Using the ILAM information provided by Keith Stein: http://www2.satellite.eu.org/seesat/Feb-2001/0290.html I have derived the following elements, based on launch at the start of the window, 2001 Feb 27 at 18:57 UTC: Milstar 4 23.0 5.0 0.0 3.5 d LEO Parking orbit insertion 1 70001U 01058.79837963 .00000000 00000-0 00000-0 0 07 2 70001 28.5970 265.4550 0008470 116.6180 10.8720 16.27228965 06 Transfer orbit insertion 1 70002U 01058.83870370 .00000000 00000-0 00000-0 0 02 2 70002 26.6860 265.7080 7306180 352.0530 1.6490 2.26971460 07 Spacecraft separation 1 70003U 01059.06376157 .00000000 00000-0 00000-0 0 03 2 70003 4.5010 309.7990 0000480 326.3210 165.2540 1.00342419 05 No objects are expected to be left behind in the LEO parking orbit or the transfer orbit. The Centaur's final orbit insertion burn would begin on 2001 Feb 28 at 01:19:24 UTC, for a duration of 2 min 12 s. I do not know how visible the plume would be, but this event would be illuminated by the sun, and the sun will have set for Eastern and Central North America. If the launch occurs significantly later in the window, then the sun will be more likely to have set for Western North America. Use the 70002 elset for this event. I do not know whether or not the Centaur will perform a propellant-dump, but if it does, then it should occur soon after payload separation, on 2001 Feb 28 at 01:31:49 UTC. The circumstances of visibility would be about the same as for the final orbit insertion burn. Use the 70003 elset for this event. Ed Cannon and Mike McCants observed the propellant-dump of the 97068A / 25034 launch. When the plume was first spotted, about 21 minutes after payload separation, it was about 1st magnitude, and about 1 deg in diameter. It was at a range of 19100 km, and about 85 percent illuminated. For the detailed account, see Mike's SeeSat-L post, "We saw the Centaur fuel dump!" of 1997 Nov 07. (I would have included the URL, but SeeSat-L is not responding at this moment.) Payload separation is to occur at 260.45 E longitude, which equals 99.55 deg W. Spaceflight Now reports that the U.S. Air Force stated that the payload's final longitude will be 90 deg W. Ted Molczan ----------------------------------------------------------------- Unsubscribe from SeeSat-L by sending a message with 'unsubscribe' in the SUBJECT to SeeSat-L-request@lists.satellite.eu.org http://www2.satellite.eu.org/seesat/seesatindex.html
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Sat Feb 24 2001 - 09:48:34 PST