NROL-82 search elements

From: Ted Molczan via Seesat-l <seesat-l_at_satobs.org>
Date: Sat, 24 Apr 2021 05:05:25 -0400
NROL-82 is scheduled for launch on a Delta 4 Heavy, from VAFB, on Monday, April 26, 2021.

I agree with Marco Langbroek, that based on the NOTAMs, the target orbit is similar to the standard
orbit that was introduced in 1985. Marco's search elements are here:

http://mailman.satobs.org/mailman/private/seesat-l/2021-April/016427.html

I offer the following search TLE for launch at 20:46 UTC.

NROL-82                                                  254 X 993 km
1 78701U 78701A   21116.86979168  .00014000  00000-0  11897-3 0    08
2 78701  97.9000 224.5000 0528034 316.0000 191.0000 14.81000000    00

The above elements are based on the following major assumptions.

The argument of perigee will match that of the satellite to be replaced, 11002A / 37348. Basis: the
argument of perigee of the previous two 97.9 deg KeyHoles launched on Delta 4 Heavy was within +/-20
deg of the satellite that was replaced.

The mean motion will be 14.81 rev/d. Basis: the mean motion of the previous two 97.9 deg KeyHoles
launched on Delta 4 Heavy was close to this value.

Observers should allow for prediction time errors of at least a few minutes, and potentially large
track errors - especially on high elevation passes.

Happy hunting!
Ted Molczan

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Received on Sat Apr 24 2021 - 04:06:22 UTC

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