 00089.08256676 +.00004341 +00000-0 +57584-3 0 03936 2 00022 050.3005 329.4425 0220985 244.9239 112.8615 14.66044787128447 Vanguard 1 was America's answer to Sputnik 1. It was nicknamed "Grapefruit" because it was so small (0.2m diameter in the listing), but at least it's still in orbit. Its original id was 1958 beta 2, under a scheme proposed by the astronomer Fred Whipple. However every year saw more and more launches, so that in 1962 they went through the Greek alphabet three times, from 1962 alpha to 1962 beta omega. The current scheme came in with 1963-003A. The oldest satellite visible from the UK is Explorer 7, originally 1959 iota 1. It's only 0.8x0.8m, so you need a good pair of binocs to see it. The oldest Russian satellite in orbit (visible from the UK) is Electron 1, 1964-006A. It's also small, and difficult to see except near perigee. David. David M Brierley Malvern, Worcestershire, UK Station 2675, 52.1358N 2.3264W 70m -- The Information contained in this E-Mail and any subsequent correspondence is private and is intended solely for the intended recipient(s). For those other than the recipient any disclosure, copying, distribution, or any action taken or omitted to be taken in reliance on such information is prohibited and may be unlawful. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Unsubscribe from SeeSat-L by sending a message with 'unsubscribe' in the SUBJECT to SeeSat-L-request@lists.satellite.eu.org http://www2.satellite.eu.org/seesat/seesatindex.html
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