Re: USA 40 debris storm

Tristan Cools (tcools@nic.INbe.net)
Mon, 5 Feb 1996 14:43:11 +0100

At 08:41 4-02-96 -0800, you wrote:
>    I noticed that the November Satellite Situation Report from 
>NASA shows a debris storm associated with USA 40.   The NORAD 
>catalogue numbers associated with the E through J objects appear 
>to have been assigned in late 1992, K in mid 1993, L through W 
>in mid 1994, and the remainder in late 1994.  Does anyone know 
>if this fagmentation history is similar to any past events, or 
>have any suggestions as to its significance? 


USA 40 has always been in mystery since its launch back in 1989.  Shortly
after launch in August 1989 the main payload of STS 28 Columbia began
tumbling into space which was followed and confirmed by several observers
over different countries.  Together with another, smaller satellite(USA 41)
it has never been understood what those satellites were but it is believed
that the USA 40 satellite was a prototype of a KH12 imaging satellite and
USA 41 was probably a small Elint satellite.

Because of the secretness of both payloads it is almost impossible to know
wether the fragmentation came from USA 40, 41 or the rocket body from USA 40.

Tristan Cools
tcools@nic.INbe.net