Today's launch of Astra 2A has left two decaying object in LEO; its Proton rocket and a platform. My initial analysis of elsets for the Proton rocket suggests that it will decay at about September 1.3 (~07:00 UTC +-8 hours). The orbit brings it out of eclipse at about 47 deg N latitude in the morning sky as it approaches northern apex. Worth a look for some of us. The latest elset is: Astra 2A Proton r 212 x 160 km 1 25463U 98050B 98242.56520560 .02988672 12164-4 36873-3 0 98 2 25463 51.6065 352.0380 0039808 271.7596 87.8823 16.32523902 99 SatEvo predicted elsets: Astra 2A Proton r 207 x 158 km 1 25463U 98050B 98242.80994857 .02987438 54678-2 32953-3 0 90096 2 25463 51.6061 350.6671 0036901 272.7844 86.7932 16.33832442 137 Astra 2A Proton r 200 x 156 km 1 25463U 98050B 98243.05448880 .03461226 75872-2 33185-3 0 90094 2 25463 51.6057 349.2945 0033747 273.8106 85.8034 16.35402953 177 Astra 2A Proton r 193 x 153 km 1 25463U 98050B 98243.29877531 .04146910 11504-1 30125-3 0 90092 2 25463 51.6051 347.9200 0030270 274.8382 84.8162 16.37250166 210 Astra 2A Proton r 184 x 150 km 1 25463U 98050B 98243.54275813 .05235609 19190-1 26334-3 0 90096 2 25463 51.6045 346.5432 0026344 275.8676 83.8320 16.39516333 251 Astra 2A Proton r 174 x 145 km 1 25463U 98050B 98243.78635828 .07064621 35231-1 22190-3 0 90094 2 25463 51.6036 345.1634 0021726 276.8992 82.8536 16.42468010 295 --------------------------------------------- The associated platform has probably already decayed - I estimate at about August 30.77 (~18:30 UTC +-1 hour). The latest elset is... Astra 2A Proton plat 175 x 153 km 1 25464U 98050C 98242.62633289 .25844343 12432-4 13721-2 0 106 2 25464 51.5886 351.6946 0016839 271.9641 88.2493 16.40836194 104 ...and my prediction for the final elset: Astra 2A Proton plat 135 x 127 km 1 25464U 98050C 98242.74773364 1.28227369 24789+2 84816-3 0 90103 2 25464 51.5853 351.0021 0006211 272.4825 87.4464 16.53185907 123 -- Alan Pickup | COSPAR site 2707: 55d53m48.7s N 3d11m51.2s W 156m asl Edinburgh | Home: alan@wingar.demon.co.uk +44 (0)131 477 9144 Scotland | SatEvo satellite page: http://www.wingar.demon.co.uk/satevo/