A new GPS satellite has been launched. From OIG: NAVSTAR 52 (USA-168) 1 27704U 03010A 03091.45979185 .00354980 22633-6 91232-2 0 31 2 27704 39.0005 309.7422 6048135 14.6461 356.8831 4.05032033 21 DELTA 2 R/B(1) 1 27705U 03010B 03091.03343955 -.00000907 28311-5 00000+0 0 10 2 27705 37.1892 308.7096 0666439 10.9486 350.5652 14.67903991 03 NAVSTAR 52 R/B(PAM-D 1 27706U 03010C 03091.21349220 .00028940 25693-6 65978-3 0 29 2 27706 38.9817 309.9152 6055975 14.4105 357.3170 4.04208735 11 The orbit plane change and circularization burn of the previous GPS 51 launch was accidentally observed a few days after launch by amateur astronomers in Arizona low in their southwest as a 3rd magnitude "comet". This burn took place when the GPS was at apogee in its transfer orbit on a north-to-south equator crossing. Perhaps this burn can be predicted by determining when the 39 degree orbital plane of the transfer orbit matches the 55 degree plane of the objects in the final orbit. GPS 51 was launched about 18:00 UT on Jan. 29. The circularization burn occurred on Feb. 1 about 03:15 UT. GPS 52 was launched March 31 at 22:09 UT. It is to replace GPS 17, NCat 20361, 1989-97A according to SpaceFlightNow. --- The elsets for objects 2003-09B and 09F have been switched by Spacecom: IGS 1A 4.0 2.0 0.0 5.0 v 8 1 27698U 03009A 03090.48399306 .00018597 00000-0 72657-3 0 191 2 27698 97.3061 162.9043 0004179 341.2336 211.0791 15.25917184 529 IGS 1B 5.0 2.0 0.0 4.5 v 10 1 27699U 03009B 03091.45881618 -.00000333 00000-0 -10725-4 0 114 2 27699 97.3051 163.8501 0003809 245.0861 238.8075 15.24587451 678 IGS H2A r 13.5 2.5 0.0 4.2 v 35 1 27700U 03009C 03090.53099376 .00009794 00000-0 44976-3 0 63 2 27700 97.3014 162.8534 0067880 310.9071 48.6295 15.18512205 533 IGS Deb D 4.0 3.0 0.0 4.5 v 12 1 27701U 03009D 03091.04640383 .00052980 00000-0 19991-2 0 97 2 27701 97.3013 163.4545 0007662 336.1635 74.4030 15.26821951 602 IGS Fairing 1 4.0 2.0 0.0 4.5 v 8 1 27702U 03009E 03091.04664293 .00090035 00000-0 33750-2 0 108 2 27702 97.3140 163.4612 0006566 350.1524 60.2820 15.26866340 605 IGS Fairing 2 4.0 2.0 0.0 4.5 v 8 1 27703U 03009F 03091.30021825 .00078926 00000-0 29838-2 0 192 2 27703 97.2985 163.7010 0005126 346.0655 14.0444 15.26643985 648 The H2A rocket and the two fairings vary in brightness as they tumble. All objects were quite bright. (According to observations by Russell Eberst). Mike McCants ----------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe from SeeSat-L, send a message with 'unsubscribe' in the SUBJECT to SeeSat-L-request@satobs.org List archived at http://www.satobs.org/seesat/seesatindex.html
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Tue Apr 01 2003 - 13:23:34 EST