RE: TIPS
Ted Molczan (molczan@fox.nstn.ca)
Tue, 13 Aug 1996 12:39:33 -0400
Bruno Tilgner wrote:
>Would somebody be kind enough and let me know the official designation of
>the 'TIPS' satellite.
TiPS was launched with 4 classified objects, and so far,
NORAD has not issued elements for it. My best guess is that
the following catalogue entries are for the TiPS end-masses:
1996 029E USA 123 23936
1996 029F USA 124 23937
>Recent orbital elements, or a pointer to them, would be even better.
Below are the most recent ones I am aware of. The identifiers are
non-NORAD. The object experiences very little drag, so the elements
should be accurate to about 5 seconds in time; however, you may want to
allow a little more than just to be safe. The object will be entering
morning visibility at the mid-northern latitudes over the next few days.
TiPS 3.5 0.0 0.0 5.7
1 96290U 96029 ? 96203.14225450 .00000250 00000-0 31455-3 0 06
2 96290 63.4290 89.9941 0003001 264.4275 95.5725 13.63763114 04
Ted Molczan