The decrease in rate of decay appears to be continuing, due in part to decreasing solar flux, and to the perigee height climbing, as the argument of perigee precesses toward 270 deg, where perigee height is greatest. Caveats: the arc is short (2 days), which tends to reduce accuracy of mean motion and rate of decay. Also, a geomagnetic storm is in progress, which may increase rate of decay: http://sec.noaa.gov/rt_plots/kp_3d.html So, the object could well be a second or two early tonight, relative the following: USA 129 15.0 3.0 0.0 5.3 v 1 24680U 96072A 05221.91088818 .00008515 00000-0 11101-3 0 06 2 24680 97.9614 284.5651 0526408 346.2114 12.5167 14.73701669 01 Arc 2005 Aug 07.88 - 09.92, WRMS residuals = 0.024 deg Brief Introduction To TLEs And Satellite IDs: http://www.satobs.org/element.html Ted Molczan ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe/Unsubscribe info, Frequently Asked Questions, SeeSat-L archive: http://www.satobs.org/seesat/seesatindex.html
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