Decay watch postscript: Mir VDU

Alan Pickup (alan@wingar.demon.co.uk)
Thu, 3 Dec 1998 22:53:37 +0000

I have already commented on the final elset for the Molniya 3-11 decay,
but the last one for the Mir VDU did not appear until around 16h UTC
today (Dec 3), some 19 hours after its probable decay. It is:

Mir VDU          4.0  0.0  0.0  6.5 d            133 x 128 km
1 25294U 86017MQ  98336.83086279  .28283799  12759-4  18959-3 0  2732
2 25294  51.6202 250.0336 0003700 258.6288 112.4371 16.53249046 37131

I also note that USSPACECOM/OIG have yet to announce this as "Decayed".

I believe this is the elset for the beginning of its final orbit, though
the drag looks a factor of almost two too low. I put decay on the
approach to the following northbound equator crossing, possible at about
21:15 UTC (December 2.89) over the south central Pacific Ocean, a few
minutes after passing over Christchurch, New Zealand, at 21:06 UTC.

Alan
-- 
 Alan Pickup | COSPAR 2707:   55d53m48.7s N   3d11m51.2s W   156m asl
 Edinburgh   | Home:   alan@wingar.demon.co.uk    +44 (0)131 477 9144
 Scotland    | SatEvo page:     http://www.wingar.demon.co.uk/satevo/