Observations 06 Apr 2007:
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Cosatrak 1 (Computerised satellite Tracking System).
MINTRON low light level CCD surveillance camera (0.005 lux typical
in non integration mode) and 0.00005 lux in STARLIGHT mode with 128
frame integration.
Used with 200mm focal length f/3.5 lens,integrating for 128 frames
which is equivalent to an exposure of 2.56 seconds per image.
Site 0433 : Longitude 18.51294 deg East, Latitude 33.94058 deg S,
Elevation 10 metres - situated in Pinelands (Cape Town), South Africa
For CLASSFD.TLE:
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90036 05 629A 0433 G 20070406184832500 56 15 1302050+044723 39 +085 05
90035 05 625A 0433 G 20070406193904000 56 15 1258270+051329 39 +070 05
90013 03 564A 0433 G 20070406204246500 56 15 1251220+052746 39 +070 05
21809 91 076E 0433 G 20070406173151200 56 15 1129450+054539 39 +055 05
21809 91 076E 0433 G 20070406173158400 56 15 1132270+045220 39 +055 05
21808 91 076D 0433 G 20070406173451200 56 15 1128550+052754 39 +053 05
21808 91 076D 0433 G 20070406173458400 56 15 1131410+043428 39 +053 05
21799 91 076C 0433 G 20070406173440500 56 15 1126580+052149 39 +053 05
Strays seen:
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Intelsat 904 - geostationary close to #90035
27380 02 007A 0433 G 20070406193904000 56 15 1258380+051840 39 +075 05
Intelsat 7 - geostationary close to Intelsat 10
25473 98 052A 0433 G 20070406173151200 56 15 1128400+051215 39 +115 05
Intelsat 10 - geostationary close to Intelsat 7
26766 01 019A 0433 G 20070406173151200 56 15 1127540+051210 39 +110 05
SL-8 (R/B)
21797 91 081B 0433 G 20070406173342800 56 15 1128000+055237 39 +045 05
Express AM-2 geostationary
28629 05 010A 0433 G 20070406174713400 56 15 1232130+050500 39 +077 05
Beidou 1B - geostationary
26643 00 082A 0433 G 20070406174713400 56 15 1233260+052203 39 +076 05
Insat 4B - geostationary
30793 07 007A 0433 G 20070406174713400 56 15 1234230+050045 39 +115 05
Insat 4A ? geostationary
28911 05 049A 0433 G 20070406180153900 56 15 1259260+050420 39 +085 05
Insat 3B ? geostationary
26108 00 016B 0433 G 20070406180153900 56 15 1259110+050749 39 +080 05
Cosmos 1366 geostationary i = 14.8 deg, irregular flashing
13177 82 044A 0433 G 20070406185946100 56 15 1300010+053954 39 +100 05
Anatolia 1 - geostationary flashong ~ 20 seconds
23779 96 006A 0433 G 20070406210841000 56 15 1250150+053037 39 +100 05
Notes:
------
(1) Objects in CLASSIFD.TLE seen by accident during geosat flare
program, as all other objects reported.
(2) Intelsat 7 and Intelsat 10 are close together in field of view.
(3) Express AM-2/Beidou 1B/Insat 4B three geostationaries close together.
(4) Insat 4A/Insat3B geostationaries close together- not sure which is
which - may be a third member (Insat2E) in group but faint at
+13 so not measured.
(5) Anatolia 1 is an interesting geostat.Started life as PALAPA C1
serving Indoneasia. In Nov 1998 experienced electrical power
problems which meant satellite could not recharge batteries after
an eclipse period, so during eclipse the satellite is switched off.
The satellite was declared unuseable and insurance claim settled.
Hughes Global Services then purchased satellite from the insurers
and renamed HGS3 and procedures developed to enable the satellite
to have a useful life, but still no battery charging.Despite
this the satellite now has a 94% operation cycle and all the
transponders are healthy.In Dec 2000 the satellite was leased from
Hughes and moved to 50 deg E and renamed Anatolia 1 and served
Turkey.In Aug 2002 the lease was cancelled and satellite leased
to Pakistan and moved to 38 degrees E where it sat out of use
until April 2004 when the 30 C-band transponders were fired up
again. The satellite is also known as PAKSAT 1.
I dont know what the current status is and why it is flashing which
may indicate its no longer controlled?
Cheers
Greg
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