USA 129 elements

From: Ted Molczan (molczan@home.com)
Date: Wed Apr 19 2000 - 21:34:51 PDT

  • Next message: Alan Pickup: "Decay watch: 2000 Apr 20"

    Pierre Neirinck produced these elements, using observations by himself, Russell
    Eberst, Bjoern Gimle and Jim Nix, from 16 - 19 April UTC:
    
    USA 129         15.0  3.0  0.0  5.1 v
    1 24680U 96072A   00110.90587380  .00036732  00000-0  44436-3 0  4468
    2 24680  97.8738 174.8138 0482495 167.6532 193.5722 14.84435098    03
    
    1 24680U 96072A   00110.83847060  .00038445  00000-0  49666-3 0  4456
    2 24680  97.8557 174.7114 0476527 168.0363 193.1365 14.84433354    03
    
    I obtained a similar result to Pierre's set #446, using Elcor:
    
    1 24680U 96072A   00110.90587380  .00038877  00000-0  46714-3 0    07
    2 24680  97.8798 174.8227 0483074 168.5604 192.7097 14.84440849    08
    
    I now expect the orbit-raising to occur when USA 116's (sister spacecraft of
    USA 129) perigee reaches the equator on 26 April UTC, +/1 about 1 day. Both
    spacecraft will manoeuvre within hours of one another.
    
    Although USA 116 has yet to be recovered, the orientation of its orbit with
    respect to the Earth can be calculated accurately enough to determine the date
    on which its perigee will be over the equator.
    
    USA 116's orbit is emerging from Earth's shadow at latitudes north of about 50
    deg, so perhaps it will be recovered in time to track it through the manoeuvre.
    
    Ted Molczan
    
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